Homemade bar

MarkLP · 17 Apr 2006 at 20:55

Hiya, me and my friend are making a homemade bar.. and wondering what would be a suitable method of keeping the beers cool on a wood shelf?

I was thinking of drilling lots of holes in the plywood and sticking some fans underneath (hence the wanted thread) but thinking about it I dont think they will do the job properly. I then got the idea of 2 car radiator fans underneath blowing air up onto the cans/bottles keeping them cool? Anyone have any views or any other ideas please?

Don't have very much money to spend on the whole project so as cheap as possible please :

Thanks
Mark (and Nick)

AthlonTom · 17 Apr 2006 at 20:57

You cant cool them below ambient temperture without using an active form of cooling. So fans will just give you beer at room temperature.

Adam · 17 Apr 2006 at 20:57

MarkLP said:
Hiya, me and my friend are making a homemade bar.. and wondering what would be a suitable method of keeping the beers cool on a wood shelf?

I was thinking of drilling lots of holes in the plywood and sticking some fans underneath (hence the wanted thread) but thinking about it I dont think they will do the job properly. I then got the idea of 2 car radiator fans underneath blowing air up onto the cans/bottles keeping them cool? Anyone have any views or any other ideas please?

Don't have very much money to spend on the whole project so as cheap as possible please :

Thanks
Mark (and Nick)

Kegs or barrels of beer are kept at a constant temperature often in the cellar of a pub. I believe its around 10 degrees. I dont think you would be able to do that in an everyday room, especially not with summer approaching.

Liverpool-Lad · 17 Apr 2006 at 20:58

As mentioned and the fans would make a racket. Perhaps get a small bar fridge instead.

MarkLP · 17 Apr 2006 at 20:59

I understand what you mean. But this is just for say an evening or day when they are out on the shelf ( basically when theres a party )

And as the fans seem to blow the room air colder ( if you get what i mean ) i thought it might keep them cooler then just standing on the shelf.

Cheers,
Mark and Nick

Liverpool-Lad · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:01

The fans just move air around, they cant actually 'cool' anything.

MarkLP · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:04

Hmmm, I see your point. Not sure of any other way I could do it without spending lots of money on a fridge

Any ideas? lol

AthlonTom · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:05

MarkLP said:
Hmmm, I see your point. Not sure of any other way I could do it without spending lots of money on a fridge Any ideas? lol

Get a big container - half fill it with water and ice - then chuck loads of beer in?

Roalith · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:06

Lots of bin bags and ice cubes?

Liverpool-Lad · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:06

Just put them in the fridge like every other Tom, Dick or Harry and stop trying to be Tom Cruise from 'Cocktail'.

Adam · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:07

You don't want to let the beer cool and then let the temperature rise, the idea is that the beer is kept at a constant temperature. If you are only using the beer every few days etc it might not taste too good as it will be lying in the pipes. Depending what beer you are using (lager/bitter) you will have to pump this out before you can actually get a decent pint.

daz · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:16

You could drill some holes and slide the beer bottles/glasses into a recessed cup holder style thing, each with a low power peltier at the bottom/side. :cool:

Redrum · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:17

You could use a peltier, like this:

No competitors. Read the FAQs. FF.

They are not very big so you would probably want attach some thin sheet metal over the cold side and you could get a few beers on it. I don't know how cold it would get them though. The sensible thing to do, is just buy a fridge, even if its a second hand one as you don't want to spend much. Alternativly, you can get mini fridges quite cheap, specifically designed just to cool a few beers.

bigredshark · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:22

the last time i organsied a serious party, we got a dustbin, filled it with water and about 20kg of ice, then added beer.

it was pretty good until some idiot tried to move it at 4 in the morning and completely screwed up (i may or may not be the idiot in question)

also, glass bottles sink, it's not a lot of fun, in march, plunging your arm into icy water up to the shoulder every time you want a corona...

-westy- · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:31

Just get a few buckets, and loads of ice and water.

Be very careful, if you intending to sell alcohol at these parties, you'd need a licence.

Rich1988 · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:34

the only reason air feels cool is that it blows the warmer air away that our body has created and the moisture is blown away and takes heat with it, since cans create now heat of their own and dont sweat air flow will not make any difference, a pretty good way of cooling cans really cheaply is to cover them in a wet tea towel and blow air over them, the air carries away moisture and heat through evaporation cooling the beers a lot it works and is super cheap

(hope i helped)
Rich

Anders0n · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:42

bigredshark said:
the last time i organsied a serious party, we got a dustbin, filled it with water and about 20kg of ice, then added beer.

Or use a bath.

Pug · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:43

wrap the cans in a wet towel and blow air over towel with a fan.

If you keep the towel wet, it should cool/keep the beer cool

Rich1988 · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:44

Pug said:
wrap the cans in a wet towel and blow air over towel with a fan.

If you keep the towel wet, it should cool/keep the beer cool

hehe obviously didnt read my post ^