Cool Box construction

[Jim]

Incidentally, I'm having a bugger of a time getting the check valve/beer engine to work properly since I re-routed the line.

Last night I couldn't pull a proper pint, as the beer foamed up on the b.e. side of the check valve. I remember someone else had this problem.

I managed to stir up the sediment in the barrel with my efforts to pull any air bubbles throught, so now I have to connect up my other barrel (hoping it's clear) before some thirsty beer drinkers get here later this afternoon.

I have a feeling that the orientation of the check valve and the beer line coming out is crucial (or it could just be the beer is too gassy, thanks to more CO2 being absorbed due to the low temperature.

Edit: this was purely down to too much gas. The other barrel was fine - exept when I tasted the beer from both barrels they were both off.

[Jim]

Great job Jim - you've inspired me to have a go at this (as I intended to a long while back). I did toy with just getting a chest freezer, but as it would need to have a collar fitted anyway, and since I love to make wooden boxes, I'm going to go with the fridge extension idea.

Where did you get the Kingspan board from? Also, does your box just push up to the freezer, relying on the slight suction to create seal?

Sorry, missed the Kingspan question. It came from B&Q - 25mm stuff to just fit nicely in the 1" sq frame.

The boards are 2.4 x 1.2 m in size, but they cut very easily with a stanley knife (to score the surface, then a kitchen knife to go all the way through. You can sand the edges smooth with course sandpaper.

[BlightyBrewer]

I looked everywhere in B&Q for Kingspan board. Maybe I should ask someone next time I am in there!

[Vossy1]

That's the heater I'm thinking of going for Jim, they seem quite popular for this type of application.

BB, not all B&Q stores hold them. You'll need to go to a B&Q Warehouse for them ...I know...I looked all over

[Effigy]

I looked everywhere in B&Q for Kingspan board. Maybe I should ask someone next time I am in there!

As Vossy said, not all B&Q's stock them, but they will order them in for you if you ask......I've just ordered 5 from my local Buy&Queue. Takes them a couple of weeks, but they ring and let you know when they are in.

[pantsmachine]

Travis perkins or any other 'real' builder merrchants carry kingspan as stock item, great stuff i used it in 2 extensions at the house and you feel outside noise drop and heat levels rise as you fit it.

[Vossy1]

As Vossy said, not all B&Q's stock them, but they will order them in for you if you ask

I tried that as ideally I wanted the 40mm thick stuff..they said o.k as long as I want a pack of 10
I also tried a firm on e-bay that advertise individual sheets, they also only supply in packs of 16 sheets

[alefric]

I looked everywhere in B&Q for Kingspan board. :? Maybe I should ask someone next time I am in there! :roll:

Sorry only just seen this.........Wickes have this in stock(part of Travis Perkins group)......and they're usualy a bit cheaper than B&Q.

[BlightyBrewer]

Cheers for that.

BTW, how is the cool box performing Jim...happy with it?

[Jim]

Cheers for that.

BTW, how is the cool box performing Jim...happy with it?

It's been on continuously since switch-on and is maintaining a stable temperature. The only trouble is I have no beer to put in it.

I'm planning to brew up at the weekend, but I need to fit the heater and the fan (easily done) so that I can ferment in it (temperature in the garage is around 15C at the moment, so I need a bit of heat to get to fermentation temps).

[Jim]

And here's the last chapter in the saga!

Fitted the heater and fan to a bit of aluminium sheet:



The fan has had its base removed and is fixed with brackets:



And in position. It's currently under test; I'm hoping a 40w heater will be enough, given the level of insulation.

[delboy]

Looking good jim

[StrangeBrew]

How this going Jim, have you used it for fermentation through the winter?

[Jim]

How this going Jim, have you used it for fermentation through the winter?

Yep, fully working now.


The only problem is that when I have a fermentation on the go, I can't use it for serving beer for about 3 weeks!

The only solution seems to be to build a second one.

[far9410]

impressive, when i get brew house done, this is on the list,if I live that long!