Anywhere I can buy a transparent bucket lid?

[sportscrazed2]

I want the benefit of a carboy by being able to see fermentation without buying a carboy. I think a bucket would be much easier to clean and I already have the bucket. so does anyone know somewhre that would sell a transparent bucket lid?

 

[Skaggz]

I've never seen a transparent lid. But, you could look into getting a Better Bottle.

http://www.better-bottle.com/

 

[cenla]

interesting idea. I don't think you're going to find it, though. I suspect you'll have to try making your own.

 

[buzzkill]

plexiglass and put something heavy on it so it wont get knocked off. but a BB would be better.

 

[knightbeer39]

Yup, sounds like what you really want is a Better Bottle.

 

[Bob]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Clear acrylic (Plexiglass) sheet. Cut to cover the lid of your bucket.

Done.



Bob

 

[sportscrazed2]

so all i would need is a sheet of plexiglass and a way to hold it on the bucket? could i buy a separate lid cut out a piece in the middle and somehow attach the plexiglas to make a window of sorts into my brew? how would i make sure it's airtight?

 

[Shooter]

so all i would need is a sheet of plexiglass and a way to hold it on the bucket? could i buy a separate lid cut out a piece in the middle and somehow attach the plexiglas to make a window of sorts into my brew? how would i make sure it's airtight?

It would be easiest to just cut the plexiglass slightly larger than the top of the bucket and leave it at that. You could secure it with a bungee or something I suppose, but there's no reason it has to be air tight.

 

[devilishprune]

You could do that. Bucket lids from Lowe's/Home depot fit on the 6.5 gallon ale pails, so you could by one of those for a dollar and that sheet of plexiglass. Then you could cut a hole in the lid, and a slightly larger, similarly shaped piece out of the plexi. Then you could just glue them together with aquarium sealant or something

. Doesn't necessarily need to be airtight, as some people ferment with a towel over the top.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Buy plexiglass. Cut out a circle the same as the inner diameter of your lid. Cut the lid leaving at least a 1/2" to 1" "flange" around the inside. Epoxy the plexi to the the lid flange. Drill for stopper.

Loctite makes a Marine Epoxy that is rated for food surface contact. I forget the product number but have seen on shelves at Lowes. Worst case scenario you could use a non rated epoxy but hold it away from the edge a bit and then seal the void between the bucket lid and plexi with food grade silicone caulking.

I plan to do this too. Have everything in place but the epoxy and time.

I do agree tho', there is no need for it to be airtight but......

It would be re-assuring to think it "could" be for really long primaries.

 

[sportscrazed2]

sweet sounds like a plan to me. just got to steer clear of the hole for the airlock. is there a best kind of adhesive for plastic?

 

[carrotmalt]

...just got to steer clear of the hole for the airlock.

I say drill your own airlock hole in the plexi

 

[hoppysailor]

Not sure how the Plexiglas will hold up when you flex the lid to get it off the bucket......

 

[brrman]

I agree the Plexi might have issues when trying to remove the plastic lid. You could continue with the same plan but use a heavy vinyl fabric instead of plexi... Just leave enough room in the original bucket flange for an airlock hole.

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=vinyl

 

[daugenet]

Maybe I am missing something but why not use a flashlight and shine it from the outside and use a door peephole? simple, cheap, and widely available

 

[TheCarnie]

go to a rest supply store, you shouldn't have a problem. We have them at the rest i work in.

 

[Devo2k]

Though cryptic, TheCarnie had a good point. Google revealed that a "rest supply store" (I had no idea what the hell that meant) is a restaurant supply store, and from that, I came up with this: https://www.daydots.com/article.asp?HKEY=002&strPRODH=002005&strMATNR=30513-01-00 I'm not 100% sure it'll fit, nor am I totally sure it's strong enough to support an air lock, i'm also not sure on the clarity...

But, for a buck 90 plus shipping, I'm sure someone would be willing to find out...

 

[sportscrazed2]

i like the idea of plexiglass the most but you might be right it might break when removing the lid. vinly fabric seems like a pretty good idea as well but isn't that flexible and might lest some air in?

 

[Zamial]

If you want to watch the fermentation use a carboy/bb as others have mentioned. I wrap my carboys with a thick blanket to keep the light out and seldom even "peak in" anymore. The luster + wanting "to see" fades REALLY fast after you can...I think you will engineer this only to find it really doesn't matter.

I wish you luck!

 

[sportscrazed2]

If you want to watch the fermentation use a carboy/bb as others have mentioned. I wrap my carboys with a thick blanket to keep the light out and seldom even "peak in" anymore. The luster + wanting "to see" fades REALLY fast after you can...I think you will engineer this only to find it really doesn't matter.

I wish you luck!

yeah but a bucket is much easier to clean imo and i already have one. for a few bucks in vinly and glue i could have a window into my beer which is all i really need. it's in my closet anyway so i'm not afraid of light

 

[Bob]

Dude. Don't sweat the seal so much! You're really over-engineering this, because you're overthinking it.

Just cut a square of plexiglass that'll cover the entire mouth of your bucket. Clean it and sanitize it with the same stuff you clean/sanitize your fermenter. Knock out, pitch yeast, place the sanitized sheet of clear plastic over the bucket.

Done.

You don't need an airlock. The devolution of carbon dioxide gas during the ferment will displace any air in the bucket and excess CO2 will get out just fine. Nothing will get in, no solid matter, no microbes. Really, the sheet is there to prevent dust and stuff from falling in; the krauesen and layer of CO2 gas will protect your beer from airborne microbes.

KISS. Really. Honest.

Cheers,

Bob