Mini Fridge to Fermentation Chamber Conversion: Collar Extension

In this video we review the method we used to build our Fermentation Chamber. We added the collar so we could fit our larger fermenters in the fridge in front of the box. This method can be done on almost any mini fridge to extend the door and fit a fermenter.
Facebook Group: / moskihomebrewgroup
Inkbird Review: • Inkbird ITC-308 - Prod...
Links:
NewAir Fridge: amzn.to/3gmLIpL
Chalk Paint: amzn.to/36zSROE
Heat Mat: amzn.to/3gCjvvh
Thermowell: amzn.to/3gooFuF
Temp Controller: amzn.to/2XwafzP
WiFi Temp Controller: amzn.to/2yE0MhC
Pocket Hole Jig: amzn.to/2M0Bn4H
Rubber Seal: amzn.to/2CFvmFB
Best Homebrew Book: amzn.to/327eGBO
Homebrew Recipe Book: amzn.to/329rgQW

[@mart242]

Just so you know, 2 years later that video is still useful. I'll build something based on what you did. Thanks

[@brentm4386]

Great Fermentations....nice...it's the same shop I go to in Indy. Happy to have found this channel!

[@TheBruSho]

Really creative idea, I have a similar fridge with the compressor taking up space and someday might have to give this a try!

[@marct9444]

No conocía vuestro canal, muy bueno!

[@HOMEBREW4LIFE]

great video, cheers dudes!

[@robertmullins9639]

Very cool idea and video! It would be great if you made one that explained the temp control, how you set it up for heat and cool, and how it works. Thanks!

[@MoskiHomebrew]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5XMm6Gdd69geqs

[@robertmullins9639]

@@MoskiHomebrew Thanks! Should've looked... great video and great idea! Thanks again!!!

[@PortlyGentleman]

That's pretty slick 🍻

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Thanks man, poor mans fermentation chamber HA!

[@PortlyGentleman]

@@MoskiHomebrew Smart man's fermentation chamber is more like it!

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Such a good idea! I bet it’d work even better inside the house

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Probably would, even though i have not had any issues. Fiance has me limited to the garage for my hobbies.

[@rafaelpestano7436]

Which rubber stopper you use so you can have the airlock and temperature probe? Nice one!

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Thermowell: amzn.to/3gooFuF Works great!

[@rafaelpestano7436]

@@MoskiHomebrew Interesting, I didn't know about that. I'll research on how can I adapt to my plastic fermenter (brouwlandprod-yappa.netdna-ssl.com/image/fancy/products-0176305.jpg ). Thanks!

[@jeremyking6114]

Any idea if this can double as a Keezer if you wanted? I’m thinking about drilling a hole in the top to add a draft tower for when the beer is done fermenting but worried it may not get cold enough with the collar and added size.

[@MoskiHomebrew]

We have fit kegs inside but you can’t fit much because of the hump in the back. Adding a wooden collar does give it more room.

[@hackattack7811]

Excellent idea. What kind of screws did you use to secure the collar to the fridge?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Self drilling screws or the ones that came with the pocket hole jig

[@hackattack7811]

@@MoskiHomebrew thanks

[@fnagdungdagint]

Can you just screw into the fridge walls like that? I would think its mainly made of thin plastic over styrofoam. Will that actually hold?

[@korpus_kallosum]

the link to the heat map brings to the chalk paint

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Should be fixed now, This is the heat mat: amzn.to/3gCjvvh

[@edwardkim7984]

The link to the Heat Mat links to the Chalk Paint.

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Should be fixed now: amzn.to/3gCjvvh

[@phillipdominguez2936]

How long where the screws that you used to screw the collar?

[@dean.walker]

I am interested in this as well. Screws for the wood and screws into the metal fridge. I just bought a 4.4 fridge and want to add a collar like this.

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Just took a screw out to check. It's the 1.5 inch long screw that came with the pocket hole jig kit.

[@mnvader]

Do the the pocket screws go all the way into the fridge? did you pilot drill all the way into the fridge?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Screws should reach the fridge about .5 inch. We didn’t predrill the fridge, only the wood.

[@louiej77]

Did you drill directly into the fridge? How did you avoid any cooling lines?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

No cooling lines in the sides, it's all in the back side of the fridge

[@ulissessanchez6832]

Have you had any issues with the heating pad? Does it retain the temperature ?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

No issues what so ever. I purchased two because I was a little weary of the heat it would put out, but so far with the weather outside being 30*, garage temp in the 50s, it maintains the temp at 68 easily inside the chamber with just one.

[@ulissessanchez6832]

I want to brew a neipa with kveik yeast but I’m not quite sure how to reach high temps for the yeast to survive. I was considering in purchasing a heating pad for my anvil foundry fermenter..

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Hmmm I'm not sure it would heat it that much or not, specially if your trying to hit 90*. See mine sits in the garage in the chamber, so it's semi insulated but I'm only fermenting at 66-72. You may be able to hit 80* with one mat, maybe purchase 2 and insulate around it a bit may work.

[@ulissessanchez6832]

@@MoskiHomebrew I have a inkbird temp controller hooked up to a refrigerator but I’ve never tried using in for warm temperatures. I’ll get a heating pans and wrap and see if that gets me in the 90s

[@edwardkim7984]

Is painting the wood necessary?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Nope, I just wanted to all be black instead of the wood color. This also allows me to write any hop additions on the collar along with gravity measurements.

[@charleswdowd]

you put the temp probe directly in the fermenter?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

It's in a thermo well. The bung has two holes one for the air lock and one for the thermo well

[@dmesa3237]

Did you use wood or metal screw to attach the collar?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

Wood screws will work, but you may need a pilot hole.

[@teknicalFighter]

How did you know you weren't going to screw into any lines when you attached the collar?

[@MoskiHomebrew]

The cooling in this fridge is in the back portion of the fridge that curls up to the top. It's exposed so I wasn't concerned. Even if it wasn't, I don't think they would run the cooling lines 1inch a way from the exterior metal, but that's just a guess. It's always a gamble.

[@canadianbrewer]

I phoned Danby who made my fridge, ( yes, in Canada ) and they said exactly where I can drill and not to drill ).

[@tobykraft3583]

I am considering using command strips to mount plastic clips to the collar and fridge to cinch them together without screws.

[@teknicalFighter]

I ended up using PL Premium 8x to glue the collar to the fridge. Held it tight with ratchet straps for a day and it was good to go.. For added security I also attached the collar to the fridge with a bracket using the existing hinge mounting holes. Though that PL Premium is super strong, I might not have needed it. I tried the cornstarch and isopropyl alcohol paste method for finding the lines but it was hard to tell where they were.

[@nikon200099]

where in Indiana are you from im in fort wayne

[@MoskiHomebrew]

La porte and indianapolis