Freezer mod

Chuck White · January 31, 2016, 09:35:52 AM

I had a 23 cu ft chest type deepfreezer given to me a few days ago, but it's way more freezer than we'll ever fill.

MOD:
I'm wondering if it would work to fill the bottom part of the freezer with cut pieces of 4" thick styrofoam insulation up to the point where the compressor housing top is, this would fill about 1/3 of the freezers available space!

Would the freezer still be as "efficient", compared to without the styrofoam in place.

Other suggestions welcome!

LeeB · January 31, 2016, 09:46:50 AM

I would think that it would be better to put something that will freeze in there and can help maintain temperatures.

thecfarm · January 31, 2016, 09:51:51 AM

Could you use milk jugs with water?? Than maybe one layer of foam to make it level.

sandsawmill14 · January 31, 2016, 10:07:45 AM

i dont think the styrofoam would be best but it would work but it will insulate the meat or what ever on the bottom side of the first layer taking it longer to freeze but once the first layer if frozen it would work like any other freezer. i like the milk jug idea myself but i would put a piece of 1/4" plywood on it instead of the styrofoam you could also us 2 x 4s instead of milk jugs but would be more work

elk42 · January 31, 2016, 10:20:16 AM

I use milk jugs and 1 gal. and 2 gal. zip lock bags. You can use that ice to make
ice cream. smiley_clapping

Chuck White · January 31, 2016, 12:32:46 PM

I like the milk jug idea!

I think that if I filled milk jugs and put them in the bottom of the freezer standing up, then built a rack (resembling a table) and set that in with legs going to the bottom of the freezer and the milk jugs underneath it, and the platform just above the jug tops and it would then become the new bottom of the freezer.

Make sense?

thecfarm · January 31, 2016, 12:39:58 PM

I myself would not put the legs of the table on the bottom. I would put a board the whole lenght of one side and put the legs on that. There is alot of weight on just 4 points and that could crack the plastic.

sandsawmill14 · January 31, 2016, 12:42:49 PM

yep but the but the legs would be up you if you wanted or not the frozen milk jugs would be plenty strong to hold the platform and anything else you could get in it

IndianaJoe · January 31, 2016, 01:27:03 PM

I never have enough freezer space

LeeB · January 31, 2016, 01:42:06 PM

We have two chest types and an upright and all three are filled to bursting.

Jeff · January 31, 2016, 01:46:00 PM

Don't fill the jugs. leave room for expansion when they freeze so they don't split.

Chuck White · January 31, 2016, 01:53:29 PM

Quote from: Jeff on January 31, 2016, 01:46:00 PM
Don't fill the jugs. leave room for expansion when they freeze so they don't split.

Good point Jeff, I'll just fill them to where the milk jug starts to curve!

WV Sawmiller · January 31, 2016, 02:00:49 PM

Chuck,

I agree with others that never have too much freezer space. Also agree with the milk jugs/ice idea. I've always heard freezers do best when full and having jugs of ice gives you surge capacity and flexibility. Can always take out a few jugs to make room for a big mess of fish or game.

Can also take the jugs of ice out and put in the refrigerator to keep it cool if you have a power outage (remembering they say keep your freezer closed as much a possible during such events). Can take out a jug to let it melt slowly providing drinking water on those hot days on the lake or in the woods. Can always send a jug or two of ice with family or friends when you send them off with a cooler full of goodies (I keep waiting on some one coming from Mississippi this way to bring me a fresh baked pecan pie from the MM).

Quote from: Jeff on January 31, 2016, 01:46:00 PM
Don't fill the jugs. leave room for expansion when they freeze so they don't split.

I fill mine full then squeeze on the sides to make expansion room then put the lid on to prevent air in jug.

Chuck White · January 31, 2016, 06:50:55 PM

Thanks for all the tips guys. 8)

The "keep the freezer full" for efficiency was on my mind and I just needed to figure out what would be best to take up some of that extra space.

Getting that freezer was pretty-much a timing thing, in late Spring, we're supposed to be getting 1/2 of a beef and 1/2 of a hog. Now we have a place to put it without spending lots of money!

We have an upright, but they just don't seem to hold much!

coxy · January 31, 2016, 09:25:09 PM

I have an up right that holds around 400lbs of beef

Jeff · February 01, 2016, 12:34:45 AM

It would probably only hold about 75 lbs of Chicken. Cause of the feathers.

WV Sawmiller · February 01, 2016, 01:22:42 AM

Quote from: Jeff on February 01, 2016, 12:34:45 AM
It would probably only hold about 75 lbs of Chicken. Cause of the feathers.

Reminds me of the tale about a plane windshield maker whose glass kept failing the bird strike test where a 5 lb chicken was shot out of a canon at a designated strike speed to simulate hitting a bird in flight. Manufacturer said their tests showed their product was okay but the military kept failing them so the manufacturer got an independent test agency who resolved the issue and told the military "stop using frozen chickens in your tests and they work fine."

sandsawmill14 · February 01, 2016, 07:07:16 AM

:D :D :D :D :D

gspren · February 05, 2016, 08:30:24 AM

If you want access to the jugs of water/ice keep them at one end instead of the bottom, easier to get one without moving a bunch.

LeeB · February 13, 2016, 11:33:52 PM

I had some extra room in my freezer so I filled it up with 100lbs of sausage. ;D

Chuck White · February 14, 2016, 08:33:49 AM

Good one Lee. ;D

breederman · February 14, 2016, 09:42:54 AM

When I was a kid we would fill the bottom of the old chest freezer with milk jugs full of apple cider . By the time the cider was gone the pig would be done !