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Message |
    
Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 673
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.240.105
| | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 08:56 pm: | 
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I am thinking about buying a used walk-in. It is an old 1950's reach-in freezer from a local butcher who is moving. (I wonder why he's not taking it there.) It is covered in beautiful old oak paneling. Can I use it as a refrigerator instead of freezer? Any thoughts? Any questions or tests I should consider? TIA, Tom |
Skotrat
Senior Member
Username: Skotrat
Post Number: 1272
Registered: 04-2003
Posted From: 24.61.120.214
| | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 08:59 pm: |
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BUY IT!
That is my thought |
Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 674
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.240.105
| | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 09:17 pm: |
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If it's working fine, what would you think is a fair price? It's 12 feet long, 6 feet high and 3.5 ft deep. TIA, Tom |
Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 675
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.240.105
| | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 10:35 pm: |
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Scott, What temperature do you keep yours? TIA, Tom |
Norty
Junior Member
Username: Norty
Post Number: 57
Registered: 11-2000
Posted From: 69.8.146.251
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 01:03 pm: |
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Tom,
You may or may not use it as a cooler. It depends on if the compressor can handle running at a higher temp and also if the thermostat can go to your desired temp (which if it doesn't, get a different one). Ask what refrigerant is used in the unit and perhaps a manufacturer and model number. I could do some quick digging to see if I have any info on the model and type of compressor used.
I usually run my cooler around 38-42F.
Norty
(Message edited by Norty on September 09, 2005) |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 1662
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 216.23.31.197
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 01:39 pm: |
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My refigeration guy tells me that using a freezer as a refigerator stresses the compressor somehow - something about design pressure differential verses use differentials. Here is my concern about an older unit. If it is true that using a freezer as a refigerator is a wear problem, you may be stuck with replacing the cooling system due to the refigerent that may not be available anymore. Take this advice from someone who just paid $1346 to replace a compressor.
Dan Listermann
--This space is again being left intentionally blank.-
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Skotrat
Senior Member
Username: Skotrat
Post Number: 1273
Registered: 04-2003
Posted From: 24.61.120.214
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 01:50 pm: |
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Hey Now,
What Norty Says!
He is after all... THE MAN with the experience.
-Scott |
Norty
Junior Member
Username: Norty
Post Number: 58
Registered: 11-2000
Posted From: 69.8.146.251
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 03:35 pm: |
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$1346 to replace a compressor?!
Hey Dan, want to buy some swampland in Arizona?
But Dan mentions a good point, depending on the compressor, some units may not work well at refrigeration temps. That's why I need a number so I can tell if it can be used at refer temps.
Norty |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 1663
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 216.23.31.197
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 03:41 pm: |
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Walk in freezers can be expensive to maintain.
Dan
--This space is again being left intentionally blank.-
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Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 676
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.240.105
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 03:43 pm: |
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Thanks a bunch guys. Tom |
Belly Buster Bob
Senior Member
Username: Canman
Post Number: 2417
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 131.137.245.197
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 04:45 pm: |
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covered in oak???? Damn!!!if it doesn't work stick an A/C unit through the back.
Buy the damn thing before someone else does....and they will
Bellybuster Bob
www.bellybuster.netfirms.com
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Steve Jones
Junior Member
Username: Stevej
Post Number: 100
Registered: 08-2001
Posted From: 199.190.8.11
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 05:34 pm: |
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BBB is right - buy it for the looks, and if the cooling unit goes out, adapt a window AC unit to it.
I built my walkin using a window AC unit based on info Skotrat posted back when he was a midwesterner. The AC unit was a freebee and is about 20 yrs old. It's been running continuously for about 14 months now, staying right at 42F.
Homemade Walk-in cooler
Steve
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scott jackson
Member
Username: Kroc
Post Number: 173
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 209.107.56.131
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 10:12 pm: |
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How are you going to get it to your house? |
Skotrat
Senior Member
Username: Skotrat
Post Number: 1278
Registered: 04-2003
Posted From: 24.61.120.214
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 11:41 pm: |
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"based on info Skotrat posted back when he was a midwesterner"
No need for insults Steve...
And after that Full Moon lit walk to the naked guy in Tenn you do this???
I will never let you you kiss Nathi on the first date again! |
Mark Tigges
Intermediate Member
Username: Mtigges
Post Number: 360
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 66.38.134.9
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 11:53 pm: |
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Are you picking another fight Skot? |
Skotrat
Senior Member
Username: Skotrat
Post Number: 1279
Registered: 04-2003
Posted From: 24.61.120.214
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 12:19 am: |
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Actually Mark... There was this night at RatFest that it got kinda a late and we were drinking and stuff.
Well anyway it was a full moon and we were in Tenn. and we were drinking and it was well after midnight and we were still drinking and Steve asked me if I wanted to take a "walk" to the beach on the river and then we drank some more and then after another drink or two it sounded like a good idea and all. So anyway we gathered up about 6 or 8 folks who had also been drinking all day and all of the night (I love that song... ALL THE DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT..")and then we headed on out for our moonlight stroll to the beach. We took along a couple beers to make sure that we stayed well nourished and all. Nathi also took the walk with us and he was well for lack of a better term totally fitshaced. So we walk like what seemed to be about a mile and we were all drinking and letting the moon guide us. So we get to this beach and there are people partying and we have been drinking and all so it seemed like a good idea and stuff. There was this one drunk dude that had also been drinking that was already at the beach and he was like all naked and it was totally freaking nathi out because it appears that nathi has "issues" with male nakedness. So nathi wouldn't look at this guy and whatever so the guy kicked nathi in the ass and all. He kicked nathis ass!!! he never even put down his beer or cigarett and then he just kicked nathis ass and then he did this like stripper dance around nathi... It was pure highlarity and all. Then these folks were kayaking down the river and the naked guy called them all over for a beer... A naked guy in the Tenn mountains calling in kayakers to come a shore and have a beer with his nakedness...
did I leave anything out Steve?
True story... "queue the theme to deliverence here" |
Steve Jones
Member
Username: Stevej
Post Number: 101
Registered: 08-2001
Posted From: 164.89.253.4
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 01:44 pm: |
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Damn, Skot - you've "ratted" me out. Now everyone knows I'm a brewrat and my credibility has just been tossed out the window!  .
Absolutely true story - Nathi got his ass kicked by a naked guy. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life!
Steve
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Bill Freeman/ER
Member
Username: Elderrat
Post Number: 109
Registered: 10-2001
Posted From: 66.25.120.113
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 03:36 pm: |
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Tom, back to the original question for a moment....(that ain't the only thing that happened to our Nathi in the mountains of Eastern TN that weekend - ask him about the NASCAR fan).
I have a small walk-in 6Wx6Hx5D. It dates from the late 1950s and was made by Vulcan. Uses old style freon. Can go to 20 degrees if I want to pay the power bill to do so. I put a digital temp controller on it and rewired the whole thing in the interests of not burning down the garage. I run it at 48-50 degrees for lagers and 60-65 for ales. BTW, you need a good drain to the outside with these things when running them at temps other than freezing 'cause they generate a lot of ice in the evaporator and then go through a heating cycle to get rid of it.
It is simply my frementing fridge - a much needed item here in the South during the summer. It ain't nothin' fancy, but it gets the job done.
I think that there are probably 2 reasons they are leaving it behind...first is the age - anything can go wrong and servicing the old freon units is expensive. second it the cost of running it - while these old untis are bullet proof, they were built when electricity was cheaper than dirt. It cost about $25-$30 a month to run mine when I am brewing regularly.
I have an old Pepsi cooler that I use for serving and storing.
I'd still buy it although it will take a couple of large grunts to help move it. Get a couple of the furniture dollys to put under it.
Bill Freeman aka Elder Rat
KP Brewery - home of "the perfesser"
Birmingham, AL
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fob
Member
Username: Fob
Post Number: 150
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 199.184.119.58
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 06:12 pm: |
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Y'all found a NASCAR fan in Tennessee??? |
Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 681
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.240.105
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 06:15 pm: |
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Thanks all. I looked at it again and the walk-in is downstairs in their basement. Although the upstairs walk-in is covered in quartersawn oak, the basement is just pine. I was thinking that we could dismantle it and move it into my basement. But then started thinking about the compressor, freezer vs fridge temperatures, etc and decided to hold off for now.
But back to the more interesting story, since Nathi lives only a few blocks from me...
Should I ask how his romantic evening walk on the beach went?
Tom
(Message edited by tom on September 13, 2005) |
Jim Keaveney
Advanced Member
Username: Jimkeaveney
Post Number: 767
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 152.163.100.14
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 07:07 pm: |
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Lee Harvey...you are a madman! |
Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 682
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.240.105
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 02:24 pm: |
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"There was this one drunk dude that had also been drinking that was already at the beach and he was like all naked and it was totally freaking nathi out because it appears that nathi has "issues" with male nakedness. So nathi wouldn't look at this guy and whatever so the guy kicked nathi in the ass and all. He kicked nathis ass!!! he never even put down his beer or cigarett and then he just kicked nathis ass and then he did this like stripper dance around nathi... It was pure highlarity and all. Then these folks were kayaking down the river and the naked guy called them all over for a beer... A naked guy in the Tenn mountains calling in kayakers to come a shore and have a beer with his nakedness... "
I think I've just found my Halloween costume. I'll give Nathi a couple hours head start on Halloween and then just show up! Wish I had a video camera. |
Mark Tigges
Intermediate Member
Username: Mtigges
Post Number: 373
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.81.101.43
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 05:06 am: |
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I'm sorry I asked.
That'll teach ya for baiting a rat. Or am I just bad at it? |
Brews and Views Archive 2005 
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