hovabators or a cabinet?

[ninjapoodles]

Wait--you mean my "dead" upright freezer could actually be turned into something useful?

Where are the plans for how to do that?

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Stop drooling.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Seriously--the thing died while still fairly young, and has been taking up space in the basement ever since. It's spotless, intact, and clean...just doesn't freeze any more. Very frustrating!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
You have 3 choices:
1-Replace the compressor and make it work again
2-Turn it into a giant bator
3-Chuck it

If it was me I'd get it fixed. A big freezer is a good thing.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Yes that deep freeze would work great. You only need a peace of pipe running down the back with a fan blowing air threw it. Pulling air from the top to the bottom. Then add some kind of heat source on a thermostat. Anything from a light bulb to a hair dryer. Add wire shelves Maybe a turner and a drawer with a lid for a hatcher. An fill any extra space with blocks or jugs of water for thermal mass. Just google "fridge incubator" there everywhere.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
You have 3 choices:
1-Replace the compressor and make it work again
2-Turn it into a giant bator
3-Chuck it

If it was me I'd get it fixed. A big freezer is a good thing.

Don't forget you can lay it on its back an make a great brooder.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Good suggestions! We were told that it would cost as much to repair it as it would to just buy a new one. It was only about 5 years old.

Down in the basement, we have one extra refrigerator, a large upright freezer, and a chest freezer. Ironically, these were all used units when we got them, and have far outlasted the ONE brand-new Kenmore freezer that's down there being a giant paperweight right now.

 

[jvls1942]

I suggested freezer and not refrigerator because there is more clear workable space in one.. a refrigerator would work also..

Just do not forget the danger aspect of kids getting trapped inside.. (ref: comment about laying one on its back)

You can buy replacment heating coils from chicken catalogs.. a light bulb is not very energy efficient as a heat source.. by the time you wire 2 or three lights in there, you can purchase a heat coil.

Or do like I did..tear the guts out of a styrofoam bator and use them.

also, wire the fan to blow continuously.. wire only the heat coil through the thermostat..

I rewired some of my foam bators that way.. I think the heat stays more constant that way..

........jiminwisc.......

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
I was just talking to my Mom about this recently...my thinking is that this would not be a danger in modern fridges or freezers, because the doors no longer latch, like they used to.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
Whats the safety difference between a stand up freezer laying on its back an a chest type freezer. None have latched in years. The danger was stand up fridges with latching handles, very few still around. All new ones can only be locked with a key from the out side.