Anyone handy that can help me convert upright freezer into fermentation chamber??

HigherThisHeat · Oct 14, 2012

So I picked up this upright freezer at a tag sale yesterday for $65 in hopes of turning it into a fermentation chamber with the addition of a temp controller.

I am these least handy dude in the world. I barely own tools, and I think this may have bee a poor choice to undertake.

The freezer's shelves ARE the cooling coils and I don't know what to do! I was thinking of bending the coil to make the shelves vertical if that is even possible. I am hoping I didn't waste my money.

Anyone got a suggesting what the hell I can do on this guy??

thegreenman · Oct 14, 2012

I'd try to sell it and get one that takes less work to modify.

ThePepperManiac · Oct 14, 2012

sounds like a cool idea but i would sell it to a get one thats easier to

queequeg152 · Oct 14, 2012

take some measurements, but it doesn't look like you even have the vertical clearance to bend them vertical.

sicman · Oct 14, 2012

homebrewtalk.com there is people doing just that with step by step instructions.

HigherThisHeat · Oct 14, 2012

Yeah I've been cruisin around there... I think I f**ked up and got the wrong thing! Back to the drawing board I guess.

Anyone need an upright freezer??

$100 big ones

HigherThisHeat · Oct 14, 2012

I could just leave it as is go buy some foam boards and try and regulate the temps like this example of not my own design.

queequeg152 · Oct 14, 2012

hahaha that's awesome... that's a fridge on the end of that thing? .

ThePepperManiac · Oct 14, 2012

yeah that thing looks cool

HigherThisHeat · Oct 14, 2012

I wonder how feasible that would be to build :think:

Like if it would maintain temps, and not have the freezer be over stressed... Hmmmmmm

Arenal Botanical Garden · Oct 14, 2012

What temperature do you opt to maintain while "fermenting" ???

tylerdodd25_92 said:
yeah that thing looks cool

Of course it looks cool. Itza fargin freezer ! Snowmen look cool too ! :rofl:

HigherThisHeat · Oct 15, 2012

I want to shoot for around 65-67 degree mark

thegreenman · Oct 15, 2012

It would work with the styro box, but I would tape the whole thing up with metal duct tape and then paint a/c duct mastic over the whole inside, including the joints with the freezer. Also put some nice foam rubber tape seals on the lid.

I used to have an external freezer thermostat that controlled the power to the freezer to regulate the temps...You could place the sensor in the middle of the foam box..

Jeff H · Oct 15, 2012

I want to shoot for around 65-67 degree mark

I would think your freezer has enough power to do that just fine in the styrofoam box, but the problem will be getting the thermostat to go up that warm.

LUCKYDOG · Oct 15, 2012

You can always cut the tubing rotate the coils to either wall and splice back together may have to add tubing but it could be done.

HigherThisHeat · Oct 15, 2012

The problem with that though is where the compressor sticks out on the bottom there is no way to get the bottom shelf to fit verticle. Just not enough clearance.

What a poor impulse buy this was!!

LUCKYDOG · Oct 15, 2012

You can remove the bottom shelf completely. You want to raise the temp in there anyways so that would make it easier to do so .... I think - If there is a will there is a way

HigherThisHeat · Oct 15, 2012

That's true. The only problem with removing the bottom shelf is I would have to cut the cooling coil which makes up the shelf. Will it leak, or even work if I do that?

I wish I understood more things about stuff as such.

LUCKYDOG · Oct 15, 2012

I believe you should be able to cap the ends that go to the bottom shelf with compression fittings like these from Home Depot for less than 5$

queequeg152 · Oct 15, 2012

unless its not what it looks like... as soon as you cut into the tubing it will leak refrigerant.

it actually wouldnt be super hard to do... if that thing works anything like a home ac unit( idk if it does or not) you would just need to vac down the whole system such that all the refrigerant collects inside the compressor. then do your dirty business of cutting and soldering.

fwiw i think you can do this with a home ac because the outdoor units have valves that allow you to isolate the compressor from the lines that run into your indoor evaporator unit...
i don't think this would be the case with a frige tho?
in other words idk if you can vacuum the system down and keep the refrigerant inside the compressor.

edit: spelling

Anyone handy that can help me convert upright freezer into fermentation chamber??

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