fermenting in a milk jug, and dont have an airlock

[nick12ivi]

Hello. I recently started a batch of kilju (sugar wine) that i have fermenring in a milk jug in my closet. I dont have an airlock, and i cant really afford to get one, as cheap as they are. If i dont screw the lid on the jug all the way, gas is only escaping under pressure. By that i mean, when i squeeze the jug, air comes out, but doesn't go back in, it just refills with the co2 from fermentation. Will this work? The pressure from the co2 building up is releasing the co2, so im not worried about it blowing up and making a mess, I'm more worried about if air could still be getting in, despite being pushed away by the pressure of the co2. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this clearly enough, so feel free to ask for more details. Thanks in advance for any help

 

[nick12ivi]

Hello. I am currently brewing a batch of kilju. I dont have an airlock, and as cheap as they are, i cannot afford one. If i semi-tighten the lid on a milk jug so gas can only pass through at about air pressure, will this work as a makeshift airlock until i can afford a real one? This is what im using, and i mostly want to know if im wasting my time, sugar, and yeast. Its been going about 4 days now and is definitely giving off co2, im just worried about ethanol production

 

[Bellybuster]

You'll be fine.

", im just worried about ethanol production"

Isn't ethanol what you're trying to produce?? I'm thinking you meant methanol? Straight sugar produces minimal methanol and happy days....the cure is ethanol. Yay
If your making it out of fruit there may be some methanol production but still no worries. It is just wine after all.

Why would lack of airlock cause methanol????

 

[nick12ivi]

You'll be fine.

", im just worried about ethanol production"

Isn't ethanol what you're trying to produce?? I'm thinking you meant methanol? Straight sugar produces minimal methanol and happy days....the cure is ethanol. Yay
If your making it out of fruit there may be some methanol production but still no worries. It is just wine after all.

Why would lack of airlock cause methanol????

I meant in worried if its producing the ethanol i want, rather than using any air that might be getting in reproduce instead. But thanks for your answer, i figured itd be fine, but wanted to see if anyone maybe had experience with or opinions of such a set up instead of an air lock

 

[nick12ivi]

If i semi-tighten the lid on a milk jug so gas can only pass through at about air pressure, will this work as a makeshift airlock until i can afford a real one?


That sentence should also read above air pressure, not about lol

 

[Clearbeer1]

Just get a balloon and place it over the opening of the milk jug. As Co2 is produced it will inflate the balloon and help prevent any problems.
Just my 2 cents
Clearbeer1

 

[GHBWNY]

Just get a balloon and place it over the opening of the milk jug. As Co2 is produced it will inflate the balloon and help prevent any problems.
Just my 2 cents
Clearbeer1

This^^^ Sanitized, of course.

 

[theDREWery]

I started with saran wrap and a hair tie to keep it in place, no problems for short term stuff.

 

[Gavin C]

Hello. I am currently brewing a batch of kilju. I dont have an airlock, and as cheap as they are, i cannot afford one. If i semi-tighten the lid on a milk jug so gas can only pass through at about air pressure, will this work as a makeshift airlock until i can afford a real one? This is what im using, and i mostly want to know if im wasting my time, sugar, and yeast. Its been going about 4 days now and is definitely giving off co2, im just worried about ethanol production

Just to put your worries in perspective.

Here are some commercial open fermentations.

Not an airlock in sight.

Google open fermentation images and you'll see lots more.

 

[nick12ivi]

Thanks for your help guys

 

[menerdari]

I was going to say some people make wine without any cover at all, I have make some with just a clean dish towel covering my bucket, just cover the top with a clean cloth or napkin and a rubber band, you'll be fine

 

[supertruus]

This is my solution: plastic bag with rubber band.

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