Ice chest

[Jim Anders]

I am in the final stages of finishing my first build. For some strange reason I decided to make my own ice chest. I have a rectangular box built with a metal angle iron frame. I then bolted and glued plywood to the frame. On the inside I have lined it with insulation panels. Here is my problem, I had planned to use fiberglass to line the inside of the box but I guess fiberglass is not food safe so I need to do something else. Would some of the brushed aluminum I have left work? Plexiglass? Lots of smart folks on here from what I have read so I thought I would ask for some ideas. Thanks in advance from a newbie.

[eamarquardt]

Virtually every boat I've ever seen had a fiberglass icebox. Not sure where you heard they're not food safe.

Cheers,

Gus

[RandyG]

Is it the glass or the resin that you're worried about? Cause the resin by itself could be something to look into. I brushed a coat on an MDF box and painted over it and the box has lasted years outside in the weather.

[Jim Anders]

Is it the glass or the resin that you're worried about? Cause the resin by itself could be something to look into. I brushed a coat on an MDF box and painted over it and the box has lasted years outside in the weather.

I called the manufacturer of a fiberglassing kit and they said it was not food safe, but they did not specify why.

[Jim Anders]

Virtually every boat I've ever seen had a fiberglass icebox. Not sure where you heard they're not food safe.

Cheers,

Gus

I did not realize that Gus, it would be great news for me if I could use fiberglass. As I mentioned in another post I called the manufacturer of a fiberglass kit I was looking at and they told me it was not food safe. Maybe I need to look into other manufacturers. Thanks much for the input.

[KCStudly]

I don't see any issues so long as the fiberglass component is totally encapsulated (no dry spots) and the food is kept in sealed containers (which is how most people pack their coolers anyway). Epoxy is pretty impervious, must be able to sanitize it so long as the surface is fairly smooth, so what's the big deal?

$.02

Heck, over on the Foamie board there's talk of doing built in coolers using canvas, TB3 and paint.

[niget2002]

Is your food not going to be in some type of container in the ice chest? As long as the food isn't touching it directly, you should be fine. Just don't eat the ice out of it.

[Jim Anders]

Is your food not going to be in some type of container in the ice chest? As long as the food isn't touching it directly, you should be fine. Just don't eat the ice out of it.

Using the ice was my concern.

[Jim Anders]

Virtually every boat I've ever seen had a fiberglass icebox. Not sure where you heard they're not food safe.

Cheers,

Gus

X 2, my boats all had the same and I'm not dead yet

Well if you can survive I think I can too, fiberglass it is! Thanks to everyone for the help.

[Photoman33770]

Fiberglass itself may not be safe due to the particulates but when sealed in epoxy then it becomes toxins in the epoxy. If gel coated it becomes about toxins in the gel coat. SOOOOOOOO my brain burped and thought, build the box, epoxy and gel coat. Then add a food safe sealer. I have not looked lately but craft stores and such used to carry a food safe resin/plastic for making molds etc. Just put on a good coat inside box and lid and should be good to go.

[Jim Anders]

Fiberglass itself may not be safe due to the particulates but when sealed in epoxy then it becomes toxins in the epoxy. If gel coated it becomes about toxins in the gel coat. SOOOOOOOO my brain burped and thought, build the box, epoxy and gel coat. Then add a food safe sealer. I have not looked lately but craft stores and such used to carry a food safe resin/plastic for making molds etc. Just put on a good coat inside box and lid and should be good to go.

Hey, thanks for the info. I am going to look for the food safe resin.

[Bogo]

Another option would be to have somebody who does plastics vacuum molding make a tub insert to the size you need. I always figured if I did my own cooler, I'd have the tub insert made, then I'd build the box around it. Maybe include some vacuum insulation panels.

Also it isn't hard to solvent weld plastics like lexan, PVC or similar together. The main issue is parts must fit very tight, then the solvent wicks into the space between, and the parts join. A downside to this is the corners will be sharp and harder to clean. There are a few good youtube videos on doing the joints.

If you go the fiberglass route, give yourself inside corners of 1/2" radius or bigger. You will thank yourself when it comes cleaning time.