[morticaixavier]

I pulled a tricep muscle a couple of years ago by pulling a fermenter out of a chest freezer. It took quite a while to heal, so I can relate to this concern. If you're going to go the chest freezer route, then practice proper lifting and pulling techniques to avoid potential injury. A hoist or pulley system is a great idea and a back saver for sure.

If the concern is hurting yourself (as opposed to avoiding aggravating an existing injury) just doin git correctly is the best bet. If the desire is for an easier way I like the big fermenter that you fill in place and use pressure to empty. I have an old fridge so it's not an issue for me but if I get a big speidel I'll likely have to figure something out. I'm a strong guy and can probably 'easily' handle 80-100 lbs of wort but getting it out and up onto a counter to fill kegs with a siphon would still be a challenge.

[Stevie]

I grab better bottles by their necks and lift. Strong grip, but it can't be good for my shoulder.

[Slowbrew]

Go big or go home.   

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_120327_120327

The lazy way out.  I would probably do something like this in a few years as the beer gets heavier.   

Paul

[Pinski]

I have no issues with just a Brew Hauler. Although I'm so paranoid it will unclip I quadruple-check the fasteners before lifing.

I'm way too much of a nervous Nelly to use a pulley system.

Yeah, so do I. Then I put the buckle towards my in case it accidentally pops.  Really, if you balance out the straps evenly it should not end catastrophically if the buckle did come undone. Not that I plan on testing that theory. 

[jeffy]

Or get more exercise.

I'm sorry, this post was a bit snarky.  I'm a big guy and have no trouble lifting kegs in and out of my chest freezer, but it would be more difficult with carboys or buckets.  If it came down to it I'd most likely use siphons or pumps as most people have already posted.

[Jeff M]

Or get more exercise.

I'm sorry, this post was a bit snarky.  I'm a big guy and have no trouble lifting kegs in and out of my chest freezer, but it would be more difficult with carboys or buckets.  If it came down to it I'd most likely use siphons or pumps as most people have already posted.

+1.  We are Homebrewers. We are have ingenuity bred into us by necessity;)

[Jimmy K]

If the concern is hurting yourself (as opposed to avoiding aggravating an existing injury) just doin git correctly is the best bet.

I would argue that it's impossible to lift a carboy in and out of a chest freezer correctly. The wall prevents you from getting it close to your body or using your legs.

[fyouberg]

Like to add that I built a shelf in each of my 7cu freezers so that the buckets are off the bottom and I don't have to bend over very far.

This is a good common sense suggestion. Thanks. I don't get the suggestions for an upright freezer. All the ones I've seen have the coils as integral parts of the shelves. No room to accommodate a 5 g carboy.  Upright refrigerators yes. Is there any reason to consider a freezer superior to a refrigerator? We don't actually ever take fermentation down to 0 degrees do we?

[Stevie]

Is there any reason to consider a freezer superior to a refrigerator? We don't actually ever take fermentation down to 0 degrees do we?

I crash at 32° often. Some argue that freezers are more efficient due to thicker insulation. Compared to chest freezers, upright freezers are expensive new. That said, my next ferm fridge will be an upright.

[euge]

Also, with an upright fridge/freezer every one opens the door the cold air flows out. So it'll cost a bit more in kW. I can see placing a carboy or bucket into an upright just as or more awkward to handle and dangerous to the back as a chest freezer.

[troybinso]

If you are putting carboys into the chest freezer then get an orange carboy cap which has two holes. You can put a racking cane in the big hole and add co2 through the little hole and the beer will flow out through the racking can into a keg, secondary or bottle. This way you don't have to lift the full carboy out of the freezer which can be pretty tough.

[yso191]

Also, with an upright fridge/freezer every one opens the door the cold air flows out. So it'll cost a bit more in kW. I can see placing a carboy or bucket into an upright just as or more awkward to handle and dangerous to the back as a chest freezer.

I have no desire to argue, but I think it would be much easier to get a carboy or conical in and out of an upright than a chest freezer.  There is no wall to lift it over, and you can snuggle right up against whatever you are lifting.  Additionally the bottom of an upright is a foot-plus off the floor height already, so one would just have to grab, slide it out and set it down.

I intend to pump into the conical in my upright, then gravity drain it into a keg.  No heavy lifting needed.

[euge]

I think a conical indeed would be easier. A heavy glass carboy no- unless it was in a crate. I just think picking up something heavy then extending the weight forwards seems hazardous to the back. Especially while crouching. Anyway, pushing something instead of heaving forwards would be better.

I had considered putting wheels on my freezers and rolling them around. Can a conical of decent size even fit inside a chest freezer?

[klickitat jim]

Other than the obvious difference, there's an invisible difference. Uprights spill all the cold air when you open. Chests not so much

[AmandaK]

If everyone is so concerned with the chest freezer vs back thing, why not use wine coolers for each fermenter?

I have three of those for fermenting and can control each fermenter individually.