Trimming A Willow Cube

[[email protected]]

The fermenting fridge I have is ever slightly too small to fit 2 fermenters in it. It's a 140 L bar fridge. Basically either a bucket fermenter fits on the compressor hump, or a 20L willow cube fits in front of the compressor hump, but not both. A willow is about an inch short of fitting on the compressor hump which would allow two willows in there. At the moment I'm happy fitting one in there, but I'm finding I'm getting too impatient to have a brew day and not maturing beer as much as I would like to make room in the fridge.

My options to fit 2 in are bend the ice box, and risk ruining the fridge, put a wood frame extending the fridge or find something that will fit. The last options seems easiest.

One plan I have is to circumsize a willow. Cut the handle and lid off so that it fits on the hump and then use glad wrap and elastic to seal the two holes, this should reduce volume by less than a litre. My concerns are
1)that the shape of a willow will make sealing it difficult and risky as there will be no lip to put the rubber band over, and pressure of fermentation may push anything off and
2)that the top holds it together, removing it may cause all sorts of problems such as dificulties lifting it and the walls bending out when full. This might not be such a problem because the bridge underneath the handle should still be in tact.

Has anybody performed operations on a willow? Or is there a 22L fermenter out there that is similar dimensions to a willow but just that inch shorter. I can fit a FWK container in there with a willow, but then I would have to limit a brew to about 15L which makes filling my kegs a problem.

Cheers

 

[bignath]

You forgot option 3.

Get a bigger fridge.

There's only so much you can do with a bar fridge, and i wouldn't go to too much effort trying to destroy willow cubes (and it wil) or potentially breaking your fridge just to fit another fermenter in a bar fridge.

Do it right, have a look out for a bigger fridge. Ebay, trading post, here, local shopping centre notice boards, hard rubbish collection days, go to a recycle depot, etc... options are endless in trying to source a bigger fridge.

Sure bar fridges are good for one fermenter, but i think your asking way too much of it to fit in a second.

Happy hunting,

Nath

 

[ekul]

+1 to getting another fridge. i started with a bar fridge but now have another fermenting fridge that fits two fermenters. I don't run the bar fridge all the time but if i wanna get stocks up i use it. Lately i've been using it so that i can do some lagers and take my time with them.
The bar fridge got a fair bit of use leading up to xmas too.

 

[raven19]

I can fit a FWK container in there with a willow, but then I would have to limit a brew to about 15L which makes filling my kegs a problem.

Can you prepare a high gravity wort & beer, then water it down with cooled boiled water prior to kegging?

 

[Florian]

One thing to consider apart from the risks you have mentioned is: Will the two cubes still fit in the fridge when full of liquid? Even uncircumsized cubes expand sideways and, depending on the size of your fridge, two of them may not fit into it.

 

[Acasta]

I havn't done it, but you could try and cut it twice around the mid-section and then use some food safe glue over lapping the plastic.
Something to consider.

 

[[email protected]]

The problem of a second fridge is space, I'm in a 1BR apartment with a tiny storeroom and SWMBO would not be happy with a second fridge. I could get rid of the bar fridge and replace it with something larger but it is just so achingly close to fitting a second in it. I suppose I have more kegs on the way and it should fit 2 party kegs and a willow in it no problems. I can just mature in the kegs.

 

[ekul]

How big a fwk cube is it? Maybe you could try get a 20-25L cube in there as well?

 

[TmC]

This probably isn't what you are looking for but i couldn't fit 2x20L willows in my fridge so i just got 4x10L on sale at bunnings for $6 each plus tap. I don't use the fridge for fermenting as i don't have a temp mate and i use it for food, but i found i can get up to 4 full 10L side by side, if i were to put a divider in the fridge i could get another 4 on top at least.

 

[bignath]

The problem of a second fridge is space, I'm in a 1BR apartment with a tiny storeroom and SWMBO would not be happy with a second fridge. I could get rid of the bar fridge and replace it with something larger but it is just so achingly close to fitting a second in it. I suppose I have more kegs on the way and it should fit 2 party kegs and a willow in it no problems. I can just mature in the kegs.

Sorry Paxxy, that's what i meant. Get a bigger fridge not necessarily another one. If you can find a small to medium size fridge (maybe 200L) you should be sweet, without taking up much extra space.

I have a massive fridge, approx 450L (free from inlaws when they downsized) that i can fit two coopers fermenters in side by side easily, but i also have a smaller fridge around 215L that i use to condition kegs, and store some bottled stock in. I got this fridge for free from the dump/recycle shop.

Cheers,

Nath

 

[[email protected]]

Can you prepare a high gravity wort & beer, then water it down with cooled boiled water prior to kegging?

Excellent point, certainly another option. I guess putting water in fermented beer no matter how strong it is will always make me cry a little bit, but I'll just have to get over it.

One thing to consider apart from the risks you have mentioned is: Will the two cubes still fit in the fridge when full of liquid? Even uncircumsized cubes expand sideways and, depending on the size of your fridge, two of them may not fit into it.

Shouldn't be a problem, I've already smashed out the shelves in the door so there is quite a lot of depth

I havn't done it, but you could try and cut it twice around the mid-section and then use some food safe glue over lapping the plastic.
Something to consider.

I guess there will be two holes, so I could seal one permanently and then make a lip with glue around the other hole so a lacky band stays on their nicely.


I already have a partly ruined cube. I drilled a hole in it to fit a gromet and air lock in it before i knew about the whole glad wrap thing. While it still works with an airlock it reminds me of how stupid I was and annoys me so to modify the cube to get rid of that hole would give me great satisfaction.

 

[[email protected]]

The gods of fridges decided to shine its light upon me this morning. It fits 2 fermenters in it to the mm. It also has a freezer. Question is if I'm fermenting at 20C how cold will the freezer be? I guess it depends on outside temperature and a few variables. But it fits 2 party kegs in it and i'm thinking this might be ideal for lagering if the temp stays right. Does anyone do this?