Garage Fridges

[ChristopherLutz]

So,

It's sort of convenient to have a cold box in the garage. Unfortunately, the garage is MUCH dirtier than the house....so, the coils look like they're wearing a sweater fairly often.

Today, I cleaned them a "new way" - I used my leaf blower

Worked like a champ and made a hell of a dust cloud...but, for the garage it was ok and I was done in 30 seconds.

Just thought I'd share.

 

[thatcoder]

are modern fridges coils exposed?

 

[cowboyjosh]

I LOVE my Gladiator Garage Works fridge, 4 years old (knocks on wood) no problems.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

a modern fridges coils exposed?

Whether exposed or not, dirty air from the garage moves thru them, and they collect all the **** blowing around on the floor. In fact, you would be better off with an model with the coils on the back (yes, they they still make them, or they did a year ago when I looked at new ones).

Also be aware that some new fridges depend on sitting on the flat floor to provide proper ducting of air into the coils. If you elevate it on a frame or it is not sitting on the floor, make sure there is a flat piece of plywood or similar under it to form the bottom of the "duct" to the coils and blower, or it will not cool properly.

Charles

 

[koditten]

I cleaned mine this spring. I just used compressed air because it is already near the fridge. I couldn't believe how much **** I blew out or the coils. I didn't realize how inefficient the fridge was running until the next night I grabbed a beer...They were all froze!

I'm glad they were cans, I would have had a hell of a mess to clean up

 

[Boyd]

Good reminder for people. I killed the below fridge because I neglected to clean the coils for a couple of years. A fridge is easy enough to replace, but some of the stickers on it had a ton of sentimental value...family vacations, gifts from my daughters, my cousin's tattoo shop, weekend getaways with the Mrs. etc. I even searched a few weeks for the same model so I could swap the doors, but never found one.

Still kick myself every now and then for being forgetfull.

 

[PhantomEB]

I pretty much vaccum and dust by air twice a year, cant have a dirty shop. Cant wait til I get me a full size fridge, nothing wrong with extra freezer room for meat.

 

[thatcoder]

hmm.. i've got one of the gladiator garageworks units.. where is the coil located?

 

[Keep]

Fridges take up valuable tool space, thats prime drill press real estate there!

But I would look for a fridge with a coil in the back as well, much easier to clean.

 

[ChristopherLutz]

My coils are on the bottom - they have to be somewhere...and (as posted) will get dirty. Air has to pass over them in order for them to do the heat exchange.

I have a small cover on the front at the very bottom that removes and then you can see the coils.

I'm no expert - but, I'd guess that if they aren't on the back, they're on the bottom.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I suppose I oughta clean off the fridge in the garage. I've never cleaned it and never gave much thought to it. Another friendly reminder from the GJ.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Mine just died the other day. Need to find a new free/cheap fridge.

Chris

 

[Will67]

I have been looking for a vintage kelvinator fridge for quite some time. Dad had one the thing was a tank. Love the art deco style of it. American restoration tv show did a episode on one. Now every Tom **** and Harry are looking for them!

 

[Gary S]

Just buy an old reject fridge from someone's garage sale. Then park it in your garage, and don't worry about it. In the old days life was simple. We bought a fridge, ignored it for 40 years, and kept using it. Lots of old fridges still have many years of non-maintenance left in them.
My garage fridge doesn't get cleaned. It sits in its corner until it dies. Then it gets replaced.
Or, get a new one and spend the rest of your life worrying about maintenance on it instead of drinking the cold beer in it.

 

[dittle fart around]

I think refrigerators and televisions belong in the house. The garage is for working. When you need a break grab a beer from the kitchen, sit outside, watch the clouds roll by and let the dust settle in the garage.

 

[P1et]

I picked up a small Red Bull fridge on Craigslist. Works great, and keeps my expensive waxes at the right temperatues.

 

[Cougar]

Good reminder for people. I killed the below fridge because I neglected to clean the coils for a couple of years. A fridge is easy enough to replace, but some of the stickers on it had a ton of sentimental value...family vacations, gifts from my daughters, my cousin's tattoo shop, weekend getaways with the Mrs. etc. I even searched a few weeks for the same model so I could swap the doors, but never found one.

Still kick myself every now and then for being forgetfull.

Did you save the doors or the door skins.

 

[mad57]

odd mine died the other day as well was perfect small mid size frig, im thinking on those dorm smaller frigs can buy it for like $69 bucks on sale.

 

[1Garageman]

This is all new news to me. I am a coil cleaning virgin! We have a Freezer and a Fridge in our garage. And I do a lot of wood working in there. So there is a lot, I mean a LOT, of saw dust that goes up in the air. I had no idea about this. Thanks for posting.

 

[BHR4CE1]

Get a Sub-Zero. The compressor and coils, etc are all on the top.

 

[yellowdartdave]

Make sure your fridge has a beer tap in it !!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think refrigerators and televisions belong in the house. The garage is for working. When you need a break grab a beer from the kitchen, sit outside, watch the clouds roll by and let the dust settle in the garage.

Sanctuary needs to have creature comforts.

 

[cruzer75]

I got one from the neighbor when they were moving and they left it on the side of the road. Nice dorm size with freezer on top. Wasn't sure if it worked but has been great for beer and other stuff that overflows from the house.

Stew

 

[Greatbear]

I have a cheap 5cf GE fridge/freezer in my home garage. Advantage to that one over the 2cf "dorm" fridge it replaced is the condenser coils are built into the outer jacket, there is nothing "exposed" to get damaged or dirty, and the outside does not sweat like the old fridge. The "work" garage has an old, beige Whirlpool fridge that's been there for years.

 

[matty d]

Just saw a craigslist ad for 2 Gladiator fridges...free! I called and the person giving them away said they went fast. @^&#$^%!!!!!!

 

[camarotoolman]

old fridges are electric wasters, scrap it, save money and help the planet. walk inside to get a drink.

 

[Bronson]

Good reminder for people. I killed the below fridge because I neglected to clean the coils for a couple of years. A fridge is easy enough to replace, but some of the stickers on it had a ton of sentimental value...family vacations, gifts from my daughters, my cousin's tattoo shop, weekend getaways with the Mrs. etc. I even searched a few weeks for the same model so I could swap the doors, but never found one.

Still kick myself every now and then for being forgetfull.

Friend of mine had the same problem with stickers he hated to toss. He took off the fridge door and screwed it to the wall!

 

[Bronson]

I think refrigerators and televisions belong in the house. The garage is for working. When you need a break grab a beer from the kitchen, sit outside, watch the clouds roll by and let the dust settle in the garage.

Sir, BLASPHEMY!

 

[Bronson]

I like My beer COLD. Ice cold. So, I keep a Coleman cooler in the shop. Ice and beer. Mmmm!

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Stupid question. Isn't it bad to keep a fridge in the garage if you're up north? I've always been told that it causes problems. Strangely, one problem is not getting cold enough (I've seen this myself, where a fridge that works 3 seasons runs warm during the winter).

 

[rwhite692]

I like My beer COLD. Ice cold. So, I keep a Coleman cooler in the shop. Ice and beer. Mmmm!

This is exactly why I haven't bothered (yet, anyway) with putting a fridge in my shop.

It's been my experience that mini-fridges never seem to be able to get beer to be cold enough.

I require "tooth crackin' cold" for my beer, water, soda.

I also don't want to waste all of the the space that a full size fridge requires. It's a huge amount of space, the footprint of the fridge, and the door swing area.


***EDIT***

I saw this mini fridge and had to buy it since it is "Miller" Blue, LOL. We'll see how it holds up. It was cheap enough.

 

[Bronson]

"hand-crampin cold" requires ice!

 

[SweetD]

Make sure your fridge has a beer tap in it !!

An HCN sticker on a fridge in FL? Nice!

I'm from Vernon, CT originally, and WHCN was a great station when I was growing up. Wonder of they still braodcast good music today?

Dave

 

[PrecisionTools]

I tried a fridge in my shed once, I spent a heap keeping beer and Bundy Red up to it and nearly became an alcoholic! Never again...

 

[W650Mike]

Shops and fridges are like boxes and tools - when you get too many tools for the box, you don't throw out the tools; you bet a bigger box. If a full sized fridge takes up too much floor space it's time for a bigger shop. I've gone from a dorm cube in a one car to a full sized in a 30x40. The wife got several house upgrades in between. Work it to your advantage guys!

 

[Freefall_Doug]

Friend of mine had the same problem with stickers he hated to toss. He took off the fridge door and screwed it to the wall!

Cut the front skin off the door with a cut off wheel. Then have a metal shop with a brake fold over the four sharp sides so you have nice clean edges. You will have a real interesting piece of at work.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Most refig doors you can take the gasket and the inside off of and have a steel framed wall hanging about 1 to 1 1/2 in thick. Remove handles and you have more room for stickers.

 

[dyogim]

I have a full size side by side fridge in my 3 car garage. Stainless steel front doors and I plan on hooking up the water line for water and ice. Mainly use the fridge for beer and over stock items.

Prior house (about 2 months ago), the fridge was in a 2 car garage that heated up like a sauna during warm days and even hotter when it got up to the upper 90's. Fridge worked hard and elec. bill was high. New garage is insulated very well and is a 2 story home. Elc. bill is a lot less and the temp in the garage is low enough to sit and work comfortably. Need to make sure I clean those coils on the bottom to make sure it runs more efficient.

Side note...Great forum!!! 1st post and look forward to posting more. I'll have a thread for my garage set-up soon. Still working on shelving and purging through boxes from the move.

 

[AndrewBigA]

I picked up a small Red Bull fridge on Craigslist. Works great, and keeps my expensive waxes at the right temperatues.

mmm lusso. you just reminded me to order a fresh can! i still have a little left but its all dried up & hard lol. SV is a waste of $ but if you like it continue to use it.

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I have been looking for a vintage kelvinator fridge for quite some time. Dad had one the thing was a tank. Love the art deco style of it. American restoration tv show did a episode on one. Now every Tom **** and Harry are looking for them!

When my Dad passed away, and we were prepping his house for sale, my sister asked for our old _pink_ Frigidaire that we had out in the Texas room (same as a Florida room for you on the east coast). It sounded like a bus, but was new in 1960, and had gone with us across the country more times than I'd like to count, and has never given us a minute of trouble. Now that I have my shop, I wish I had it. But at least it's being used.

Our home fridge is about to become my shop unit. The vacuum-formed inner door panels have crumbled (the upper fridge unit was replaced when you could get them, the lower freezer unit is NLA and didn't survive my attempts to repair it (never, never, never use expanding foam insulation in plastic panels)). That means we gotta buy a new one for the house!

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas