Building my chest freezer bar top.

[Garyius]

Taking suggestions here on the board and elsewhere, here is what I did. I purchased a two spout draft tower, because I can only think I will continue to drink only one beer at a time. I also purchased and cleaned the heck out of a second keg. Deep well sockets for the win. I figure a 100% expansion space should be just about right for now.

I made the top out of two sheets of 1/2" oak ply. The sides are connected by strips of more 1/2" oak ply, and the sides are faced by 3/4" thick oak wood. I attached the strips with titebond III water proof glue, and the facing boards with titebond III and pocket hole screws.

For those playing at home, that means there is a 1/2" air space in the lid, which combined with the plywood should give me an R value of about 1.6ish assuming I can read charts correctly.

The top middle was reinforced with cross strips spaced around the tower hole, along with connecting strips at the front and back of the hole.

The hole itself is 2-1/8, and centered lengthwise and 1/3 from the back on width.

I finished the heck out of the inside with poly before putting on the bottom with lots more titebond and lots of brads.

I start sanding tonight, following by staining and at least a week of applying valspar. Then 1/2" ID copper on the beer lines, and running bolt holes for the tower, and silconing the heck out of the hole and under the tower rim.

The chest freezer was calked at all seams with a heavy coat, and I have dropped damp rid in.

So, what did I do wrong? This is the perfect time to speak up, since I can't change too much now...

Let others learn from my mistakes.

[Whitebeard_Brewer]

Pics???

Are you having problems with it????

[Garyius]

No trouble yet, since I have't finished sanding yet and therefore haven't installed it.

However, being the internet, now that the top is forever sealed and the design cannot be changed, I figure everyone will be able to point out all the design flaws.

[Bugeater]

The question is why did you build a whole new top instead of just putting a hole in the existing lid? Your plan looks like it will work fine, but a lot of extra work. You don't need to worry about the R value of your lid since cold air is denser than warm air and will stay in the freezer. If you are looking for future expansion, you would have been better off just building a collar and mounting the taps in that. It is a major PITA to add more taps to a tower.

Wayne

[Garyius]

It is assembled now. The top that came with the used free freezer was cracked and held more water than the drip pan. It also looked like hell.

The new top looked good when installed and I will find out how good the copper pipes over the hoses from the ends in the tower and 10 inches down past the lid work out tonight when I start pouring.

I also caulked the seams so much the corners look rounded inside.

Right now I just have the temp probe in a ziplock bag with the corner taped to the wire divider inside so it is hanging in space. I may get some closed cell foam and fasten that to the wall with the probe on the inside face of that, not sure yet.