Adding a thief port to a fermentation bucket?

[slakwhere]

does anybody have any good plans/solutions for a port in the lid of a bucket for checking gravity using a thief? i was considering stopping by home depot for some plastic plumbing supplies to see if i could add something like a 2" port in a bucket lid that would seal tight but be easier to open than the entire bucket lid.

anybody done anything like this before?

 

[Brew-Happy]

does anybody have any good plans/solutions for a port in the lid of a bucket for checking gravity using a thief? i was considering stopping by home depot for some plastic plumbing supplies to see if i could add something like a 2" port in a bucket lid that would seal tight but be easier to open than the entire bucket lid.

anybody done anything like this before?

Do you have a hole(1" or so) for the airlock? If you do, why are not taking it out to thief your sample?

I have made holes in the lid of buckets with a 1" socket that is heated on my electric stove. I use a pair of pliers to push the socket through the plastic. Just debur with a razor blade and you are done. Go to Lowes and find their hardware section. They should have rubber bungs to fit the hole.


Edit: I see you need a 2" hole for your thief. Same principle as above only bigger socket and bung.

 

[cheezydemon3]

I like to open the opaque bucket.......just in case there is a layer of mold going on.

I like to drink my samples!

....when I take them that is.

 

[slakwhere]

the bucket has an eyelet just big enough for the airlock. no bung.

i think the start of this qwest may be going to lowes and find hardware that will work for my need, then cut the hole if i can find something i like!

Do you have a hole(1" or so) for the airlock? If you do, why are not taking it out to thief your sample?

I have made holes in the lid of buckets with a 1" socket that is heated on my electric stove. I use a pair of pliers to push the socket through the plastic. Just debur with a razor blade and you are done. Go to Lowes and find their hardware section. They should have rubber bungs to fit the hole.


Edit: I see you need a 2" hole for your thief. Same principle as above only bigger socket and bung.

 

[user 40839]

This is a slippery slope you're on. What starts as just wanting a port in the lid of a bucket will end up with you figuring out what the best way of welding an upper port in a flipped converted Sanke fermenter. Mark my words!!

 

[mordantly]

my wt is about .750 od. you using a turkey baster? perhaps another $4 bottling spigot atleast half way up the bucket?

 

[slakwhere]

mordantly, it was just a guess at a diameter. headed to home depot today if i can finish up some work to see what i can come up with, if not it will have to wait a couple weeks

 

[jtrainer]

I recently drilled approx 1.5 inch hole and plug it with a non-drilled #15 stopper. I used the hole to drop my air stone in, fill from the boil keggle, etc.... Seems to be working fine, I might cut the next lid soon too.

 

[slakwhere]

went to lowes and grabbed a couple of different solutions for easy to remove caps. also grabbed a stopper, a test lid and a thief from the LHBS. thinking about installing all 3 types of holes into the test lid to see what works the best. just gotta finish this damn work first.

stupid work, always getting in the way of motorcycles and beer.

 

[wood7588]

Head to a paint store. A lot of 5 gallon paint buckets lids have screw on bungs to allow the store to mix custom collors without opening the lid. I believe that the openings are around 1 1/4" to an 1 1/2" or so. I would think they would be ok for a fermentor since the beer never really touches the lid at all.

 

[slakwhere]

wood that's a great idea! i will have to check that out. already cut into my test lid tho and epoxied in a bung that i think will work. just have to wait for everything to dry before i start fussing with it =)