# What is inside a refrigerator door? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443 "2009-09-25T00:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/1 "2009-09-25T00:57:00Z")
I was wondering if it would be possible to cut a hole in the door of a mini fridge to add a glass face. If you were to cut the hole, then attach the glass to the leftover door frame, sealing it with silicone, would the refrigerator still work? What type of glass would you need to use? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/2 "2009-09-25T01:04:35Z")
There’s insulation and that’s about it unless you have an icemaker or water in the door. Make sure you use a thermopane (easily custom ordered from any glass place) that is tempered. Tempered is a must! You also need to think about the frame it will sit in. You want it to look clean and finished. Set it in place with silicone and you should be fine. It goes without saying you should find a door at the junkyard and experiment on that before ripping into the one that keeps your precious beer cold. ---
**Author:** ![TurboNuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@TurboNuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TurboNuke)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/3 "2009-09-25T01:13:55Z")
Yeah its just insulated. Try to use a double pane, if you dont keep it insulated it will sweat. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/4 "2009-09-25T01:15:52Z")
The door is sheet metal, then batt insulation, and the plastic liner on the interior. You may try Plexiglas, or maybe a custom van window. Don’t put shag on the shelves though. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/5 "2009-09-25T01:33:12Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > I was wondering if it would be possible to cut a hole in the door of a mini fridge to add a glass face. If you were to cut the hole, then attach the glass to the leftover door frame, sealing it with silicone, would the refrigerator still work? What type of glass would you need to use? Thanks in advance. That sounds like an awesome idea… let us know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/6 "2009-09-25T02:51:35Z")
Or, just buy a wine chiller. Most of them are built with glass doors. ---
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/7 "2009-09-25T02:53:54Z")
I’ve made one for a customer, although it was years ago. He wanted to use it to keep his wine bottles chilled. I made it, but there were a few problems. It was full size, so there was a diagonal brace from a top corner to the opposite lower corner, like the gate for a large chain link fence. It was very visible through the glass but I wouldn’t guarantee the door would stay square if I removed it. He also wanted the light to work when the door was closed, so I rewired the switch. It was only a 5W bulb, but it raised the inside temperature enough that the compressor ran continuously. He spent a bit of money on it, and I’m pretty sure he was never happy with it ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/8 "2009-09-25T16:22:37Z")
> [@Harry1945](#): > > I’ve made one for a customer, although it was years ago. He wanted to use it to keep his wine bottles chilled. I made it, but there were a few problems. It was full size, so there was a diagonal brace from a top corner to the opposite lower corner, like the gate for a large chain link fence. It was very visible through the glass but I wouldn’t guarantee the door would stay square if I removed it. He also wanted the light to work when the door was closed, so I rewired the switch. It was only a 5W bulb, but it raised the inside temperature enough that the compressor ran continuously. He spent a bit of money on it, and I’m pretty sure he was never happy with it I doubt that the bulb was to blame. Maybe the enormous reduction in insulation caused by adding the glass might have something to do with it… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/9 "2009-09-25T16:30:50Z")
you don’t want to store wine at frigde temps. high 50s is best. now chilling tonight’ white, sure. but you need something colder and hence faster thana std frige. beer OTOH … eta - sorry crap typing; PDAs aren’t that easy. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inside-a-refrigerator-door/511443/10 "2009-09-25T16:52:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > you don’t want to store wine at frigde temps. high 50s is best. now chilling tonight’ white, sure. but you need something colder and hence faster thana std frige. > > beer OTOH … > > eta - sorry crap typing; PDAs aren’t that easy. I know. Most sites I visit say this can be accomplished using a regular fridge by having it cycle on and off using a timer. I was just curious about the glass thing. Might be a cool project.