I know there are numerous threads on whether or not to use 5 gallon water bottles for carboys, but I was unable to find anything about making them better.
Basically I have more of them than I know what to do with because we used to get full bottles delivered monthly. The delivery guy would then pickup the empties. Well we switched companies several times, and whenever we would switch, the delivery guy for each respective company would leave us an empty... not sure why. But anyway... I've got probably 8-10 of these things laying around somewhere. I've found 4 of them so far, and I know I've got more hidden away somewhere.
I'm going to be honest... I am not that concerned about the potential BPA leakage. The way I see it, if fried foods, lack of exercise, beer, and cigarette smoking in my younger days doesn't kill me, the tiny amount of another chemical won't either. I'm going to die of something else before BPA can get to me in other words...
What I am concerned about is using them for long term racking because of their supposed O2 permeability. They let too much in I suppose. For beer fermenting for 2ish weeks I don't guess that would be a problem, but if I wanted to use them as a secondary or making apfelwein, I heard there is a noticeable taste difference.
Does anyone know if there is any practical way to decrease the O2 permeability? Would paint do anything? Coating it in something else? I'm not a scientist... so I am sure some of you know a lot more than I would on this topic.
If I could find a way to keep the oxygen out, I would be saving at least $100 or so on Better Bottles.
Basically I have more of them than I know what to do with because we used to get full bottles delivered monthly. The delivery guy would then pickup the empties. Well we switched companies several times, and whenever we would switch, the delivery guy for each respective company would leave us an empty... not sure why. But anyway... I've got probably 8-10 of these things laying around somewhere. I've found 4 of them so far, and I know I've got more hidden away somewhere.
I'm going to be honest... I am not that concerned about the potential BPA leakage. The way I see it, if fried foods, lack of exercise, beer, and cigarette smoking in my younger days doesn't kill me, the tiny amount of another chemical won't either. I'm going to die of something else before BPA can get to me in other words...
What I am concerned about is using them for long term racking because of their supposed O2 permeability. They let too much in I suppose. For beer fermenting for 2ish weeks I don't guess that would be a problem, but if I wanted to use them as a secondary or making apfelwein, I heard there is a noticeable taste difference.
Does anyone know if there is any practical way to decrease the O2 permeability? Would paint do anything? Coating it in something else? I'm not a scientist... so I am sure some of you know a lot more than I would on this topic.
If I could find a way to keep the oxygen out, I would be saving at least $100 or so on Better Bottles.
