Hey guys, Trying to do a big project of a fermentation chamber. Ideally would like to be able to fit 2 6.5 gallon carboys inside of it, and since I'm new wasn't sure if anyone with experience knows the right dimensions that i would want for size? Just not sure about square footage inside, how much space would I want above the airlock? Thanks.
According to morebeer.com, a 6.5g carboy w/ threaded neck has the following dimensions: Dimensions: Height: 20.75 inches Width: 12.5 inches Plus you need to have a few extra inches of height to allow for airlocks and a tiny amount of space in between carboys helps to get them in and out. Above the airlock you don't really need more than an inch or two at most I'd say. Just enough space for the gas blowing off to escape from. If you want to be able to use a blow off tube / sanitizer bucket, include even more space I use the following chest freezer (check it's dimensions) that snuggly fits 2x 6.5 gallon carboys, has enough head room for airlocks / blow off tubes, and has some extra width for the compressor (which forms a little ledge that I can put a blow off tube sanitizer bucket on) http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-7-0-c...CM7SHWW/205462818?N=5yc1vZc3nr#specifications
Yeah, if you're going to use a chest freezer, this thread at HBT might help. Though it's about dimensions for kegs, but it's a great visual aid: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/sizing-your-chest-freezer-corny-kegs-75449/
Here's a recent thread that may help. http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/chest-freezer-question.208169/#post-2745784
Let's cut to the chase ...if you are like most homebrewers (at least me). you will use your fermentation chamber at least as much for refrigerator duty ( parties, lagering, maybe even oddball shit like a sour/winter heating/ferm /tomato growing chamber. But one thing's for sure...you can only use it for one of those things at a time...so...GO BIG (kinda like kettles)...you never know what you will use it for.
Or....GO OFTEN My chest freezer(s) barely fits 2x 6.5g carboys, but I've got 3 of them all with 2 stage temp controllers
Are you building a fermentation chamber, or buying one? Not that it matters much to your questions, but congrats on your ambition if you are building stuff. Not my strong suit. For size, you always want it to be "just big enough." Then you never are cooling more space than you need to cool. Alas, inevitably, what was once "just big enough" becomes too small, as your hobby grows.
I can't decide what to do. I live in an apartment with my fiance so it has to look nice, so I'm not sure if a chest freezer in the living room will be acceptable. So I'm thinking either build something or place wood on the chest freezer and try to make it look nice.
Or drill some holes in the top add some taps and make it a keezer. Then no one will complain about the freezer in your living room. Just tell people its not a freezer, it a cool white box for my kegs. Also, I have a 7.0 chest freezer and it easily holds 2 buckets, carboys or large-mouth bottles. Can't wait to use it for a lager down the road.
my story is more on the kegerator and not ferm side of things, but there are definitely some sleek looking keezers I've seen that would definitely be considered works of art like fine furniture. I'm somewhat handy, but those are well above my paygrade. I have a chest freezer that i built a collar into to create a keezer and did the chalkboard paint to give a fun appeal for my kids. They have their own seltzer tap that remains unlocked for them to use so they can mess around with making their own soda. They draw pics for my beers that are on tap on the chalk board...so it's interesting how it's morphed into a toy for the whole family.
