Handy pails for grain storage.. Airtight?

[mofox1]

I picked up a few 20L handy pails from BCF/Bunnings recently, and have doubts that they are airtight enough for medium term grain storage (6 months or so).

The lids flex down without apparent air pressure resistance. I haven't done the obvious thing of putting some water in and turning upside down... And since they now have grain in them I won't be.

Can anyone comment on their use of these containers? Is it worth putting a ring of silicone in the lid or using a piece of rubber as a seal?

 

[elcarter]

I use these from bunnings but they just went up $5? 2 x 20L buckets fit a 25kg bag of grain perfectly.
Some grain has been freshly sealed for up to 4 months so far with no issues.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/maxipail-20l-plastic-pail-with-lid_p4475875

Works well but the lids can crack if pulled off a little hard when they are new but at $13 you can source them for around 8.50 elsewhere.

 

[Bribie G]

The sacks are mostly poly lined nowadays so are airtight anyway if you fold them down well after opening. I store mine in black Willow 60L garbage bins from Bunnings or Masters, to keep the vermin at bay. My sack of wheat malt is coming up 18 months now and is still crisp, crunchy and fresh tasting. A sack slips perfectly into a bin and as they get used up, two or three part sacks fit well and out of harms way.

 

[elcarter]

The sacks are mostly poly lined nowadays so are airtight anyway if you fold them down well after opening. I store mine in black Willow 60L garbage bins from Bunnings or Masters, to keep the vermin at bay. My sack of wheat malt is coming up 18 months now and is still crisp, crunchy and fresh tasting. A sack slips perfectly into a bin and as they get used up, two or three part sacks fit well and out of harms way.

willow bins.jpg

Cheap and effective. What more could you want.

 

[woodwormm]

I know a couple brew shops that store specialties in those white maxipail type buckets... but they probably turn it over quicker than home use...

From memory they're around 7-8 bucks at Kmart, also some take-away stores sell they're used mayo buckets for a few bucks if you keep an eye out.

 

[Cervantes]

I store mine in a couple of old plastic fermentors.

What won't fit in there goes into the Bunnings buckets as detailed above.

 

[mofox1]

I store mine in a couple of old plastic fermentors.

What won't fit in there goes into the Bunnings buckets as detailed above.

Cool, won't worry about the seal then... I assume I should be able to taste if the grain is going a bit stale anyway.