Need a mini-fridge for Cornys. Budget limite = $175 firm

[Adam]

My mother is buying me a mini-fridge to help out with my homebrewing stuff, since things keep coming up that I can't buy one myself right now. When she learned I've got a hefeweizen kegged up with no fridge to put it in, she offered to buy me one . She's out of state so it will have to be bought online and shipped to me.

What models do you guys recommend to fit two kegs in? Keep in mind the budget is $175. I use ball lock kegs. The CO2 tank can be kept outside the kegerator if needed. Not a problem.

I was thinking of this one from Walmart. Would this work?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/GE-4.5-Cubic- ... k/14089905

[BeerPal]

Ideally you want one without a freezer. If a keg will not fit under the freezer section (and I suspect it won't), you will have to modify the freezer by bending it out of the way without breaking a coolant line. Not always easy.

[MikeB]

Not sure if this particular fridge will work. Are you using ball lock or pin lock kegs? They have slightly different dimensions. Best thing to do is run down to Walmart with a tape measure (a cardboard cutout with the keg's diameter helps as well) and see for yourself. I used a fridge like the one you show before I switched to a freezer/collar setup. Some have compressor humps and liners on the door that make it so kegs won't fit properly without modifying the fridge.

[Adam]

I'm using ball lock kegs as stated in the OP.

The Walmart here doesn't have displays. Only boxed up fridges.

[edisonst]

I bought a bench freezer(small one, fits 4 kegs) from habitat for humainty store for 30 bucks., We where able to fit it in the back of the subaru outback with only minor problems. Are you limited on space? Why a mini fridge?

[sharkmuncher]

I got one of these at target. (Now apparently out of stock) After cutting all the shelving out of the door and the shelf lips on either side, I can barely squeeze in 2 cornies and a 5# tank. I think I picked it up for ~$125 a few months ago. I'm pretty sure most 4.5 ft^3 fridge will work with a bit of cutting as long as the freezer is not separate.



Result:

[foomench]

I have one like that Target model, but significantly older. On it, I was able to peel back the rubber moulding and unscrew the plastic in the door for removal. I bought a flat piece of white plastic (overhead lighting cover?) at a big box home improvement store, cut it to size, and replaced the door piece with that.

[Adam]

Are you limited on space? Why a mini fridge?

It needs to fit in my office, which currently has a 3x3 area that it will fit. I'd like to get something bigger but that means taking out the TV/entertainment center/video game in the corner. Doing so requires an LCD TV that I can hook up my computer and my Xbox360 to so they can use one monitor. Then I can get a chest freezer in the corner and be done with it. This mini fridge is a stepping stone. When I get the keezer and stuff built, the mini fridge will be a lagering chest.