Primary fermenters...

universe · 12-03-2008, 04:41 AM

The kits I do call for an airlock. How many people use an airlock for the primary and how important is it really?

**Jaybird** · 12-03-2008, 04:58 AM

I always use one, or a blow off tube. Important? Depends on how clean the environment is.
JJ

universe · 12-03-2008, 05:37 AM

What if its one like this?

http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/imag...on_primary.jpg

**Jaybird** · 12-03-2008, 07:32 AM

yes you need an airlock or at least leave the lid ajar so it dosen't explode.

Tusch · 12-03-2008, 03:12 PM

For primary, you could just replace the lid with a clean cloth.

syd138 · 12-03-2008, 06:45 PM

Well, is it really that big of a deal if you use one? They cost about $3.

Better be safe than sorry

**YooperBrew** · 12-03-2008, 06:50 PM

I never use an airlock (or even a cover, beyond a clean dish towel) for primary. Within about 5 days, though, fermentation slows down, and I rack to a carboy, top up so there is almost no headspace, and airlock. A primary doesn't need to be covered, but a secondary certainly needs to have the headspace minimized and it must be airlocked. That fermenter will work fine for primary, as long as you have an appropriately sized carboy for secondary.

**B-rad** · 12-03-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YooperBrew

I never use an airlock (or even a cover, beyond a clean dish towel) for primary. Within about 5 days, though, fermentation slows down, and I rack to a carboy, top up so there is almost no headspace, and airlock. A primary doesn't need to be covered, but a secondary certainly needs to have the headspace minimized and it must be airlocked. That fermenter will work fine for primary, as long as you have an appropriately sized carboy for secondary.

Is this just the way you do it for wine Yooper or do you not use a lid on beer too?..

**summersolstice** · 12-03-2008, 08:58 PM

Like Yooper, I never use an airlock on my primary. I assume that since this is the wine forum we're discussing procedures for wine. I don't even use a top. Instead, I use a clean t-shirt or towel and keep it in place with a bungee cord that I remove to punch down the cap or straining bag 1-2 times a day. After 5 days or so I rack to an airlocked secondary.

These photos were taken a couple of years ago but they may as well have been taken today. I'm using the same primary, the same t-shirt, and even the wine and straining bag looks the same for the Amarone I currently have going right now.

**YooperBrew** · 12-03-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-rad

Is this just the way you do it for wine Yooper or do you not use a lid on beer too?..

Wine only. I always airlock my primary for my beer. I've been doing a lot of reading though and may want to just cover the primary loosely sometime, just to try it. I think it's BobNQ who says that you don't need to airlock beer in the primary.

12-03-2008, 04:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
universe Member Recipes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 67	Primary fermenters... The kits I do call for an airlock. How many people use an airlock for the primary and how important is it really?

12-03-2008, 04:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jaybird Learning to spell !!! Recipes Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,394 Jaybird's Gallery BLOG ENTRIES: 1	I always use one, or a blow off tube. Important? Depends on how clean the environment is. JJ __________________ CALIFORNIA BREWING COMPANY inc. Check out my new site www.californiabrewingcompany.com A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, But it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!!!!

12-03-2008, 07:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jaybird Learning to spell !!! Recipes Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,394 Jaybird's Gallery BLOG ENTRIES: 1	yes you need an airlock or at least leave the lid ajar so it dosen't explode. __________________ CALIFORNIA BREWING COMPANY inc. Check out my new site www.californiabrewingcompany.com A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, But it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!!!!

12-03-2008, 03:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tusch Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: West Lafayette, IN / Milford/Dayton, OH Posts: 788	For primary, you could just replace the lid with a clean cloth. __________________ Bottled: Blueberry Cider, JOAM, Simple Cyser, Straight and Simple Cider Meads: Leap Year Mead just now on the beans, Pomegranate Mead, and JOAM but a bit different Ciders: Strong Spiced Cider

12-03-2008, 08:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
summersolstice Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Nebraska, USA Posts: 600 summersolstice's Gallery BLOG ENTRIES: 6	Like Yooper, I never use an airlock on my primary. I assume that since this is the wine forum we're discussing procedures for wine. I don't even use a top. Instead, I use a clean t-shirt or towel and keep it in place with a bungee cord that I remove to punch down the cap or straining bag 1-2 times a day. After 5 days or so I rack to an airlocked secondary. These photos were taken a couple of years ago but they may as well have been taken today. I'm using the same primary, the same t-shirt, and even the wine and straining bag looks the same for the Amarone I currently have going right now. __________________ Mead: It's what's for breakfast. Drunken Friar Cellars

12-03-2008, 05:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
universe Member Recipes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 67	What if its one like this? http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/imag...on_primary.jpg

12-03-2008, 06:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
syd138 Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 105	Well, is it really that big of a deal if you use one? They cost about $3. Better be safe than sorry

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode