Fermenter Quality

[Gavo]

Two 30 litre buckets with push on lids, both seal every time.
One BCF 25 litre round drum, never seals.
One 23 litre glass carboy, gladwrap and a pinhole works fine.

Seal or no seal, as long as there is beer in them, maybe not all at once.

 

[schooey]

2 x 23 litre glass carboys
4 x 30 litre LHBS supplied fermenters
4 x 60 litre LHBS supplied fermenters

The fermenters from my LHBS are the screw type lid with the handle across the middle, they seal well, clean well and I've had no dramas thus far apart from dropping a full one which was my own stupid fault...<_<

I like the glass, I wish I could get a 60 litre glass version with a tap in the bottom, but it probably wouldn't be feasible in terms of moving it about then.

 

[tim_mortensen]

Thanks to bribie for the pic. That is a Yorkshire Square fermenter. As you can see, the airlock isn't bubbling.

(BTW, all that luverly yeast on top: thats what my current beer looks like, but in a typical lhbs fermenter....that 1469 is a true top cropper )

An interesting aside, Phil Sexton at the ANHC said that the White Rabbit (?) brewery they are setting up in the Yarra Valley will be using exclusively open square fermenters, and will produce just 1 style of beer.

They are looking to be open early next year, will be interesting to see it in action.

 

[driveitlikeustoleit]

LHBS. Piss the lids off. I use cling wrap with the rubber seal from the lid around it to hold it in place. does the job without the hernia or barrage of potty mouth.

Good luck.

 

[newguy]

4 x 23l glass carboys. Until I get SS cyclindroconicals (which may be a very long time), I'll only ferment in glass as I don't have to worry about scratches (infections) or oxygen.

 

[flattop]

Do you put a pinhole in the cling wrap?

 

[Jase71]

My Coopers fermenter with a snap-on lid (tupperware style) is perfectly airtight.

Is this still the Coopers style of tub, or have they gone to screw top lids ? Mine is of unknown vintage.... and I would like a matching one to keep it company.

 

[Pollux]

Jase, the Coopers are now screwtop lids...

 

[flattop]

Yes my Coopers is screw top.

 

[jeremy]

I have also recently bought a bunnings special. Never got it to seal, one day I tightened it so much that after getting the lid off my arm was sore for a week. And it didnt even seal that time!

 

[flattop]

Easy to see why mine doesn't seal, if you look at the rim it's bowed, i'll take the Stanley knife to it later, or i may use it as a storage tub if it doesn't work out, or just fill it with water and ice and leave it by the pool in summer for the kids to drink from. In the end it was only $16. I'm more disappointed with the LHBS one that was $35, I would take it back but there is a brew in it.

I didn't notice my Bunnings one was warped until i had racked, so i decided to run with it, Vaseline on the O riing and twist tight and it sealed ok.

I'm considering the glad wrap and rubber band next time though!

 

[BennyBrewster]

Does it really matter if they don't seal.....? means you don't need an airlock right

 

[Bribie G]

Get a old leather belt.
put it around the lid, thread through buckle and pull it back like you are trying to tighten your belt.(ofcourse do it so it is clockwise) it'll open it up.

I use a miniature version of that idea to unscrew the oil filter off my Diahatsu Charade! You can also incorporate a long stick for extra leverage.

4 x 23l glass carboys. Until I get SS cyclindroconicals (which may be a very long time), I'll only ferment in glass as I don't have to worry about scratches (infections) or oxygen.

While we've got you here, I'm intrigued by the almost universal North American glass carboy, how do you clean them? Do you use a big bottle brush with a flexible wire handle?

 

[newguy]

While we've got you here, I'm intrigued by the almost universal North American glass carboy, how do you clean them? Do you use a big bottle brush with a flexible wire handle?

I use a combination of 2 brushes. A smaller bottle brush that I've bent into an L shape for the shoulders of the carboy and above, and a much larger brush for the bottom & sides. If you fill the carboy with water & PBW you don't need a brush at all, but to conserve on PBW ($10/lb here), I only use it sparingly. I've also found that filling the carboy with water & TSP (trisodium phosphate) does the trick too. TSP is available at any hardware or home improvement store here - anywhere that sells paint. It's quite cheap too, $2 for a 500ml carton, but it does require some brushwork afterward.

I've also been curious about the pretty much universal acceptance of plastic fermenters with screw lids and taps there. You honestly can't buy anything like that here. Perhaps it has more to do with our proximity to Mexico, where almost all of the carboys seem to be made (except for the odd one that is made in Italy). I just thought of another reason - water is abundant here, so filling a carboy to clean it is the norm. I suppose where water is rationed and drought is common, it makes sense to have equipment that you can open so that you don't waste so much water.

 

[bindi]

4 x 23l glass carboys. Until I get SS cyclindroconicals (which may be a very long time), I'll only ferment in glass as I don't have to worry about scratches (infections) or oxygen.

2 x Glass carboys [had 3 but dropped on ] all primary fermenters are glass, plastic if 2ndry is required or a glass one is in use.

Anyone local want some plastic fermenters I have 6 using up space.

Edit: Fat finger typo.

 

[Bizier]

I have:

1 x each coopers and brigalow kit
1 x brewcraft (found it at from of my house, brand spankers on recycle night)
2 x bunnings BMW plastics ones.

Brigalow thread leaks like a *******, most useful with a bung. Coopers airlock hole has a chip. Found one was free and bunnings ones were cheap, so they are the best in my eyes.

 

[flattop]

Newguy, i have to say back when i used to brew in the 90's and again now the plastic fermenter is great.
It's cheap!!!
It's lightweight so easy to carry and store when you are not brewing, it can be used for storing your gear when not in use.
It's relatively easy to clean because you can access the inside, it usually wont smash if you drop it although it could crack.
Downsides as you can see are build quality and the sealing of the lid and perhaps more prone to infection from scratches than glass.

My previous kit fermenter and this kit fermenter seal just fine, unfortunately not all of them do, as you can see by the amount of posts for airlock not bubbling.

 

[cdbrown]

2 x 25L kit fermenters from Woolies. Both empty and begging for some action!

 

[sponge]

LHBS. Piss the lids off. I use cling wrap with the rubber seal from the lid around it to hold it in place. does the job without the hernia or barrage of potty mouth.

Good luck.

+1. As soon as I heard of cling wrap and tried it, i never went back. I just use my lids for sometimes screwing onto the top of the fermenter when i give them a good napisan soaking/clean

Other than that, haven't used a lid for about 6 months


PS. I dont poke a hole in the top. Had a couple swell up a little, but the gas finds a way to escape in the end...

 

[TidalPete]

I have also recently bought a bunnings special. Never got it to seal, one day I tightened it so much that after getting the lid off my arm was sore for a week. And it didnt even seal that time!

Used to use a bit of rope until I got this.


TP :beer: