Homemaking a 3 gallon fermenter

[jcook1023]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for how to convert a 3 gallon bucket into a secondary fermenter? I've got a spigot for bottling, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about sealing off the bucket... Any thoughts?

 

[Domminigan]

I'm hoping that it's a food grade bucket, right?

 

[buzzkill]

put glad cling wrap over the top,put a bunge cord around it to hold it in place. easy as that.

 

[jcook1023]

Well, it's not food grade...it's a small spackle bucket from work that I cleaned the hell out of and sanitized...

 

[weirdboy]

put glad cling wrap over the top,put a bunge cord around it to hold it in place. easy as that.

++ This is what I do with my freebie buckets.


By the way, it's not hard to get food-grade buckets for free. I ask around at the bakery at my local grocery store, and they save me the buckets they get icing and whatnot in.

 

[gallagherman]

I would be careful, if its not food grade you could leech harmful chemicals from the plastics into your beer! Somewhere on here I was reading about home depot buckets that were safe. Why don't you want to order a 6 gal "ale pail" online?

 

[jcook1023]

Eh mostly just to save a few bucks and try to make one...just for the fun of it!

 

[mordantly]

craziness! at least get a 5 or 6.5gallon sizer.

 

[weirdboy]

craziness! at least get a 5 or 6.5gallon sizer.

I make 2.5-3 gallon batches all the time for experimental brews.

 

[gallagherman]

I make 2.5-3 gallon batches all the time for experimental brews.

What do you use to ferment in?

 

[Mista_Sparkle]

well, you can find the little black 3/8" airlock grommets at home depot for like 80¢ by the fasteners and use an existing or new airlock or blowoff tube...

 

[weirdboy]

What do you use to ferment in?

The aforementioned buckets acquired from the grocery store bakery. I also have an old Mr Beer fermenter that I still ferment small batches in. For certain experiments, I will split up a 3 gallon batch into 4 1-gallon juice containers.

 

[ReeseAllen]

You know, Home Depot buckets are like $5 and that includes a lid. 5 gallons and totally fine to brew in. You really don't want anything that is scratched or contaminated in any way, you will have best luck with a totally pristine inner surface. Scratches provide a perfect home for microbes which makes a scratched bucket nearly impossible to properly sanitize.

 

[mordantly]

For certain experiments, I will split up a 3 gallon batch into 4 1-gallon juice containers.

does it procreate on racking?

 

[Handle]

does it procreate on racking?

3/4 gallons in each of the four gallon containers would equal 3 gallons.

 

[mordantly]

duh .75 not 4 full..

 

[rico567]

I got a couple of 3 gallon buckets from the local IGA where I shop. The bakery goes through dozens, since supplies like filling and icing come packed in them. They have nice gasketed lids, just like the "Brew Bucket / Ale Pail" that are for sale. I drilled a 1/2" hole in the lid with a paddle bit, which is perfect for taking the rubber grommets that seal the airlock. The grommets may be purchased from Midwest. I immediately put it to use fermenting 3 gallons of cider. Works great; cost fifty cents for the grommet.

 

[mordantly]

none of my ail pale lids have gaskets. maybe thats new.

 

[rico567]

My original branded "Ale Pail" = no gasket.
The 7 gal. ones I got from US Plastics = neoprene "O"-ring gasket.
The 3 gal. ones I got free from the store = some kind of foam plastic gasket.

 

[mordantly]

i considered putting some silicone in my lids. they leak bad. but i only have them held in place by the handle being bent in.

 

[Teromous]

You can get free buckets all over the place, or check your hardware store. I went into a Northern Tool store to pick up some stuff and I saw a pallet of food grade buckets on sale. I think the wife would have killed me if I bought one though

 

[mordantly]

a pallet? how many years would that supply you for?