My walk in cooler is almost done....

[Kit Carson]

I can see the trifecta hanging in there; bull, buck, bear.

 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

STILL WAITING FOR ANIMAL PICS IN IT. 

DID YOU NOT PUT PLYWOOD ALL THE WAY UP THE WALLS?

 

[jrebel]

No...plywood onlygoes 4' up the walls.  I wanted the plywood on the lower half the walls for easy paint / clean up.  So far it has worked amazingly well.  I have had it full twice this year alone (friends, family and my animals).  Last year at one point we had 5 deer and one elk in it at one time.  Holds temps easily at 34-39 degrees. 


Just took an elk and deer out of it yesterday to butcher.  Elk hung for 7 days and deer for 5 days.  My muzzleloader was busy a week ago.   

[jrebel]

pics from sept....two elk and a buck

[kellama2001]

Very cool!  I want one!

[jrebel]

After re-reading the post....figured I should update it.  I run my cool bot at 37 degrees and the final temps fluctuate between 35 and 39 degrees.  It works really well.  I run it for a couple months a year and have had no problems.  I am super in love with this cooler....it has been a welcome part to mine and many of my friends / familys hunting adventures. 

[TONTO]

 My brother's walk in, and my blacktail from this year. The track in the cieling tees off again(not in pic) for hanging quarters, and continues out above the door all the way to the garage door. Animals can be hoisted right out of truck bed, skinned and railed into the cooler.
 He also runs a cool bot and kept my deer chilled for a week at 35degrees. When we went to cut meat my hands went numb from the cold as if I was carking TUNA. My niecess fork from saturday, OR buck, is hanging in there now. Floor is sealed and has a drain, joking about digging it out and installing a disposal to help with cleanup. It is plummed right out back to his garden.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

After re-reading the post....figured I should update it.  I run my cool bot at 37 degrees and the final temps fluctuate between 35 and 39 degrees.  It works really well.  I run it for a couple months a year and have had no problems.  I am super in love with this cooler....it has been a welcome part to mine and many of my friends / familys hunting adventures.

What type of insulation did you use?  Do you recall what the R rating and thickness was and did you use multiple layers or just one? Lots of options out there, but your having good results it seems so any help is appreciated!

[ctwiggs1]

jrebel, any big fluctuation in power bill?  I know you have cheap power but still is it noticeable?  My wife and I are looking at a piece of property that has 3 sheds on it.... 1 of those will likely qualify for conversion 

[jrebel]

jrebel, any big fluctuation in power bill?  I know you have cheap power but still is it noticeable?  My wife and I are looking at a piece of property that has 3 sheds on it.... 1 of those will likely qualify for conversion 

Haven't noticed any increase in our electric bill.....but I really haven't paid to close attention to it either. 

[jrebel]

After re-reading the post....figured I should update it.  I run my cool bot at 37 degrees and the final temps fluctuate between 35 and 39 degrees.  It works really well.  I run it for a couple months a year and have had no problems.  I am super in love with this cooler....it has been a welcome part to mine and many of my friends / familys hunting adventures.

What type of insulation did you use?  Do you recall what the R rating and thickness was and did you use multiple layers or just one? Lots of options out there, but your having good results it seems so any help is appreciated!

I used the blue  pink and white foam board.  4-5" thick throughout.  With plywood  and insulation I figure my r-value somewhere in the 25-30 range.  It holds temp pretty well. 

[merkaba93]

Nice! That's gonna be real handy this fall. Have you thought of making cured meats, could be fun and tasty.........

Never done it....I guess I will have to research it.  I assume you would cure them in a meat cooler?  Any input would be great.

jrebel

This book is a great read  . Great Sausage Recipes and Meat curing. Rytek Kutas

Curing meat can be complicated. But do able.
You'll want to keep it at 60 degrees and 70% humidity.

You have the temp controller already just need to get a humidity controller and a humidifier. Sometimes when I put in new salami or whole muscles to cure I re program the controller and put in a de humidifier.

[Angry Perch]

Nice! That's gonna be real handy this fall. Have you thought of making cured meats, could be fun and tasty.........

Never done it....I guess I will have to research it.  I assume you would cure them in a meat cooler?  Any input would be great.

jrebel

This book is a great read  . Great Sausage Recipes and Meat curing. Rytek Kutas

Curing meat can be complicated. But do able.
You'll want to keep it at 60 degrees and 70% humidity.

You have the temp controller already just need to get a humidity controller and a humidifier. Sometimes when I put in new salami or whole muscles to cure I re program the controller and put in a de humidifier.

Yes, I think keeping the humidity in check in such a big space would be the issue. Certainly doable, but would require some trial and error. But that's the fun part. You might be able to tent off a small area with plastic. The Coolbot would still control temp, but you'd have a much smaller area to manage humidity.