Home Made Meat Cooler

[montec assassin]

Hi, I've been working on a meat cooler in my back yard that I'm really excited about so I figured I'd create a thread here to share it with you. Also, to perhaps view some pics of what some other HBC Members have built.

So, the back story is I've always said I'd build a meat cooler if I ever buy acreage. Well, the acreage hasn't happened yet but I did find a commercial walk in meat cooler unit on kijiji for $100. Jumping at the opportunity, I've started the process. When I built my house 10 years ago I also built a shed in the back yard. It was built pretty skookum. 2x4 construction and vaulted ceiling. I included an extra long ridge beam out the front for a kids swing and a covered portion on the side to keep extra building material protected.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2540_zpsgkjscveb.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2540_zpsgkjscveb.jpg.html)

Being a home builder, I was able to get some material for nothing, and next to nothing, so I filled the stud cavities and rafter spacings with 3.5" rigid insulation. I spray foamed any voids along the way.

I then lined the walls and ceiling with 2" rigid insulation to cover the studs to protect from thermal bridging and giving me an approximate R value of 20. I read industry standard in coolers is around 25-30 so with the oversized unit and 7' x 7' finished space inside I know this thing will be just fantastic. I built out my door to hold insulation and then lined the inside with 7/16" OSB.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2529_zpsudmv8ngr.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2529_zpsudmv8ngr.jpg.html)



The compressor unit fits nicely under the covered portion and the fans leave me enough room to get a good number of animals chilling nicely inside.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2533_zpswptklhwk.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2533_zpswptklhwk.jpg.html)

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2536_zpsd07bpdyn.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2536_zpsd07bpdyn.jpg.html)

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2538_zpsvf03uck4.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2538_zpsvf03uck4.jpg.html)

There is still the finishing touches to do. My electrician will be pulling power from my house and getting it lit up with lighting and power. My neighbour is a refrigeration technician so he is going to get me set up and dialled in.

The front swing beam will now act as a skinning beam before they head into the cooler. I will be rigging up the inside with piping to hang my meat hooks from and a crank to hoist a gambrel or two. I am going to paint a silhouette of a mule deer head on the inside and hang some of those old school metal outdoorsy signs in there too. Very unnecessary but may as well do it up right and have some fun with it.

I've just recently completed my PAL course so I'm very excited about this coming hunting season. I've been a longtime bowhunter for years and years, but i've got a thirst for learning how to shoot rifle and am looking forward to more opportunity than my stick and string has provided. Don't get me wrong, I was regularly successful with my bow but it's just another branch of being a hunter/outdoorsman.

Thanks
Myles

[IslandWanderer]

Looks awesome!

[scotty30-06]

Looks awesome brotha!!!

[Bear Chaser]

Nice setup.

[Island Idiots]

Cool Shed.:wink:

[XPEIer]

I think I would paint all the inside walls with a good marine grade paint, and create some kind of a floor drain so you can take the hose and spray it out when needed.

[bloody bellies]

I think I would paint all the inside walls with a good marine grade paint, and create some kind of a floor drain so you can take the hose and spray it out when needed.

nice job on the cooler, instead of paint inside, use FRP, easy to clean, then an epoxy paint for the floor for easy mopping ,

[ursusbait]

Nice job. Plenty of room! Also doubles as a beer fridge.

[HarryToolips]

Excellent job....

[Ohwildwon]

I think I would paint all the inside walls with a good marine grade paint, and create some kind of a floor drain so you can take the hose and spray it out when needed.

Yea, cover up that toxic OSB quick! #mold

[The Hermit]

Awesome!!! i'd love to do something like that!! Hummmmm

[cdub]

To help I would insulate the floor. Concrete will suck the cold out of the room. I did my floor with rigid foam on the concrete then covered in painted plywood.

[Codes44]

Nice work!

[Norwestalta]

Real nice. What is the cooler compressor worth these days? I've got a 48' reefer trailer that I built a partition wall in for a cooler compartment and the rest is for cutting meat. I think my compressor was around $1200. I built brackets to hold my hanging rail. If I remember correctly the 1 1/2" x3/8" flat bar was pretty reasonable and is also fairly easy to bend corners into. Meat hooks were $25 a piece used. These sure help on the back lol.

If anyone in the peace country is looking for walk in cooler compressor I got one you can have. The only problem is that it is 230v 3 ph.

[jlirot]

I would just level it so that all the water will run out the door - then no need for a drain.

Can I bring stuff over for cleaning, hanging, aging? :razz:

That's bitchin'

[tomahawk]

Nice job MA. Pls share the rest as progress continues, I have gathered the lumber, some insulation, A/C and I'm going to build one on the back side of my shed out back. I still need hooks, cool bot, roofing, door etc but hope to have it functional this fall.

[LuckyHorseshoe]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/webkit-fake-url://9ff1c120-3921-4957-9b9b-7076dc9203ce/imagejpeg

[LuckyHorseshoe]

http://www.photobucket.com/user/markschroeder1/media/IMG_0103_zpsnvqyamwl.jpg.html
http://www.photobucket.com/user/markschroeder1/media/IMG_0109_zpsinqnbvf2.jpg.html

[montec assassin]

Looks like a nice unit there LuckyHorseshoe. A lot more mobile than mine. Very Handy.
Norwestalta, I'm not up to speed on the current unit pricing. Like I say, found a great deal on the cooling system for $100 which isn't common. Princess auto has 9inch stainless steel meat hooks for $8.50
The bar is 1 1/4" galvanized top rail of chain link fencing components.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2542_zps0rqom9vd.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2542_zps0rqom9vd.jpg.html)

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2541_zpsynxvr0dd.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2541_zpsynxvr0dd.jpg.html)

Thanks for the positive feedback

[Norwestalta]

Be careful with the princess auto hooks. They do break.

[sed8ed]

I know it's been said before but get a coating on that OSB sooner rather than later... MOLD MAGNET!!

Even a coat or three of shellac primer would be good, i'd hate to see all that awesome work have to get redone before you get a chance to use it properly. Once you fire up the compressor the humidity will spike in there and you will develop problems quick, also when the board gets damp it will swell and lose the bond between the leaves.

[Darksith]

the glue on the OSB can actually be food for the mold fyi...

[montec assassin]

Thanks for the mold concerns about the OSB. I am just currently researching the best product to use.

[montec assassin]

Hi all, I thought I'd continue my post here with some updated photos of my completed cooler. First off, I'm very happy I took the advice of covering the OSB. It looks much nicer and secondly, it battles any moisture/mold concerns. After some research/info from my painter, I primed the OSB and then did a couple top coats with a food safe paint that is specific to coolers. The finish repels any moisture and allows any blood to be wiped up nicely. Rubber baseboards sealed to the concrete floor with silicone will allow any cleanup necessary while giving a clean finish to the inside. I painted on a cool moose head and had my electrician install a panel, with indoor and outdoor lighting. I like how the metal conduit gives a commercial feel. The cooling system keeps a constant 1-3 degrees. The nicest part is my best hunting pal dropped a brute of a four point this weekend, so it's currently having it's cherry popped and actually keeping some game cool instead of me just saying "I built a cooler in my backyard this summer." Good luck to all this season.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2620_zpsp483sz0u.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2620_zpsp483sz0u.jpg.html)
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2621_zps1ikwfekq.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2621_zps1ikwfekq.jpg.html)
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2623_zps5fgxrkss.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2623_zps5fgxrkss.jpg.html)
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q731/builtstrong/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2625_zpspxgc6uwr.jpg (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/builtstrong/media/Meat%20Cooler/IMG_2625_zpspxgc6uwr.jpg.html)

[montec assassin]

Hopefully these work...

https://imgur.com/UFFNwRU
https://imgur.com/m0wOlE5
https://imgur.com/ag7Xb0w
https://imgur.com/qaawiUq