Freezers & Nic: Upright or Chest, Auto or Manual Defrost?

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Glinda

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For long term storage of nicotine, we all agree that freezing is the way to go. Yet now that I'm researching which type of freezer to buy, my brain has been overloaded, and being new to DIY doesn't help.

Chest or upright: I see medical freezers with front doors and super fine temperature controls, and think "this is it!", but then I read that basic chest-type freezers are supposedly better than front door types because they keep contents at a more constant temperature ("cold air sinks" is a good argument there). Since I won't be opening and closing the thing too often, I wonder if either type will really be better than the other?

Auto defrost or manual: I see a lot of back and forth on this. I understand that temperature changes can cause freezer burn on food, but how much would auto defrost impact nicotine, if at all? From what I've read, the temperature variables are from some sub zero number to just 32 degrees. That's still frozen, but are those ongoing variables enough to substantially degrade the quality of the nicotine over time?

I wonder, because if the nic is bottled and sealed- most of it at it's point of origin, with smaller quantities being broken down into smaller bottles over time- and each bottle wrapped in dark bubble wrap, then placed in a sealed box, how badly do I need to be spinning my wheels over this? I'd greatly prefer to not have to bother defrosting a freezer 1-4 x yearly. Especially since I'd be disturbing the nic to move it elsewhere, temporarily. I'd be exposing it to another temperature variable in the process, so what would be the point?

So, with all that being said-

What type of freezer did you decide on and why?
 

leftyandsparky

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I have mine in my regular home freezer,along with ice cream and food. I'm still waiting on bottles to break the nic up. You might be doing better than me. (Lol)
If you can afford a new freezer go with what will fit your space and budget. I think whatever you want will be fine. Sorry if I wasn't any help! Good luck!
 

sketchness

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I have read that manual defrost is better for long term storage. Less temp fluctuation. Defrost one every 1-3 years depending on how good the seal is. I am looking at chest style top open freezers. A bad seal I can fix with some silicone and somethings heavy on top of the lid

Edit - I have 7+ liters in the regular freezer and I am starting to run out of space with all the food.
 
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mostlyclassics

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I favor non-auto-defrosting chest freezers:

1. The chest lid is kept closed by gravity, so you don't run much risk of a bad seal letting in warm air and humidity. And if you do have a bad seal, you can always drop a cinder block on it. ;)

2. Auto-defrosting freezers use fractionally more power. Plus, they have to blow close-to-freezing air into the freezing compartment from time to time to evaporate (or sublime) the accumulated frost.

As I've mentioned, I have to defrost my chest freezer maybe once every three years. (Once I let it go for about seven years!) No biggie.

Just my 2¢. YMMV.
 

salemgold

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What type of freezer did you decide on and why?

You are over thinking it.

Chest type freezers are cheaper on electricity, but have the drawback that you have to dig to find things, which means you leave the door open longer. Now if you only use it for nic - then this is a mute point.

Front door freezers - yes cold air goes down, but they have circulating fans to take care of this - also can you think of a better place to store the nic except on the bottom shelf in the back (since you will not need to get it out often). What size you get plays a big difference.

Manual vs Self Defrost - depends upon the types - chest type freezers need to be defrosted every few years (depending upon how often you open them). Front door freezers - wouldn't own a manual one... Just remember, which ever you get - when you do defrost - where ya going to put it??? Do you have lots of beer coolers and ice available???
 

Glinda

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I favor non-auto-defrosting chest freezers:

1. The chest lid is kept closed by gravity, so you don't run much risk of a bad seal letting in warm air and humidity. And if you do have a bad seal, you can always drop a cinder block on it. ;)

2. Auto-defrosting freezers use fractionally more power. Plus, they have to blow close-to-freezing air into the freezing compartment from time to time to evaporate (or sublime) the accumulated frost.

As I've mentioned, I have to defrost my chest freezer maybe once every three years. (Once I let it go for about seven years!) No biggie.

Just my 2¢. YMMV.

Y'know, that bad seal cinder block solution makes more sense than going out and buying a new freezer. It also buys time on having to buy stuff to fix the seal.

I was looking at the difference in cost between auto & manual defrost, and depending upon the source, it looks like it's $20-40 more per year to run the auto. Not a lot for the convenience, but over time, yes- that adds up. Also, I was reading a product review where someone said that manual defrosting has to be done 1-4 x yearly. If it can be more like every 3 years, I wouldn't cry about it. And I also read that when you don't defrost them regularly, it causes them to work harder and wear out sooner. Maybe you just have a really good model or something. What brand did you get?

Oh, and when you do defrost yours, what do you do with your nicotine? Do you just leave it in there or transfer it to another freezer?
 

sofarsogood

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For long term storage of nicotine, we all agree that freezing is the way to go. Yet now that I'm researching which type of freezer to buy, my brain has been overloaded, and being new to DIY doesn't help.

Chest or upright: I see medical freezers with front doors and super fine temperature controls, and think "this is it!", but then I read that basic chest-type freezers are supposedly better than front door types because they keep contents at a more constant temperature ("cold air sinks" is a good argument there). Since I won't be opening and closing the thing too often, I wonder if either type will really be better than the other?

Auto defrost or manual: I see a lot of back and forth on this. I understand that temperature changes can cause freezer burn on food, but how much would auto defrost impact nicotine, if at all? From what I've read, the temperature variables are from some sub zero number to just 32 degrees. That's still frozen, but are those ongoing variables enough to substantially degrade the quality of the nicotine over time?

I wonder, because if the nic is bottled and sealed- most of it at it's point of origin, with smaller quantities being broken down into smaller bottles over time- and each bottle wrapped in dark bubble wrap, then placed in a sealed box, how badly do I need to be spinning my wheels over this? I'd greatly prefer to not have to bother defrosting a freezer 1-4 x yearly. Especially since I'd be disturbing the nic to move it elsewhere, temporarily. I'd be exposing it to another temperature variable in the process, so what would be the point?

So, with all that being said-

What type of freezer did you decide on and why?
From what I'm reading, if nic is well protected from light and oxygen it's already in a good place and freezing cold temperatures are an important extra. If nic is warmed up once in a while it's not going to spoil. There are no organisms living in it to cause spoilage. I'm keeping long term stored nic in labeled and padded 1 liter amber glass bottles in the freezer door self of my kitchen refrigerator. When I need more nic for mixing a 1 liter bottle is divided into 4 250 ml amber glass bottles and stored on the small door shelf above the lower freezer door shelf. I'd like to avoid having a dedicated freezer for nic. If that has to happen I'll get a small medical freezer. It would never be opened except to check for frost because I would still keep the active bottles in the kitchen freezer.
 

mostlyclassics

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I was reading a product review where someone said that manual defrosting has to be done 1-4 x yearly. If it can be more like every 3 years, I wouldn't cry about it.

If you don't open the lid very often, then hardly any humidity gets in there! Mine is a mixed-use chest freezer: meats and nic. About every month or so, I'll open it to drag a bunch of rock-hard frozen meats to the freezer in the kitchen refrigerator.

Since I have the nic/meats freezer set on -15 degrees Farenheit, meats take more than a day to thaw out. A turkey or a standing rib roast can take several days. So, I'm better off putting a month's worth of meats in the refrigerator's freezer, which is so much warmer than the nic/meats freezer. Most things will thaw in a day or less when they come from the refrigerator's freezer.

Oh, and when you do defrost yours, what do you do with your nicotine? Do you just leave it in there or transfer it to another freezer?

I just pile my nic, along with the frozen meats, on the floor. Defrosting and swabbing out takes three or four hours, which isn't long enough to hurt either meat or nic.
 
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ScandaLeX

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I bought this one. I figured the one above the fridge was just barely holding food so I needed a lil more room anyway.
Igloo.png
 

searcher

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We may be overly concerned with all this. I found an unopened bottle of 100mg (ordered from Wizard) in the very back of my fridge. It was hidden by some repair tape for my camper that requires refrigeration for long term storage (rear 1/3rd of top shelf belongs to me). It has to be pushing 6 years old since I have been ordering nic from Heartland for that long. I started mixing with it last month and see no problem with it. Tastes the same.
 

Glinda

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This is small but should hold enough for the average DIYer and is priced well. It was posted by another member a few months back. Medical freezer with lock so other than scratch and dent should work very well.

CMF151L-1SD EdgeStar Compact Medical Freezer With Lock

Aha! I don't mind if it's scratched or dented at all and this was one I was looking at earlier today, so I must be on the right track. The price is right too. Thank you!
 

Glinda

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We may be overly concerned with all this. I found an unopened bottle of 100mg (ordered from Wizard) in the very back of my fridge. It was hidden by some repair tape for my camper that requires refrigeration for long term storage (rear 1/3rd of top shelf belongs to me). It has to be pushing 6 years old since I have been ordering nic from Heartland for that long. I started mixing with it last month and see no problem with it. Tastes the same.

I honestly admire that you're able to be relaxed as you are about nicotine storage. I'm new to DIY, so perhaps that's why I'm inclined to be of the "better to be safe than sorry" school of thought.

I'm terribly concerned about protecting this nicotine inve$tment I've recently made and not comfortable with not doing all I can to protect it, even in the extreme. It's mental health insurance too- this way, if anything goes wrong, at least I tried. :D
 

BreSha6869

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Yep. I have a chest freezer and regret getting it. I hate digging through to the bottom to get to the nic. I would never get another chest type freezer. :2c:
I don't really sweat it as I only need to dig a bottle out of our small chest freezer for my wife and I every 2-3 months. And thats if I am getting one of my smallest bottles (50ml @ 100mg). My 250ml bottles will last me at least a year.

I quickly move the pizza pockets, Jamaican patties and Eggo's out of the way, grab a bottle of NIC, and I'm outta there!
 

leftyandsparky

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I don't really sweat it as I only need to dig a bottle out of our small chest freezer for my wife and I every 2-3 months. And thats if I am getting one of my smallest bottles (50ml @ 100mg). My 250ml bottles will last me at least a year.

I quickly move the pizza pockets, Jamaican patties and Eggo's out of the way, grab a bottle of NIC, and I'm outta there!
What are Jamaican patties?
 
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