Help Me Seal this 2 Gal Mason Jar...

[Bassman2003]

Hello,

I am going to make some cider for my wife so I picked up this 2 gallon mason jar for the fermenter.

https://www.worldmarket.com/product/glass-yorkshire-dispenser.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn

I replaced the spigot with a SS model and will drill a hole in the lid for an airlock. I just need a way to get an airtight seal. The lid does not have any kind of rubber or silicone. The diameter of the mouth is 5 3/8"

Any ideas?

I found this in Amazon but am concerned about the thickness being 1/8"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075E9K0K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Or maybe a sheet of 1/16" silicone cut and glued to the lid?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Yooper]

The lid should close fairly well- why does it have to be completely airtight?

 

[Bassman2003]

Hello,

When I turn it over water leaks out. So that would allow oxygen to get inside or let the CO2 out instead of using the airlock.

 

[Yooper]

Hello,

When I turn it over water leaks out. So that would allow oxygen to get inside or let the CO2 out instead of using the airlock.

Oh, I see. My fermenters aren't completely airtight, so I didn't understand the issue.

 

[Beewrangler63]

This is what I used for my buckets. Don't know how it will work with a screw on lid though:

 

[Beewrangler63]

Or teflon tape on the jar threads?

 

[Bassman2003]

Hey thanks. I think the takeaway from this is the material does not need to be super thick. Maybe I could wrap plastic wrap around a ring of some sort. I would rather be able to take it out when I clean etc. than to have it glued in place.

I do not expect the cider to ever touch it as it seems cider ferments are more mild. But I am new to cider so I do not know exactly.

 

[Bassman2003]

I had some thin vinyl flooring laying around so I cut a circle out and put it in the lid. Will see if it works. Looks promising.

 

[mongoose33]

Or teflon tape on the jar threads?

It is amazing to me how one person's idea triggers a different idea in another person.

The original Bigmouth Bubbler hids were plastic pieces held in place by a threaded ring. THey moved away from those in part, I think, because it was hard to seal that plastic piece.

I'd given up looking for ways to seal that plastic piece, but your teflon tape idea gives me an idea: I wonder if one could take that teflon tape and run it around the edges and then screw on the threaded ring....

 

[Bassman2003]

I think Teflon tape needs some pressure between the two surfaces to make a good seal. If the plastic is stout enough you could probably get a good seal. If it is loose it will be tougher to get it work.

 

[Auger]

It is amazing to me how one person's idea triggers a different idea in another person.

The original Bigmouth Bubbler hids were plastic pieces held in place by a threaded ring. THey moved away from those in part, I think, because it was hard to seal that plastic piece.

I'd given up looking for ways to seal that plastic piece, but your teflon tape idea gives me an idea: I wonder if one could take that teflon tape and run it around the edges and then screw on the threaded ring....

You could also try a length of silicone aquarium airline tubing, sliced lengthwise and run like a gasket around the edge. It would have to fit very cleanly though to retain the seal where the ends met.

 

[mongoose33]

I think Teflon tape needs some pressure between the two surfaces to make a good seal. If the plastic is stout enough you could probably get a good seal. If it is loose it will be tougher to get it work.

I have some 3/4" teflon tape....I'm thinking it could be stretched around the rim tightly and overlap itself. I'm sure that if that was possible, the threaded ring would seal it against the mouth of the fermenter.

 

[parrothead64]

I would just try one of these and find another use for the mason jar.

 

[Bassman2003]

Thanks for the input. Good idea but I need a spigot and prefer to be able to fit my hand in for easy cleaning. I also already purchased the mason jar.

So far the vinyl piece in the lid is not sealing... On to other options.

 

[parrothead64]

I have used plastic wrap rinsed in star San when I was missing a gasket. Not ideal but it worked for hat batch.