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Author Topic: Keezer build + some questions  (Read 9572 times)

Offline rbowers

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Keezer build + some questions
« on: September 13, 2011, 01:41:17 pm »
So I finally got around to it and got to work on my keezer.  Surprisingly simple to do (I am not a handy person) and really had a good time with this. Trying to figure out how to post a pic so they may or may not be included below (suggestions if you can't see them?).  Going to have four taps going hopefully soon (big brew week ahead).  The design was taken off the web and I have to say was incredibly straight forward and easy to do.  A couple of questions:

1) For temp control I have a Johnson digital thermostat controller with the temp probe coming through the wood.  I have seen a lot of other people place the temp probe in a bottle of water- I tried this but there was always a big delay in equalization of the temps and at times the ambient temp would be close to freezing while the water bottle was still above 45 degrees.  Is this ideal or is it better to simply have the probe sensing the ambient and true air temp inside the keezer.

2) This finally gives me some temp control to pursue some lager brews.  I will have room for a carboy for primary fermentation and lagering.  Is there any problem with respect to the other beers on tap in increasing and decreasing the temp over a period of weeks between 35 and 55 degrees to allow for proper fermentation and lagering of future brews?  Outside of not being able to always have very cold beer all the time (which may not be a bad thing for some of the beers) could there be any other problems?

I still need to install a 4 sided manifold to split the CO2 tank across all taps but other than that its coming along well.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2011, 01:46:28 pm by rbowers »

Offline rbowers

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2011, 01:47:02 pm »
Ok obviously no pic- how are pics uploaded?

Offline bluesman

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2011, 01:55:39 pm »
Would love to actually see the build.

To post a pic you'll need to utilize a pic hosting site like flickr, photobucket or tinypic. Then download your pictures and copy them to the forum via an image link (the "picture frame" window above the winking smiley face).
Ron Price

Offline rbowers

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2011, 02:35:12 pm »
Ok let's try this.  Link should take you to the photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67487688@N03/



« Last Edit: September 13, 2011, 03:11:36 pm by bluesman »

Offline woadwarrior

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2011, 06:15:02 pm »
Nice looking build.

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2011, 08:03:46 pm »
Do pictures like this:



Right click the image and "copy image location", then put the link between the "img" tags.

To see what I did, quote this message and it will show you this as an example.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2011, 06:13:05 am »
Great...Thanks a lot.  now I need to do my collar all over again  :P

Nice build.  I actually need to do mine over because
  A.  It looks like crap
  B.  It's about 1 in short of allowing me to put a corny on the hump
  C.  Why the hell not

« Last Edit: September 14, 2011, 06:17:11 am by theDarkSide »
Seacoast Homebrew Club - Portsmouth, NH
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Stephen Mayo
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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2011, 10:12:35 am »
Great...Thanks a lot.  now I need to do my collar all over again  :P

Nice build.  I actually need to do mine over because
  A.  It looks like crap
  B.  It's about 1 in short of allowing me to put a corny on the hump
  C.  Why the hell not


Depending on how you did it, you might get away with just adding a 2x2 to it, that will give you enough room to put a keg on the compressor.  Then you can cover the how mess with a nice wide board that makes it look like a single piece.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline ibru

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2011, 08:57:12 am »
First of all, rbowers, nice job! This is going to be my next beer project. I have almost everyting I need except the wood.

DarkSide, could you put one of those little (2 1/2 gallon) kegs on the hump? I was able to score a couple from my local Pepsi guy.


Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2011, 09:03:15 am »
Tom & Ibru...both good suggestions.  I may just end up building a new collar because I have to buy  a mitre saw for some other house projects and will want to just cut stuff up.

In certain homebrewing circles, those little kegs are called "Scotties" ( the BN Army guys know what I'm talking about )  :D
Seacoast Homebrew Club - Portsmouth, NH
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Stephen Mayo
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Offline Pinski

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Re: Keezer build + some questions
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2011, 09:08:05 am »
Great...Thanks a lot.  now I need to do my collar all over again  :P

Nice build.  I actually need to do mine over because
  A.  It looks like crap
  B.  It's about 1 in short of allowing me to put a corny on the hump
  C.  Why the hell not



I used 2x8 for the collar that rests on the cooler rim and faced it with 2x10, looks sharp and easily hold 4 cornies, I think I may even have  room to finagle one more mini-keg if I decided to add a stout faucet or something. Fun and rewarding project.
Steve Carper
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