Is there any other method of attaching a collar to a box freezer besides using a glue or liquid nails? Trying to preserve the freezer in case I need to use it for something else.
You can fabricate an extension piece for your hinges . . . basically something like 3" x 12" aluminum that attaches to the old hinge fitting (body) and the new collar. The hinge assembly would attach to this extension. Then make the seal (bottom of collar) with something simple like weather-stripping/chalk. I did mine this way and it's pretty tough, plus it would re-convert without much difficulty.
I used foam tape weatherstripping under the collar, then attached perforated duct strap to one side of the collar, around the bottom of the freezer and up the other side. Since I used the original hinges attached directly to the collar, I didn't trust glue, particularly since the mating surface on top of the freezer is plastic and, while advances have been made, plastic-friendly glues are still not quite ready for prime time, IMO. It's tight enough that the lid doesn't know it's not attached to the freezer, itself. While it wasn't the objective, this approach didn't make any permanent modifications to the freezer (the thermostat tweak did that, but even that's reversible).
