hotspurdotus
Well-Known Member
I'm looking for some opinions on whether I should use this aluminum can as a fermenter.
I've read the sticky on aluminum kettles, but it doesn't discuss fermentation and the existing threads on aluminum fermenters aren't very illuminating.
A little history: I got the can from my dad, who bought it from a vendor who told it came from Russia filled with honey (I take this with a grain of salt, btw). It sat outside my hours for many years, but it finally attracted my attention as a possible fermenter so I brought it inside and washed it out. It was in remarkably good shape inside; i'm not real familiar with aluminum vessels, could it have some sort of liner inside?
I'd like to use it because it's big (I estimate 10 gallons), light, and free! It's also more attractive sitting around the house than the buckets I currently use; or it will be, once I've cleaned up the outside a bit. I figure the high conductivity would help keep a stable temperature in a swamp-cooler style fermentation chamber. It's also nice and wide, which I've read is desirable in fermenter design.
My major concern is the aluminum material itself. I could certainly boil water in it for an hour to form an oxide layer. However, I'm wondering if there are different concerns with leaving wort in it for a month at fermentation temperatures than there are boiling wort for a couple hours?
Thanks for any thoughts on the matter!
I've read the sticky on aluminum kettles, but it doesn't discuss fermentation and the existing threads on aluminum fermenters aren't very illuminating.
A little history: I got the can from my dad, who bought it from a vendor who told it came from Russia filled with honey (I take this with a grain of salt, btw). It sat outside my hours for many years, but it finally attracted my attention as a possible fermenter so I brought it inside and washed it out. It was in remarkably good shape inside; i'm not real familiar with aluminum vessels, could it have some sort of liner inside?
I'd like to use it because it's big (I estimate 10 gallons), light, and free! It's also more attractive sitting around the house than the buckets I currently use; or it will be, once I've cleaned up the outside a bit. I figure the high conductivity would help keep a stable temperature in a swamp-cooler style fermentation chamber. It's also nice and wide, which I've read is desirable in fermenter design.
My major concern is the aluminum material itself. I could certainly boil water in it for an hour to form an oxide layer. However, I'm wondering if there are different concerns with leaving wort in it for a month at fermentation temperatures than there are boiling wort for a couple hours?
Thanks for any thoughts on the matter!