A cooler bag is an indispensable item, especially for those who like to travel. In stores, such a pleasure costs a lot, but there is a very affordable alternative - a do-it-yourself thermal container. You can make such a bag quickly, and most importantly, for free. Outwardly, it will look like an ordinary one, but from the inside it is sheathed with a heater that will not let cold out and do not let heat in. A little time and effort spent - and you have a thermo-refrigerator in your hands, which is not inferior in quality to purchased models.
Portable refrigerator: what is it?
A cooler bag is a relatively modern product. This is a container or bag in which a cold accumulator is placed to maintain a low temperature inside the container and preserve perishable foods.
The difference between the thermal container and the usual refrigeration unit, which is found in almost every home, is the absence of a special cooling device. Therefore, storing products in the thermal container for a long time will not work, they will still deteriorate. You can put a chilled product in such a bag, and it will be able to maintain its temperature for a sufficiently long time. Polyfoam and thermal reflective layer will help slow down the cooling process.
It is good if you have a large cooling bag where you can transfer all the products from the refrigerator when you defrost it in the summer. Do-it-yourself foam thermal container does its job perfectly, and you can put in such a container not only cold products, but also hot ones in order to slow down cooling.
Thermal bag from scratch
You can assemble the thermal container with your own hands from improvised materials.
Inspecting the finished product in the store, you should have noticed that the bag itself is soft, and its inner half is covered with insulation. Regardless of the type of mini-refrigerator, whether it is a fabric bag or a container made of plastic, its inner part is upholstered with foam or its analogs, which plays the role of a layer that saves heat or cold.
We will figure out how to make a thermal container and what is needed for this.
Materials and tools for construction
What do you need for work? To make a thermal container with your own hands, you will need:
- box or bag;
- Styrofoam;
- foam rubber;
- Scotch;
- thread;
- scissors;
- cardboard.
Walkthrough
Getting started, prepare a bag or box that you are transforming into a thermal refrigerator. As a container, it is better to take a light bag or box: it will heat less. Cut out the foam of the required shape and size of the part, which will serve as the heat-holding layer.
After cutting the foam blanks, put them in a bag and fasten together using double-sided tape. All parts must fit snugly together, otherwise heat will enter the mini-fridge. Before you insert the foam plates into the box, it is better to wrap them with tape, so the material will not crumble, and it will be easier to insert it into the bag.
In addition, the foam cube can be turned with a heat-reflecting cloth, which will help to keep the cold inside longer. In such a bag you can transport not only chilled products, but also warm ready-made meals to preserve their freshness and appearance.
Do not forget that in such a container, in addition to the walls and the bottom, a lid must also be present. It should fit tightly into the foam box. To make finger slots in such a cover is impractical, because warm air from outside will come through them. In this case, it is better to stretch the thread through the foam, attaching pieces of cardboard to the surface of the foam in the supposed puncture places. Such a move will prevent rapid damage to the foam. This is how you can easily make a good thermal container with your own hands. The photo clearly illustrates the success of the work.
Functional bag as a result of work
It’s realistic to collect such a thermal bag in just 10 minutes. The thermobag works by the principle of a thermos - keeps heat (cold). She cannot produce cold on her own; for this, it will be necessary to place cold-producing cold-producing elements for thermo containers made by her own hands inside the bag.
Even a child can handle such work, and as a result, you have a mobile cooling device. True, this does not work for long, over time, the container loses its tightness, so if you are going on a long journey, you can’t do without coolers, or buy a mini-refrigerator in a specialized store.
Design Nuances
If you glued cubes or boxes in childhood, then you will be able to cope with the task and figure out how to make a thermal container with your own hands without problems. Following the instructions and making the portable mini-fridge correctly, you will be able to get a full-fledged place for storing perishable foods that keeps cold (heat) up to 24 hours.
You can design a large thermal bag if you go on a long journey and worry about the quality of the products. A self-made thermal container exceeds all expectations, especially if you pay attention to the discrepancy between the price and quality of purchased models of coolers for food and drinks.
Having made such a container, you will always have at hand a supply of fresh and chilled products, besides this also save money.
It is convenient to take such a bag with you on the road, traveling to nature or the lake. Even going to the beach, you will always have cool, and most importantly, fresh and edible food and drinks.