Anyone here built thier own walk in freezer? I can get the compressor and condensor free from a fellow I sell lamb to. Compressor is ify but the condensor is supposed to be good. i have a fellow to check it out and install it. I need floor, wall, door, designs specs etc. It will have to freeze to -21c Thanks

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), February 22, 2002

Answers

If you build a freezer the most important part is an inside door release and why so cold?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 22, 2002.

I'm not sure of where I seen the web site but you can purchase the walk-in freezer panels. All they are just 4x8 slotted panels that screw together. You can make it how ever long you want it and do it yourself. Of course you will have to take in consideration the size of your compressor/condensor unit.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 22, 2002.

here is a web site that has alot of free blue prints in and a couple for a walk in freezer http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/MISC.htm Hope this helps

-- scott and laurie (slaf99@cs.com), February 22, 2002.

why not chek into buying a a refer unit off a trailer or used truck

-- paul (JWvonmantik@attbi.com), February 22, 2002.

So cold because sheep's milk can be stored for over a year at that temperature without spoiling. I'd rather not store it so long but some things we're trying will require milk being available when we're not milking. I'll check out the plan site thanks! Yes I know about the bolt together pannels, and would use them if I could find them at a reasonable price! You wouldn't think used freezer salesmen had much of a sence of humor but they have the funniest comeback for "How much?"

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), February 22, 2002.

I don't know much about this.

I'm thinking actually running the freezer, esp at that low temp, would cost a lot more over the years than building it. I hope you don't get penny wise & dollar foolish on this deal. I would want an efficient unit, & properly sized to what I need.

Sorry I can't actually help you any, but I hope you look at the big picture....

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), February 22, 2002.

Reefer unit idea has some appeal one I looked at had a 2 cyl diesel engine which would be a nice back up. Cost of operation from other sheep milkers polled averages $5 per day for electricity. Gotta have it or I don't milk, it's that simple.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), February 22, 2002.

If you mean that it has to be able to get and stay at -21 degrees Celsius, then I would definitely want to go with something that was made for that, ie a premade freezer.

Sounds expensive, wish you well with it.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 22, 2002.

Had a friend who had a complete truck freezer with working refigeration unit that wanted $500. Couldn't sell it so he gave it away. Figure out how much it's going to cost to build a walk in and then check on a used truck freezer body. See which is cheapest.

-- Darren (df1@inif.net), February 22, 2002.

I've been told used prefab freezers cost anywhere from $500 to $2000, set up with us doing most of the work. Fine. Local yahoos want 3000 and up uninstalled. Great for them if they can get it. troubles me a bit. My timetable is flexable, and I expect I could spend $2500 on it. New is 10,000 to 15,000. The freezer will be one of the cheaper components in this venture but can be used to hold box lamb and I might just over size it and store our two houses worth of deep freeze stuff there and ditch the house chest freezers........there's 5 of them! Heck there's 12 running when we milk! Some power savings there I think. Building my own is second choice and only because I found free components. Thanks for your help and all thoughts are appreciated!

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), February 22, 2002.

Hello I just put in a walkin cooler its 6+8+8 I used closed cell foam insulation all the way around 4ins walls floor and top. I started with a new compressor and condensor that way I was able to ues the new cheaper refegerants. I tryed one of those its yours if you move it coolers and I got what I payed for. The wood pannals had that white cottonie battin insulation that sucked up moisture and would freeze up it was a mess. I had no plans I just made a nice tight box the door was a little tuff I had the door hard wear from my junker. The foam was about 700$ the tin for the in side I barter half a small hog cut up for the comp.and cond. were 1650$ with the unit I bought I have a cooler or a freezer dep.how I set the controls.It cost about 40$ a month to run as a cooler I turned the settings down and froz up a beef I had cut up for a guy that worked well to. If it a must have I say start new I wish I had the first time.If you need more help names etc. I will dig out the books and stuff Oh ya I built this walkin in a room that was allready in my barn. You have my email I will try and help if I can until then stay cool Jimbo

-- Jim Lewis (jtbutcher30@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

Ross,You can get walk-in freezer panels here in north MS. We bought enough panels to build our house and shop.I know some people who built their house out of panels and their utility bill is about twenty dollars a year. Bettie

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), February 23, 2002.

Be very careful where you decide to make this freezer. The lab where I work was doing a long-term study of frozen soils. One day we got a panicked phone call from a old shipping company in New Jersey that was undergoing renovation, but the foundation was collapsing at one corner. In the early 1950's they had put in a walk-in freezer without insulating the floor, and only minimal insulation on the outside walls. The freezer then ran continuously for 45 years. The contractor shut off the freezer when they began the renovation, and started watching the floor and walls sag and collapse.

What had happened was the freezer froze all the groundwater around the floor and exposed walls over a period of 45 years. As the ice thawed, it turned what had been soil into a thin soup, and the building was trying to sink at that corner. We told the contractor that he had a disaster on his hands, and hoped that he had good insurance and a good lawyer, because he was going to need both.

This didn't go over very well.

Try not to repeat the same mistake.

-- Paul D. (pd-personal@msn.com), February 24, 2002.