OK laid my unit down sideways on grass and washed it out, put in back upright and placed in corner of garage, lid open to let fully dry and to allow the oil etc to drain back properly into the compressor for a few hours. I looked at the compressor and yes you could probably turn the unit on end just by moving the compressor but will bend and maybe break tubes to coils and not worth the trouble.
I haven't switched mine on yet, where does the cold come from? All around unit I assume rather than just where the compressor is. As only mild coldness, I assume no problem in putting cheeses right on bottom, ie no concern of frost biite?
My unit has a verical plastic coated wire metal divider above the compressor which I rotated sideways and tucked a piece of wood at back and et voila one shelf. Mine also has a standard plastic coated wire basket that slides along top, I figure this can sit on right side above the shelf, now for the main area.
For sealed cheeses I'd like shelves rather than stacking cheeses on top of each other, preferably smooth so don't get indents in cheese and preferably non rusting as this will be a high humidity environment. For non sealed cheeses the same except I think they should go on hygenic removavble and washable wooden boards, question is what type of wood? I'd also like the system to be flexible, ie can change heights depending on where this hobby leads me. Asking a lot I know. A small plank style plastic shelving unit
like this one would be idea, if I could find one small and strong enoughl. One idea is cut stuff to fit and wedge aginst sides but there could be quite a bit of weight
and that mail fail and we all know what happens to dropped cheese wheels
.
So far I haven't found a small enough plastic system to fit mine. One thing that does fit is using
two of these and then when want to check cheeses, just lift a whole unit out from two diagonal posts. Strong, adjustable shelves, and would fit space nicely, only problems with them is 1) metal and concern that even with chrome will rust, 2) railed and thus cheese will get indent mark, and 3) another USD50+shipping for two.
Another road is purpose build some shelves like you are thinking of . . . not in a rush, maybe I need to go look around WalMart and Target one day.
DD, yours thoughts? My unit ID is 27" tall, 28.5" wide, & 17.25" deep.