Aust1227
08-01-2008, 08:14 AM
Alright.. We all know that a man cave is mostly just an excuse to drink. And the drink of choice???.... Beer.....
So, once you are done with your poker tables, your drywall, electrical, AC, and all the other stuff that makes a room. it is time to figure out how to dispense our favorite beverage.
There are many places online that sell pre fabricated and ready to go kegerators. Typically these are small, unimaginative, made in chinese pieces of crap. Lets get off our asses, and make our own..
Your first decision is stand up fridge style, or chest freezer style. I prefer the chest freezer, and more specifically.
Here is the list of items you will need to build a three (or four keg kegerator).
A Chest freezer... Sams Club seems to have the best price. I bought the one pictured for $118 + tax. Make sure you measure out what size kegs you will be using, and make sure they fit!
A temperature override thermostat.. We don't want frozen beer. Johnson Controls and Ranco both make excellent models. These are plug and play, they override the freezing temperatures, and set them wherever you like. $50
Hoses, taps, lines, CO2, ext.. www.beveragefactory.com has the best prices on this stuff. There site is also easy to work around.. Cost for a three kegger is around $350.
(5)2X6X8 Spruce - Home depot or lowes works well.. This will be used on the top to make a "collar". And on the bottom to make a base.
Can of paint, your choice of color.
3/4 hole saw (to drill through the collar)
4 Casters, so you can roll your kegs around..
A tube of silicone clear caulk.
So what will all this stuff look like at the end?
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z267/Aust15/DAYINLIFE006.jpg
And the insides...
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z267/Aust15/Kegerator006.jpg
And the bottom..
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z267/Aust15/Kegerator004.jpg
Step by step..
1) Take the back hinges off the freezer (leave attached to the lid.)
2) Measure out the dimensions for your collar and cut
3) Run thick beed of caulk on bottom of collar, and set on top of chest freezer.
4) Weight collar down with heavy books, or poker chips, wait two hours
5) Make a base for the freezer with remaining 2X6 and the casters
6) Select location of the tap handles.. (in a scrap piece of wood make sure the hole size works well with the shank size from beveragefactory.
7) Cut holes in colors for the shanks..
8) assemble temp control unit, make small hole for the probe through the color.
9) Paint collar (tape off the freezer), and base
10) While paint is drying start assembling tubes and airlines.
11) Assemble shank/faucet assemblies
12) connect air/gas/liquid lines
13) plug it in, wait for beer to cool.
14) Pour and Enjoy!!
So, once you are done with your poker tables, your drywall, electrical, AC, and all the other stuff that makes a room. it is time to figure out how to dispense our favorite beverage.
There are many places online that sell pre fabricated and ready to go kegerators. Typically these are small, unimaginative, made in chinese pieces of crap. Lets get off our asses, and make our own..
Your first decision is stand up fridge style, or chest freezer style. I prefer the chest freezer, and more specifically.
Here is the list of items you will need to build a three (or four keg kegerator).
A Chest freezer... Sams Club seems to have the best price. I bought the one pictured for $118 + tax. Make sure you measure out what size kegs you will be using, and make sure they fit!
A temperature override thermostat.. We don't want frozen beer. Johnson Controls and Ranco both make excellent models. These are plug and play, they override the freezing temperatures, and set them wherever you like. $50
Hoses, taps, lines, CO2, ext.. www.beveragefactory.com has the best prices on this stuff. There site is also easy to work around.. Cost for a three kegger is around $350.
(5)2X6X8 Spruce - Home depot or lowes works well.. This will be used on the top to make a "collar". And on the bottom to make a base.
Can of paint, your choice of color.
3/4 hole saw (to drill through the collar)
4 Casters, so you can roll your kegs around..
A tube of silicone clear caulk.
So what will all this stuff look like at the end?
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z267/Aust15/DAYINLIFE006.jpg
And the insides...
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z267/Aust15/Kegerator006.jpg
And the bottom..
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z267/Aust15/Kegerator004.jpg
Step by step..
1) Take the back hinges off the freezer (leave attached to the lid.)
2) Measure out the dimensions for your collar and cut
3) Run thick beed of caulk on bottom of collar, and set on top of chest freezer.
4) Weight collar down with heavy books, or poker chips, wait two hours
5) Make a base for the freezer with remaining 2X6 and the casters
6) Select location of the tap handles.. (in a scrap piece of wood make sure the hole size works well with the shank size from beveragefactory.
7) Cut holes in colors for the shanks..
8) assemble temp control unit, make small hole for the probe through the color.
9) Paint collar (tape off the freezer), and base
10) While paint is drying start assembling tubes and airlines.
11) Assemble shank/faucet assemblies
12) connect air/gas/liquid lines
13) plug it in, wait for beer to cool.
14) Pour and Enjoy!!