Fermenting bucket

[ironcash]

First off I'de like to say hello, I'm new to this forum but it seems like theres a pretty good community right here.

I just brewed up my second batch of beer Thursday night and i noticed that my ferment bucket doesn't seal all the way. I boiled down 3 gallons of water and put it in the bucket, then i shook the bucket up to oxidize it a little but water would come out of the sides where it should be sealed.

When I purchased the bucekt it had a plastic seal around the lid I was having trouble with so I took it off. Is that my problem right there? Are the plastic buckets meant for a one time use? or should I have left that piece of plastic on there?

I was having lots of foam comming out of the sides but I arranged about 50 pounds of weights on the edges of the bucket and ended up taking the cap off of the airlock and foam has been geysing out of there pretty steadily. Is the loss of all this foam a big deal at all either? I ended up using a decend amount of yeast, some extra malt extract and 'bout a pound of honey so I figured thats why its going all crazy.

Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated

and hello to all again

Iron Cash

 

[BrewForMe]

You shouldn't have to worry about a poorly sealing bucket. All of the CO2 that is being produced is pushing outward so no air (or infection) should be able to get in. The plastic ring was probably the seal and you may want to use it on your next batch. The krausen you have lost is no big deal, just RDWHAHB!

 

[boo boo]

If the foam plugs up the airlock you'll have to worry about moping the ceiling. Check out how to make a blow off tube and use that instead of the airlock.
Welcome and cheers

 

[ironcash]

ya I cleaned the airlock out last night, it had enough pressure to coat my shoulder/arm with a light layer of krausen when i pulled it out, and im going to clean it out again here in a minute...

as for the ring I think it was a one time removal kind of thing (kind of like the plastic seal around a gallon of milk you pull off before you can open it, but bigger) but i think my weight system is working sufficiently to seal off the sides

I was thinking about getting a glass carboy, but i think my girlfriend is terrified of the idea of a carboy bomb

thanks for the help again!

 

[unionrdr]

You shouldn't pull that plastic ring off the edge of the lid. That's just to make it easy to open. Like 5G buckets of paint,driveway sealer,roofing tar,etc. They don't seal as tight after that,making it easy to open again to finish using what's in it. Not so when used as a fermenter.

 

[ironcash]

ok thank you unionrdr that makes sense. I'll make sure not to remove it when i get another one someday

 

[unionrdr]

You can buy the lids separately,with or without the hole for the airlock grommet.

 

[beaksnbeer]

If SHMBO is worried go with plastic instead of glass....I only use glass for meads my.02

 

[hops2it]

Sounds like you have some active fermentation going on. A blowoff tube, as mentioned by an earlier poster, would be the ticket.

 

[ironcash]

I kept seeing SWMBO around so i finally looked it up, haha pretty funny

 

[C-Rider]

You shouldn't pull that plastic ring off the edge of the lid. That's just to make it easy to open. Like 5G buckets of paint,driveway sealer,roofing tar,etc. They don't seal as tight after that,making it easy to open again to finish using what's in it. Not so when used as a fermenter.

The covers from my LHBS have a rubber gasket and that plastic ring. The guy there tells us to remove the plastic ring. It's there by the manufacturer to ensure a seal when filled w/whatever.

I don't think you can remove the cover from the bucket if you leave it on and then push down to "seal" the brew. Seems you'd have to remove it to open later just like you have to remove it if the bucket was full of paint. tar, etc.

I've removed it from all my ferment covers and get a very tight seal because of the rubber gasket in the cover.

 

[unionrdr]

Ime,the ring helps pull the lid tight around the edges,which are like a bunch of separate flanges held tight by the ring. Just seems looser without it. But whatever floats yer boat...

 

[C-Rider]

Ime,the ring helps pull the lid tight around the edges,which are like a bunch of separate flanges held tight by the ring. Just seems looser without it. But whatever floats yer boat...

Agree on the floating comment. I have to really work hard to remove the cover on my buckets. Get a really tight seal, or maybe I'm just old and week at 68.

 

[ChshreCat]

My favorite fermenter doesn't seal. Never had a single bubble in the airlock when I use it. Makes beer just fine.

Hell, one time, I couldn't even find the lid. So I covered the old ale pail with foil:

Came out just fine too!

 

[unionrdr]

Well,if you're a surfer,then you're in better shape than this worn out auto worker. I'm 55,& I'm tired...worked too hard for too long. Seems like everybody's rattlin my monkey cage lately. Idk...maybe my 2c isn't even worth that at my age...

 

[C-Rider]

Well,if you're a surfer,then you're in better shape than this worn out auto worker. I'm 55,& I'm tired...worked too hard for too long. Seems like everybody's rattlin my monkey cage lately. Idk...maybe my 2c isn't even worth that at my age...

Never tried to rattle your gage DR. I've taken your advise on some of my brews.

Big Mahalo from Hawai`i!

 

[unionrdr]

Never tried to rattle your gage DR. I've taken your advise on some of my brews.

Big Mahalo from Hawai`i!

Wasn't talkin about you,just needed to say it. Some folks on here like to,like a certain lady of note that's always jumpin on my monkey cage about how I'm wrong. Just gets me when folks tell me my personal experience is wrong,cause this author or that says so. And then folks I don't even know callin me sayin I owe them $$. Retired=broke. Wish I was still able,but...I just found I like brewing,try to relate,...guess I don't do it so well. But the beer's good,anyway...

 

[DEWSBREW]

Unionrdr,
I have seen the disgust/distain shown by certain member(s) here that think a SPECIFIC brand of extract are inferior, and I have also read threads where this certain member(s) has had arguments with said distributor. I find all this silly and childish. CERTAIN member(s) here need to get over it, they have too much time on their hands. I have made several batches with this brand and have been happy with my results. Am I a BREWMASTER ? HELL NO! Do I like the beer that I make ? F___ yea. Dont let the ones with a vendeta get you down. Just because she/he's feelings are hurt doesnt mean that you don't make a good beer. Brew on brotha Brew on : ) enjoy what you do and F__ the rest. I have pointed fingers at none but he/she reads every thread that comes on this board ( you know who you are) ---life is short, and all will pass --just pour a glass of what YOU made!!!!
Peace out

DEWSBREW

 

[TTB-J]

Unionrdr,
I have seen the disgust/distain shown by certain member(s) here that think a SPECIFIC brand of extract are inferior, and I have also read threads where this certain member(s) has had arguments with said distributor. I find all this silly and childish. CERTAIN member(s) here need to get over it, they have too much time on their hands. I have made several batches with this brand and have been happy with my results. Am I a BREWMASTER ? HELL NO! Do I like the beer that I make ? F___ yea. Dont let the ones with a vendeta get you down. Just because she/he's feelings are hurt doesnt mean that you don't make a good beer. Brew on brotha Brew on : ) enjoy what you do and F__ the rest. I have pointed fingers at none but he/she reads every thread that comes on this board ( you know who you are) ---life is short, and all will pass --just pour a glass of what YOU made!!!!
Peace out

DEWSBREW

Ugh. This is unnecessary and unproductive. Please take your rants somewhere else.