Kegerator construction

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:31 am

My fridge only accommodates kegs because the door trays are removed - that feature is essential IMO.

By the way, when I use the top shelf to carry a five gallon fernenting bin, the whole weight is taken by a glass shelf. It is Bosch safety glass, but any thoughts on the stupidity or otherwise of trusting glass with all that weight? If the glass breaks, five gallons will be out of the fridge and soaking through the bedroom floor! Then I'll be dead

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:24 pm

I was hoping that someone (inevitably DaaB!) would know all about the stress characteristics of toughened glass. Is the fact that it's taken that weight on about ten previous occasions proof that it's OK, or is the glass just about to give up the struggle?

IanRMartin · Post by **IanRMartin** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:49 pm

QUOTE (johnmac @ Jul 3 2006, 03:24 PM) I was hoping that someone (inevitably DaaB!) would know all about the stress characteristics of toughened glass. Is the fact that it's taken that weight on about ten previous occasions proof that it's OK, or is the glass just about to give up the struggle?
If its been OK so far then all i would do is keep an eye out for any chips or scratches as soon as any appear it will be considerably weakened!!
Ian

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:44 pm

I'm just hoping that if it fails, the fermentor will settle onto the two cornys, rather than tip forwards. Life's not like that though!

Road Runner · Post by **Road Runner** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:52 pm

Oooh, that looks scary...

Is it an illusion, or is that glass shelf bowing?

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:05 pm

QUOTE is that glass shelf bowing?

Yes, but you can only see it when you put a straight edge against it. Glass is flexible, of course.

DaaB, what would you do? Plywood to distribute the load? Some support from underneath, tranferring the load to the bottom of the fridge? A wooden block to fill the gap between the cornys and the shelf, so the cornys take some weight? I'm not sure about replacing the shelf with plywood, because that would flex and may pop out of the rail on the side of the fridge.

It's been like this for months, but I'll be lying awake tonight, listening for the crash

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:49 pm

Thanks very much DaaB.

FlippinMental · Post by **FlippinMental** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:02 pm

nice set-up jm, but seriously consider doing something about supporting the glass shelf. is there enough room between the cornies to slip in a piece of board to support the middle of shelf? i'd also consider building a wooden frame with legs that will transmit the fv weight to the base of fridge.

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:21 pm

I actually got about four shelves with the fridge and only need one. I'm wondering about putting bathroom scales on a spare shelf and loading it up. If I can get to considerably more than 25kg, I'll be able to stop fretting. Another thought is to put a few strips of aluminium "speed tape" on the glass, to reinforce it???

Otherwise I'll perhaps go for a frame, because the rails are closely tailored to the shelf and wouldn't take 3/4 ply. (they're narrow slots)

Or maybe I could drill four holes in the sides of the fridge, run threaded rods accross and sit a plywood shelf on that?

Frothy, sorry to hijack your thread!

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:48 pm

You're right, that is a possibility. I was wrong about 3/4 ply not being practical. I'll definatly have to do something!

Frothy · Post by **Frothy** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:13 am

QUOTE (johnmac @ Jul 3 2006, 06:44 PM) I'm just hoping that if it fails, the fermentor will settle onto the two cornys, rather than tip forwards. Life's not like that though!

Wow - that must be a big fridge?!? If its done ok so far then I say stick with it. The glass is far more hygeinic than wood, looks prettier too

How do you dispense the beer - do you have taps on the front, I've only seen americans do that?

Matt

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:01 am

I just dispense direct from the keg - I'm lazy, but I always have the strength to open a fridge door

The left keg has a shiny chromed tap at the front. Trouble is, I can't get at the gas in post when there's a fermenter on the kamikaze shelf. The one on the right has a flexi-tap, with the gas post at the front and therefore accessible - much more practical.

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:14 am

Thanks for that happy thought

IanRMartin · Post by **IanRMartin** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:25 am

QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jul 3 2006, 08:30 PM).QUOTE Glass is flexible, of course.
Most people probably know this by now but glass is actualy a liquid B)
Damn somebody beat me to it!

How about this one then:
QUOTE
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honeymonth" or what we know today as the "honeymoon."

Frothy · Post by **Frothy** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:40 pm

QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jul 4 2006, 02:12 PM) all the mead he could drink eh B) I expect it was an early form of contraception, after a few gallons of that stuff I wouldnt be able to find the bedroom door let alone....

lol - that's ingenious

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Kegerator construction