Basic homebrew kits help

Hello I just bought a basic steinfillers (Long Beach California) kit with two buckets and all the basic supplies to do an extract IPA. The buckets each have spigots and one has a lid. My first question is with the lid. Does the lid have to lock down or be secured in the bucket during fermentation? My lid doesn't seam to lock down on the bucket. Any help?

does it have a hole for an airlock? If not you may want to drill a hole and get an airlock. Being locked down with the airlock is nice so you can see it bubbling away. One of my buckets the lid does not go airtight but often my airlock will not bubble but the fermenation gasses still get out. No airlock, locked down bucket lid is asking for a mess.

Yes it has a hole for an airlock and a rubber grommet to hold the air lock in

What I do with mine is I have a couple plastic milk jugs I fill with water I put on top to keep the lid on.

Ok thanks for the help

got a picture? they could be like the coopers fermenters, in which case the lid would not snap down. although if they are, I don't see the need for the airlock hole and grommet.

yup, not like the coopers. press harder, it should snap into place. some people like to use a rubber mallet, so I've read.

you may also have to peel off the safety tab that runs around the outside of the lid. I've never tried to put on a lid with that thing still there, I know you can't take the lid off a bucket with the safety tab still on.

Ok thanks for the help

That looks like a lid I have for one of my buckets.. if it does go on, it will be next to impossible to come off without pulling the tab strip.

I also suggest pulling off the tab. I made the mistake of putting a lid on with the tabs still on. What a pain in the ass to get off.

you could use glad wrap and do away with the lid.just use a elastic band to secure glad wrap

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/using-cling-wrap-instead-air-lock-175544/
http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/41351-glad-wrap-lid-for-fermenter/

Thanks. Any other tips for these types of kits?

I use a rubber mallet to snap those lids down tight. Then a lid or bucket prying tool to get'em off. Saves sore hands & fingertips! Stick on temp strips down about the middle of the bucket is handy & quite accurate for gauging fermentation temps at a glance. And a glass hydrometer in a round tube for testing start & final gravities ( what are called OG & FG on here). Northern Brewer has this to fit the base of the tube it comes in for testing; http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/brewing-equipment/testing-measuring/foam-hydrometer-stand-ring-blue.html
Here's the lid prying tool I have; http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/bucket-opening-tool.html The blue ring is on sale now for 43c!

Uniondr: thank you. That was the most helpful tip yet. When using the bucket pry tool, does it deform or warp the lid? I'm hoping to reuse this lid and not have to buy a new one every time I want to brew a beer.

No, it definitely doesn't warp or damage the lid. Just go easy when prying the lid off. The little point on the end of the prying tool is for getting the seal out of the lid to clean that area occasionally while soaking the seal in PBW or the like.

Thank you very much. I owe you a beer.

SmokeyMcBong said:

you may also have to peel off the safety tab that runs around the outside of the lid. I've never tried to put on a lid with that thing still there, I know you can't take the lid off a bucket with the safety tab still on.

Click to expand...

You CAN, and I do with mine, but it's a pain in the butt. That being said, I've left it on because I feel I get a better seal with it on than otherwise.

I have to slowly work my way around the bucket with both hands prying up one section of the rim at a time.

SSGTFLASH said:

Thank you very much. I owe you a beer.

Click to expand...

That reminds me. I owe somebody on here a homebrew, & forgot who? gotta check those PM's again?!

phug said:

You CAN, and I do with mine, but it's a pain in the butt. That being said, I've left it on because I feel I get a better seal with it on than otherwise.

I have to slowly work my way around the bucket with both hands prying up one section of the rim at a time.

Click to expand...

I took it off the home depot orange bucket, since it only sees utility uses nowadays. The FV buckets I have now from Midwest & Cooper's don't have that darn zip strip. I imagine the prying tool might crack it off anyway. But the lids should snap down just fine without'em. The home depot one sure does!