FastFerment conical fermenter??????

[DrWill]

I open the top of mine to take a sample as well.

There is a sample port kit you can buy for it though. Might be the next purchase.

Is this anything different from the standard spigot assembly I can get at my lhbs? I thought maybe it would be angled to compensate for the slope of the cone but it doesn't look like it.

 

[pshankstar]

Is this anything different from the standard spigot assembly I can get at my lhbs? I thought maybe it would be angled to compensate for the slope of the cone but it doesn't look like it.

I didn't buy the spigot kit that manufacturer offers for the FastFerment, but I did install a standard spigot from my LHBS. I found the directions from the kit to see where they recommend it to be installed. I use it to take gravity readings when needed and it's been working great for me!

 

[Staticsouls]

I think any spigot with a bulkhead would work, given its made of acceptable materials.

 

[DrWill]

I think any spigot with a bulkhead would work, given its made of acceptable materials.

That was my sense too, but I wanted to know if there were something "special" about their port. Thanks!

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

Is this anything different from the standard spigot assembly I can get at my lhbs? I thought maybe it would be angled to compensate for the slope of the cone but it doesn't look like it.

Nothing special about theirs, other than I thought that it came with the step bit you need to put it in.

If you just buy a spigot from an lhbs, you would also have to buy the step bit if you didn't already have one.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Nothing special about theirs, other than I thought that it came with the step bit you need to put it in.

If you just buy a spigot from an lhbs, you would also have to buy the step bit if you didn't already have one.

That is the only difference. It is the same spigot you would buy for a bottling bucket. You can get a cheap step bit at Harbor Freight, since it is only going to be used on plastic, it should last a long time.

 

[kaffeenjunkie]

I installed a spigot from the lhbs with no problem. I had a step bit from putting some holes in my pot. As its been said, you can get a step bit at harbor freight pretty cheap.

 

[TorMag]

When securing a sample for gravity readings, do you:

- remove the collection cup and sample from there

- open the top and pull a sample

Sorry if this is so basic, I'm using mine for the first time and... I've been looking for the answer through a forum search for 40 minutes with no luck (although I'm sure the answer is here somewhere!)

I went with the third and newest option. I bought one of the Tilt Brewometers and just drop that bad boy in there when I fill it up. I've now brewed two batches that way and love it. I want to know the gravity, from my chair in the family room, I just pop open the app on my phone and take a look....

 

[vrodbrad]

Quick question. I know this has been probably asked before. Can I use my keg cleaning tabs to clean the inside or are those to harsh on the plastic. If so what is the best way of cleaning it.

 

[Brewmasher]

I went with the third and newest option. I bought one of the Tilt Brewometers and just drop that bad boy in there when I fill it up. I've now brewed two batches that way and love it. I want to know the gravity, from my chair in the family room, I just pop open the app on my phone and take a look....

What could be more exciting than watching your gravity drop?

 

[TorMag]

Quick question. I know this has been probably asked before. Can I use my keg cleaning tabs to clean the inside or are those to harsh on the plastic. If so what is the best way of cleaning it.

I would not. I use PBW, just fill it up with water. Put some PBW in it, let it sit, use your and to scrub the inside or a sponge, not a green scouring sponge, that will scratch, just a plain old sponge. Rinse. Starsan it before filling.

 

[TorMag]

What could be more exciting than watching your gravity drop?

You don't know? Defragging your hard drive of course......

 

[CA_Mouse]

Quick question. I know this has been probably asked before. Can I use my keg cleaning tabs to clean the inside or are those to harsh on the plastic. If so what is the best way of cleaning it.

I've just filled mine with hot tap water and a scoop of PBW, A big soft sponge will wipe everything away after an hour soak.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

I've just filled mine with hot tap water and a scoop of PBW, A big soft sponge will wipe everything away after an hour soak.

I use Oxyclean in mine, fill it up about half way, with hot water, drop in about a half scoop of Oxyclean and then fill and leave over night. Then just clean it out the following day. I just use a clean micro fibre cloth. Wife has a bunch of them here for cleaning dishes and wiping the counters down.

 

[vrodbrad]

Thanks guys for the input. Have a great weekend.

 

[Bobb25]

Quick question. I know this has been probably asked before. Can I use my keg cleaning tabs to clean the inside or are those to harsh on the plastic. If so what is the best way of cleaning it.

As soon as I drain the conical, I slowly fill it with warm water, sloshing it around as I go. I dump it, then fill with a weak PBW solution, and let it set overnight. Dump and rinse, and it's fine.
Bob

 

[Eucrid]

Anyone else have issues with the yeast sticking to the sides of the FF and not falling out into the ball? Are there solutions to this? One of the main reasons I bought a FF conical was to rack straight to the keg.

 

[joshuadbak]

I tap on the sides with both hands at the same time.....open like a slap.....once a day or so.... after the first week. There is a little bit of yeast clinging to the sides when I rack, but not very much. I usually do 6 or 6.5 gallon batches. Before I shoot it to the keg...I usually fill a few growlers and tap on the sides while filling those. This usually leaves me with fairly clear beer heading to the keg. Hopefully soon I can build a nice ferm chamber and cold crash before as well. Right now I just ferment in a small room I keep at 64 with no way of dropping to cold crash temps, unless it's cold enough outside to use my porch that is.

 

[mxstar21]

I tap with the handle of a screw driver and if that doesn't work, I sanitize a straightened metal coat hanger and use it to poke a whole in the trub and the burst of air/ beer filling the collection ball cleans off the sides.

 

[mxstar21]

I have had 2 collection balls break though. One of them them cracked at the bas of the threads and yesterday I filled my fast fermenter with water to sanitize and the collection ball had a small leak at the top along the seam. I am going to try and come up with a way to use a mason jar in place of the ball.

 

[joshuadbak]

12 days in on a creme of 3 Cropsish...but I took the grain bill times 1.25 and used cluster hops at 60, Irish moss at 15, tetnang at 10 and a tiny bit of cascade at flame out. Used washed notty from my last batch. Already dumped the collection ball once. Notice the yeast is dropping out nicely.

 

[Bobb25]

Santa brought my Fastferment last December. It came with two gaskets that I think are the neoprene. after reading about many problems not sealing well, I used both gaskets. It sealed well and I could see the bubbles in the air lock. However when I attemped to remove the top, one of the gaskets took a dive into the fermenter. The second time that I used the Fastferment I tried to be very careful, and the same thing happened. Any ideas out there ? Could i use a few dabs of silicone caulking to fasten the two together ?
Bob

 

[joshuadbak]

I sanded my lid top flat wth a block of wood and progressively finner sandpaper. I also use a bit of Teflon tape on the threads....I always have vigorous bubbling but use hydrometer to know when beer is finished.

 

[pshankstar]

Santa brought my Fastferment last December. It came with two gaskets that I think are the neoprene. after reading about many problems not sealing well, I used both gaskets. It sealed well and I could see the bubbles in the air lock. However when I attemped to remove the top, one of the gaskets took a dive into the fermenter. The second time that I used the Fastferment I tried to be very careful, and the same thing happened. Any ideas out there ? Could i use a few dabs of silicone caulking to fasten the two together ?

Bob

I contacted Northern Brewer and the manufacturer about a similar issue. My silicone gasket would keep falling into the FF. Northern Brewer gave me a bunch of their first generation gaskets that were foam. They said to use both together and the foam one holds the silicone gasket in place. Now no more gaskets dropping into the fermenter. The manufacturer sent me a new lid. The new lid has some groves to make it easier to unscrew the lid, where as the old one was smooth and made it more difficult to unscrew the lid.

So with all of that being said contact the vendor you bought it from or the manufacturer.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

Anyone else have issues with the yeast sticking to the sides of the FF and not falling out into the ball? Are there solutions to this? One of the main reasons I bought a FF conical was to rack straight to the keg.

Haven't had an issue with mine. Take off the ball full of yeast and trub, either discard or harvest, once I put the ball back on, and open it up, the air bubble is usually enough to dislodge anything else that might not have made it into the ball the first go.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

I contacted Northern Brewer and the manufacturer about a similar issue. My silicone gasket would keep falling into the FF. Northern Brewer gave me a bunch of their first generation gaskets that were foam. They said to use both together and the foam one holds the silicone gasket in place. Now no more gaskets dropping into the fermenter. The manufacturer sent me a new lid. The new lid has some groves to make it easier to unscrew the lid, where as the old one was smooth and made it more difficult to unscrew the lid.

So with all of that being said contact the vendor you bought it from or the manufacturer.

I did the same, and got one of the old gaskets from FF themselves, but don't find it works any better, the gaskets still drop in. Foam one isn't so bad as it floats, the silicon ones sink like a rock however. Thankfully I have a couple of spares.

The foam one doesn't last long though, I have managed to mangle it pretty well, and there is a fine line getting the top cover just tight enough but not to sling the foam gasket out of place.

Got to be a better way.

Even with the notches in the top cover to grip on to, using just the silicon gasket, it still tends to be very hard to open. I have used one of those silicon mats used to put a hot pot on, and it seems to work OK, but the cover can still be stubborn. Wondering of cinching a belt around the cover and using it to get to cover off, kind of like a large oil filter wrench.

 

[msbrewblog]

I did the same, and got one of the old gaskets from FF themselves, but don't find it works any better, the gaskets still drop in. Foam one isn't so bad as it floats, the silicon ones sink like a rock however. Thankfully I have a couple of spares.

Same issue. Used my FF about 6 times now and 3 times the gasket fell in. After the first time I tried lubing it up with some keg lube to provide some stickiness (and to help seal the leaking lid)...no dice, still had it fall in.

I don't have a foam version but would give it a try.

 

[TorMag]

Same issue. Used my FF about 6 times now and 3 times the gasket fell in. After the first time I tried lubing it up with some keg lube to provide some stickiness (and to help seal the leaking lid)...no dice, still had it fall in.

I don't have a foam version but would give it a try.

You can make your own foam one fairly easily. Go to Michael's, Hobby Lobby or Walmart (art supplies aisle) you can buy that foam for dirt cheap, cut your own.

 

[kaffeenjunkie]

I've had my FF for almost two years. Love it. If you haven't taken it apart and broken it down completely, might not be a bad idea.

 

[ATLbeerdude]

New to the forum and love all the great feedback. Sorry to resurrect an old post but had a quick question. I made it through 45 pages of questions and answers so I apologize if this has been discussed previously in this thread.

Has anyone made a hop tea to add to the collection ball when reattaching to prevent air from going in to the fermenter? If so, what's the best way to make it? Does anyone think this would work or should I just abandon the idea?