I know alot of you guys use chest freezers for keg-e-rators, but I was wondering how many of you use them as fermentation chambers and how many carboys do can you fit in and the size. thanks
That's a difficult question to get a useful answer from. Different makes and models will have slightly different inside dimensions even when they are the same size in cubic feet. Sometimes the difference of even an inch will make a big difference in the number of kegs/carboys that will fit.
The best thing to do when considering buying a freezer is to make a number of cardboard circles, some the diameter of a keg and others the diameter of a carboy. Take these with you when you look at freezers and deal them out like cards in the bottom to see how many will fit. This way you don't have to choose from a limited list of models you already have data on.
Some folks do ferment in a chest freezer, but it is difficult to safely lift carboys in and out without breaking the carboy or straining your back. I use a chest freezer for serving and an old upright refrigerator for fermentation.
I dunno about scary dangerous slippery handleless breakable carboys, but 2 nice safe unbreakable 7.5 gallon buckets with convenient handles will fit nicely in my 7.2ft^3 freezer
What's on tap: Cream Ale, Imperial Blonde Secondary: British Amber, Primary: APA http://bubrew.org
BDawg wrote:I use the "Brew Hauler" carboy straps at all times when there is beer in my carboys. I can lift them up and out of my chest freezer with no problem.
I set my carboys in a plastic milk crate. They fit nice and I always get a good grip.
These are leftovers from the college furniture days.......couple milk crates and some 2x4's !!!!