I built my very own cooler last summer and so far it is working great. I shot an axis this summer and the cooler stayed at 38 degrees even on 100 degree days. I don't know how I ever bowhunted in Texas without it!!

Awesome bro.

more pics

Nicely done. We built one on our place years ago and would be lost without it.

Nicely built. But your posting of pics needs some work. I gotta a pain in my neck now from looking. What are you using for a cooling unit.

very nice.

sorry, I didn't have my V8 yet today! I am using an 8000 btu AC unit from home depot

I have heard that the window AC units have a low temp limiter (something like 50 degrees at lowest) on them. Does your model have that or did you add something to make it go lower?

you add an external control unit that replaces the "brains" of the AC unit and allows it to reach the mid 30s without the unit freezing up. You can also have a refrigeration specialist manipulate the existing thermostat, but the external controller is more efficient. The control unit is called "cool bot"

Want one! Could you share the plans for it? Ready to build one for myself.

X'2 please

That is "cool"......can you elaborate more on how you made it?

I see what you did there

Looks good!

Should have bought a Yeti.

Great information bholland. do you know who sells them and about how much? I've got a 17K btu in a 12'X12' insulated room in our smoke house I'd like to put one on to get it below 67-68 degrees. I know it is insulated well because even with 2 windows in this room on a hot day (100) it will pull the temp down from 100 in the room to 67-68 in about 30 minutes but will get no lower.

By the way, great looking home made cooler to the original poster!

x2

What he built is cheaper than a yeti!!!


It looks good! I need to build one

great idea

Building the cooler is pretty easy. Mine is 4x6 and I can hang four deer in it at once. Build your frame, leave a cutout for you AC unit, and run a plug box and wire to the inside for your electrical. I used an old 12 guage electrical cord, cut the end off to attach to the electrical plug and the ran the male end out the back of the wall for an easy plug in. I used 4x8 sheets of smart panel siding for the exterior. Then install the insulation. Do not use regular fiberglass batt insulation, it allows for mold growth. Use solid foam insulation boards, the highest R value you can find, and cut them to fit between the studs. make sure to insulate the floor and ceiling. I used zip board for the interior siding because it is "resistant" to moisture. Also do not skimp on the floor. Advantec brand plywood is the best thing to use. Use a good quality exterior porch paint for the interior walls and floor, I put down three coats. I used a 36 inch steel door with the threshold removed to allow for washing out the floor after use. Be sure to trim the jambs of the door frame before installation to allow the door sweep to stay tight against the floor so you don't loose all of your cold air. The main components to the unit, and most expensive, are the AC and the cool bot. The cool bot will run you $300. Google "cool bot", go to their website, and you can order one from them directly. The website is full of information on how to use the unit and they have a great help line where you can talk to an actual person to get answers to your questions. They will also tell you what brand and type of AC unit works best with the cool bot. Once you get the cool bot and your AC installed, put in your rods to hang the deer from. I used 3/4 inch galvanized pipe. That is basically it. If anyone out there would like one and does not want to take on the project him/herself, I would be willing to build one for you. Again I have used mine for almost 18 months and I love it. I hope that answers everyone's questions.

Very nice thanks for sharing!

You can get a Ranco Digital Temp controller for less than $100 and it will do the same thing as the cool-bot.

X3!!!

How long did it take to sustain at 35 degrees

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