afro poppa Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 I am thinking of buying a keg fridge or converting an existing fridge into one. Certainly converting one would be the cheaper way to go but I am unsure if I could master how to do it...Has anyone converted a fridge into a keg fridge before? Or now where I could get keg fridges in Canada? I have found a few but they are all 1000 dollars or so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 i can't help you but i applaud your undertaking, sir Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 my buddy has a mini freezer for his two kegs. works out beauty and the taps sit flush on top. greathttp://howto.wired.com/wiki/Make_a_Kegerator What you'll need 1. Refrigerator 2. Conversion kit 3. CO2 cylinder 4. CO2 gas (inside the canister) 5. Screwdrivers 6. Power drill 7. 1⅜" and ⅞" hole saws 8. Measuring tape 9. Hacksaw 10. A keg of delicious beer Some suppliesSome suppliesSome more suppliesSome more suppliesThere are kits, tooConversion kits are a great way to go because they are cheaper than buying the components separately and are easy to find online.Conversion kits come in two styles: door-mounted taps for upright fridges and towers for chest freezers and compact fridges. We got a basic single-tap door-mounted kit and a five-pound aluminum CO2 cylinder for $192 from the folks at BeverageFactory.com for this project.You can also probably get everything you need at a local homebrewer's supply store.How to proceedStep 1: Find a fridgeIf you don't have an old fridge rotting in your garage or basement, somebody else does. We found many, many options on Craigslist, including several freebies. Be sure to take a measuring tape with you when you go to check out a fridge. If you want to fit a full-size keg in your kegerator, they are 16 1/8" in diameter. With the CO2 canister inside, you will need an interior cavity of 28" by 18". Compact fridges that can fit a keg are harder to find, so we opted for a free, upright fridge that was advertised as working (which turned out to be true). While it takes up more space than a compact fridge would, it has the advantage of being able to fit two 5-gallon kegs.Tip: If your spare fridge has a freezer, you can use the freezer for chilling your steins!Step 2: Drill a hole in your fridgeMeasure a spot for your tap low enough on the door so the freezer door can open without hitting the tap handle. Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredMeasure a spot for your tap low enough on the door so the freezer door can open without hitting the tap handle. Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredSave for tapping the keg, this is the most fun part. But this is also the only step with any real risk of messing up, which we did.Find a place to put the tap -- make sure you put it low enough so the freezer door can open without hitting the tap handle. Mark it with a pen, then draw a mark on the other side of the door as well. Drill a ¼" pilot hole through the whole door. Then, drill a hole with the 1 ⅜" hole saw, just through the outer layer of the door, and drill the ⅞" hole saw just through the inner layer of the door. Measure the thickness of the door between the holes, then saw your PVC pipe to that length so it inserts into the hole.Some advice: We made the mistake of starting by drilling the smaller hole through the outer layer. This wasn't the end of the world, but we no longer had the pilot hole to hold the drill in place while we sawed the larger hole. We ended up fitting a broom handle into the hole, and drilling a pilot hole in the end of it to guide the saw.Drill, baby, drill! Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredDrill, baby, drill! Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredStep 3: Install the tapInstall the tap faucet on the front of the door. Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredInstall the tap faucet on the front of the door. Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredConnect the faucet to the shank and moderately tighten with a wrench (some kits come with a special wrench for this purpose). Insert the shank into the PVC pipe and fasten it with the shank nut.Push the beer hose onto the other end of the shank and fasten with a clamp. You will need to put the loose clamp onto the hose before attaching it to the shank. At the other end of the beer hose, insert a rubber washer into the nut and then screw the nut onto the top of the keg coupler. Tighten with a wrench.Install the drip tray around a foot below the tap by putting screws into the door to hang the tray on.Step 4: Connect the CO2Hook up the gas canister. Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredHook up the gas canister. Photo: Jon Snyder/WiredAdd a clamp to the gas hose and then fasten it to the thin end of the keg coupler and clamp it down. Add a clamp to the other end and then fasten it to the thin end of the CO2 regulator and tighten the clamp. Attach the end of the regulator with a nut on it to the CO2 cylinder. Tighten it with a wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten it, because you will need to remove it to refill the canister.Step 5: Tap the kegInsert the coupler into the keg with the handle pointing up. Rotate the coupler until it stops. Pull out the handle and push it down until it snaps below the catch.Next, open the regulator valve near the hose on the gage by pointing it along the hose. Open the valve on the top of the tank. Turn the regulator clockwise until the gage reads around 10 psi. You may need to adjust this to get the right amount of gas for each keg of beer.If you have a double gage regulator, the second gage shows how much pressure is in the keg. It will drop as the beer gets lower and help you predict when you will need a new keg.Step 6: Mmmm... BEERA perfect pour. Photo: Jon SnyderA perfect pour. Photo: Jon SnyderThe first beer will probably be mostly foam, as will the second. But by the third beer, it should be close to the right gas pressure. If it's not, fiddle with the regulator until it is. 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RobL Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 http://www.kegkits.com/kegerator2.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Best jambands.ca reference material ever! Nicely done RobL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabidmonkey Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 I have converted a few fridges and freezers to kegerators or keezers over the last few years. I would suggest simgo.com for your regulator and hoses etc. as they pretty much have everything and they are based in Canada. You can get used co2 tanks at most fire extinguisher refill places. Perlick foward-sealing faucets are your best bet for a quality tap. If you don't use a generic tap daily it will start to stick and get dirty. The Perlicks are easier to clean as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afro poppa Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Thanks for the tips team. Unfortunately the fridge I am going to be using is a small one so I don't know...I'm thinking I might save some dough and by a ready made one as a hannukah present for myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Unfortunately the fridge I am going to be using is a small one so I don't know.Which keg size did you want to use?Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afro poppa Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 The smallest one I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabidmonkey Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 There is another style of 30L keg as well (Beau's uses it, as well as a few others) It is the same height as the 20L and of course a little wider. It should fit in even a small fridge (with some small cut-outs on the door)You should check the height of the fridge as well. You may need a low profile coupler to make it all fit. Low Profile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YearsAlongTheSea Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Thread translation:1. Hippie inquires how to turn fridge into kegerator.2. Hippie learns said project is time consuming and labor intensive.3. Hippie declares he will save money to buy one as Holiday gift to self.Fast-forward several months:Hippie spent all his money on Phish tour and starts thread on how to turn fridge into kegerator... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afro poppa Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Thread translation:1. Hippie inquires how to turn fridge into kegerator. 2. Hippie learns said project is time consuming and labor intensive. 3. Hippie declares he will save money to buy one as Holiday gift to self. Fast-forward several months Hippie spent all his money on Phish tour and starts thread on how to turn fridge into kegerator... booooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAlphaNerd Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 I believe in you Ari... you can do it, and I will drink it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 if you build it they will come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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