are homedepot buckets food grade?
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wilfonzo
Well-Known Member
Tried it, couldn't get a good seal on the lid, so I bought a $3 spigot from the lhbs and made it my bottler.
Just because you didn't get a good seal doesn't mean it won't work. Sanitize everything and the buckets should work fine. The airlock might not bubble, but that doesn't mean fermentation isn't happening.
I recommend not attempting to ferment a 5 gallon batch in a 5 gallon container though.
I recommend not attempting to ferment a 5 gallon batch in a 5 gallon container though.
Calichusetts
Well-Known Member
I grabbed them up at $2 a pop, use them for a sanitizing bucket and to store grains
jmprdood
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Only fits about 4.5 gallons of brew.
I use them all the time - don't even use an airlock, just set the lid on top. When fermentation calms down I snap the lid down until I bottle. I drilled a hole and added a botting spigot to mine, and it works great. You can do the a 5 gallon batch of cider in it since it doesn't foam up during fermentation.
I use them all the time - don't even use an airlock, just set the lid on top. When fermentation calms down I snap the lid down until I bottle. I drilled a hole and added a botting spigot to mine, and it works great. You can do the a 5 gallon batch of cider in it since it doesn't foam up during fermentation.
They are not food grade. I believe they do sell some white ones (or maybe that's Lowe's) that are food grade, and I believe they are so labeled.
acuenca
Well-Known Member
There are a CRAP ton of threads on this debate but I use the 3.5 gallon icing bins from my grocer because... they are free and I like to experiment with smaller batches. work great though and if need be you could always split a 5 into two...
They sell white ones that are food grade. The orange ones are questionable because of the dye.
NorthBayBrewer
Member
I bought some buckets at Home Depot, but not the orange ones. They have white ones that are HDPE 2. Flip the bucket upside-down and read the markings on the bottom.
Types Of Plastic
In the United States, the following codes represent the seven categories of plastic used in nearly all plastic containers and product packaging:
HDPE 2 (high density polyethylene) is used in milk, juice and water containers in order to take advantage of its excellent protective barrier properties. Its chemical resistance properties also make it well suited for items such as containers for household chemicals and detergents.
EDIT* I should mention that the lids suck. I have had 2 lids break from general use.
Types Of Plastic
In the United States, the following codes represent the seven categories of plastic used in nearly all plastic containers and product packaging:
HDPE 2 (high density polyethylene) is used in milk, juice and water containers in order to take advantage of its excellent protective barrier properties. Its chemical resistance properties also make it well suited for items such as containers for household chemicals and detergents.
EDIT* I should mention that the lids suck. I have had 2 lids break from general use.
You don't have to do all the work translating plastic types. The buckets in question literally say "food safe" on them. I use them for storing bulk grain.
Jester
Senior Member
Where are the food grade ones located within Home Depot (which department)? I have looked a few times and have never been able to find them... I need to get a few buckets for various brewing tasks and would rather have the "food grade" ones, if they are available.
I want to say it is the same aisle where they sell the trash cans and cleaning supplies. Or at least, very close to that area as I recall, at least at my local HD.
I use the orange one for de-labeling bottles & draining cleaners out of my fermenters.
Airtight shouldn't be an issue. I bought my first bucket from my LHBS. My airlock almost never bubbles because of the lid not sealing perfectly. However, with the co2 production in fermentation, no o2 or anything like bacteria has infected my batches if you follow solid sanitation practices. Shouldn't be an issue unless you absolutely for 1 reason or another need an airtight seal.
HD orange buckets are not food grade. If you really want to buy buckets (instead of finding them for free or next to free from bakers or organic food co-ops), get the white 5 gallon paint buckets from Walmart for $2.97. If you google "Walmart food grade buckets" you will find threads (mostly on survivor boards) where this is discussed, and the link to the manufacturer to verify.
Don't assume, verify.
A major issue with re-cycled plastics is that you don't know what the plastic was used for originally.
Don't assume, verify.
A major issue with re-cycled plastics is that you don't know what the plastic was used for originally.
Jester
Senior Member
After reading al ittle about Lowe's having food safe buckets, I found these on there website. They say they are food safe... I called my local store and they have 50+ in stock.
Lowes White Polyethylene Buckets
Has anyone here used these white buckets from Lowes?
Lowes White Polyethylene Buckets
Has anyone here used these white buckets from Lowes?
maffewl
Well-Known Member
Not sure about the white ones... I do know that the grey Lowe's buckets are not food safe.
The white ones say "Food Safe" at my Lowes so, unless they're made in China, I'm pretty sure they are food safe.
two_hearted
Well-Known Member
Food grade, yes. Baby pool, no.
cigarmitch
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CRAP!!! I bought these for our baby pool party this summer. Anyway, I use these to store my prepper food stores, and a few other things. Cheap, easy and I prefer Lowe's WAYYYYYY over Home Depot. But yes they are food safe, my thrid eye is from something else I did as a child!
Jester
Senior Member
Food grade, yes. Baby pool, no.
Awesome!!! I was going to buy just the regular buckets for bulk grain storage, but if food grade is avalable then thats what I am getting. I also need a few more buckets for santizing and soaking bottles.
I use the Home Depot white ones. They are food safe and normally found in the paint section on a top shelf. There are also some translucent (near clear) lids at HD that are great for using as fermenter lids as they are easy to work with, I believe they are Loc-tight brand.
At Lowe's or HED do not forget to stop by electrical/hard to find hardware bin and grab up some 3/8" grommets to hold your blow-off tubes, airlocks, racking cane in place.
At Lowe's or HED do not forget to stop by electrical/hard to find hardware bin and grab up some 3/8" grommets to hold your blow-off tubes, airlocks, racking cane in place.
arturo7
Well-Known Member
I've done business with a guy who makes buckets for HD. After seeing his facility, I wouldn't wash my dog in a Homer bucket.
I am dying laughing at this ha ha ha
I don't know. My dog is a beagle. Perhaps the smelliest beagle ever seen. Couldn't hurt him being washed in a homer.
Jester
Senior Member
arturo7 said:
That's hilarious!
This. Why pay when you can get free AND recycle?
Jester
Senior Member
drathbone said:
I drove around shopping centers scoping out the back looking for buckets and even spoke with different restaurants around here. No one would give me a bucket... Some restaurants were worried about the health department and others used all there left over buckets for things. I was expecting to get something, but after a few weeks of nothing I couldn't wait and headed to Lowes. Hahaha
acuenca
Well-Known Member
Jester said:
You go up to the bakery section of your favorite supermarket and ask if they have any empty icing buckets... They usually go through 3~4 on most days....
maffewl
Well-Known Member
My local Wally World has caught on to the homebrewers and winemakers and started charging a dollar a piece for their bakery icing buckets.
flushdrew42
Well-Known Member
my local supermarket bakery charges a dollar each as well, but seriously? a dollar a bucket? i can't complain. better than 8 or 9.
from what i have discovered (since yesterday) the lids are only as good as the care taken by the bakery employee when opened. i got two yestrerday, one keeps a solid good seal, the other, not even close. but, it's ok, i have one bucket to ferment in, and another to bottle from.
i bought a spigot from the hardware store, one intended for water bottles, got a section of tubing that fits it, and will be good to bottle from.
from what i have discovered (since yesterday) the lids are only as good as the care taken by the bakery employee when opened. i got two yestrerday, one keeps a solid good seal, the other, not even close. but, it's ok, i have one bucket to ferment in, and another to bottle from.
i bought a spigot from the hardware store, one intended for water bottles, got a section of tubing that fits it, and will be good to bottle from.
maffewl
Well-Known Member
I'm not complaining... just stating that sometimes they charge. I don't (and wouldn't) ferment in these anyways. The seal doesn't matter, you can ferment just fine without a seal. They are usually all scratched up on the inside from where the employees were scraping out the icing and that is an open invitation to ruin a beer. I use them for grain storage and the like.
