5 Gallon Buckets at Lowe's & Secondary ?'s

HopKeller · 10-03-2011, 06:34 PM

Lowe's has food safe/BPA free 5 gal buckets (for $4) - anyone used these as a secondary? Seems like they would work perfectly and would allow little headspace like a carboy. All I need to buy is a lid & an airlock from my LHBS. Esp. good for my setup as my ferm freezer (which is large enough for two buckets) has a shelf that doesn't allow me to use my 6.5gal bucket with the airlock.

day_trippr · 10-03-2011, 06:36 PM

If your batch will fit, go for it...

Cheers!

**mredge73** · 10-03-2011, 06:38 PM

If the recycle code on the bottom is 1 or 2, then it is good to brew!

carrolte · 10-03-2011, 06:54 PM

here's a pick of the bottom.

**mredge73** · 10-03-2011, 07:01 PM

I can barely make it out, looks like a number 8.
In that case, then the debate is out there and is endless...

My 2 cents:
I wouldn't use it for a secondary, but maybe a primary.

IffyG · 10-03-2011, 07:05 PM

I wouldn't use it for primary or secondary, but they are great for storing bulk grain.

BetterSense · 10-03-2011, 07:12 PM

I have a white lowes 5 gallon that has a 1 on the bottom and it's made by Encore plastics. I'm 99% sure it's food grade. I use it for a secondardy and bottling bucket because it's not quite big enough for a fermenter.

Monstar · 10-03-2011, 07:21 PM

I use home depot buckets. 4 bucks, and they have a two.

HopKeller · 10-03-2011, 07:25 PM

For those that are against, what's the biggest reason? Potential off-flavors or toxins?

**mredge73** · 10-03-2011, 07:27 PM

O2 permeability.

1 and 2 have little to no permeability.