How long does an ale pail last?

[bob1852]

you've got to remember though - homebrewer_99 was brewing LONG before plastic was invented. I think he first fermented in rock carboys (just giving you a little crap hb99)

 

[homebrewer_99]

you've got to remember though - homebrewer_99 was brewing LONG before plastic was invented. I think he first fermented in rock carboys (just giving you a little crap hb99)

You're right, me, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble carved them ourselves...



Very intriguing pictures. I've never seen cracks like that in anyone's buckets. How old are they? And yes, I'm sure mine will give up the ghost eventually also.

I would contact the manufacturer to let them know they have a QA/QC problem. Could be the result of substandard workmanship/materieals.

Have you ever accidentally banged them when they were full?

 

[Mountainbeers]

Has anybody had any problems with the spigots leaking? I went to transfer to my Ale Pail with a spigot for bottling a few days ago and I started having a leak around the outside of the spigot!!! I transferred what little was moved back to the carboy and just bottled from there. I haven't had time to figure out the problem.

 

[alpha_acid]

the lip of mine cracked so i replaced it

 

[Mountainbeers]

I've only used my Ale Pail twice to the spigot leaking isn't a wear and tear kind of thing.

 

[JVD_X]

You're right, me, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble carved them ourselves...



Very intriguing pictures. I've never seen cracks like that in anyone's buckets. How old are they? And yes, I'm sure mine will give up the ghost eventually also.

I would contact the manufacturer to let them know they have a QA/QC problem. Could be the result of substandard workmanship/materieals.

Have you ever accidentally banged them when they were full?

I have been through two more buckets after this one until I decided not to buy those buckets anymore. They don't get banged around anymore than the usual.

That particular bucket was MAYBE 2-3 months old. The same for the others. I have not noted any issues with my 5 gallon buckets, so this may very well be a QC issue.

I've only used my Ale Pail twice to the spigot leaking isn't a wear and tear kind of thing.

Do you mean it was leaking around the edge where the spigot attaches to the bucket? If so, you might have stuck the seal on the outside instead of the inside - a common mistake.

 

[Kass_Brauhaus]

Yeah, I definitely don't buy buckets with spigots anymore--it's just so damn hard to get a good seal. And yes, it's very possible, and I'm sure one can get a technique down for tightening just enough but not enough to crack the nut, but it's hard.

This is why I struck a deal with the wife--I will buy her a TIG welder and the materials...I'll even cut them...if she'll build me a 20 gallon conical fermenter.

 

[chefmike]

I am glad HB99 posted his usage and David42 and some of the others. I bought my current pale 5 years ago. No issues.

I love my bucket. It loves me.

I only use carboys for space to age beers (like clearing the pumpkin ale right now, ageing ciders, etc) I ferment everything in buckets. I don't have spigots on any of my buckets.

 

[Mountainbeers]

Do you mean it was leaking around the edge where the spigot attaches to the bucket? If so, you might have stuck the seal on the outside instead of the inside - a common mistake.

I'm not sure but I'll check when I get home.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I am glad HB99 posted his usage and David42 and some of the others. I bought my current pale 5 years ago. No issues.

I love my bucket. It loves me.

I only use carboys for space to age beers (like clearing the pumpkin ale right now, ageing ciders, etc) I ferment everything in buckets. I don't have spigots on any of my buckets.

You're welcome.

Yes, mine do get used all the time.

I currently have 8 brews going right now. Only 1 is in a primary bucket. The others are 1 carboy for beer, the rest are ciders and meads.

 

[Kass_Brauhaus]

I always break my lids before the buckets wear out (fyi, melting the plastic back together only works marginally well). But in any case, I've only thrown away one bucket (because I now passionately hate spigots. I mean, to do it right, you have to sanitize the spigot right before you run beer through it, which you can't do if it's full of beer, and if you're racking into it to bottle, why not just rack and then rack into bottles?), and the others are like new. I think the key is to clean them immediately, as 99 says.

I need to work on my wanton use of parenthetical statements.

 

[homebrewer_99]

(nah), you're (good).....()

 

[zman]

I have had mine for over 5 years and use it for bottling and have never had an issue. I once tightened it too tight and I noticed an issue then but have not had one since

 

[KillerKellers]

Thanks for the pictures on the spigot, I never knew they came apart like that (guess I have been lucky so far!).

I usually take my bucket right after use and rinse out the cake from the bottom.. stick it in the bathtub and fill the bucket to the top with 1 scoop oxy clean and hot water. Let that sit over night, dump it out and rinse it. Clean as can be!

 

[rico567]

I always break my lids before the buckets wear out (fyi, melting the plastic back together only works marginally well). But in any case, I've only thrown away one bucket (because I now passionately hate spigots. I mean, to do it right, you have to sanitize the spigot right before you run beer through it, which you can't do if it's full of beer, and if you're racking into it to bottle, why not just rack and then rack into bottles?), and the others are like new. I think the key is to clean them immediately, as 99 says.

I need to work on my wanton use of parenthetical statements.

Oh, why? I LIKE your wanton parenthetical statements!

I've only used the bottling bucket one time for primary, just for giggles, but I can see the problem. If I were going to do that on a regular basis, I'd solve the problem of the unsanitary spigot using the same device I made to plug up the ball valve on my MLT. I cut off 2" of regular 5/16" vinyl hose, same stuff most of us use to rack, bottle, etc. I then filled it on one end about 1/2" - 3/4" with hot glue. If I were going to do this some more, I'd just make up one of these, spray some Star San on the spigot and in this hose, and slip it over the end of the spigot. It would keep the business end of the spigot sanitary until bottling time.

 

[Kass_Brauhaus]

Good idea...

Way to take my biggest complaint away! However, I have never been able to stop a VERY slow leak in mine (it's about the rate of 12 cL/month).

 

[beerocd]

I love my bucket. It loves me.

Note to self: Watch out for protein haze in chefmike's beer. :cross:

-OCD

 

[david_42]

I've never had a problem with leaky spigots. Here's a trick: install the spigot "two-finger" tight. Add water to cover. If it leaks, tighten 1/8th of a turn. Repeat until the leakage stops. Never use a wrench to tighten and no white-knuckles either.

 

[Mountainbeers]

Do you mean it was leaking around the edge where the spigot attaches to the bucket? If so, you might have stuck the seal on the outside instead of the inside - a common mistake.

This was the problem! Thanks!

 

[weirdboy]

Huh? I have gaskets on both sides of my spigot; inside and out.

 

[Mountainbeers]

Huh? I have gaskets on both sides of my spigot; inside and out.

The pictures posted on page 2 are like the spigot you are referring to.

The bucket I'm referring to is this one.

 

[Kauai_Kahuna]

The majority of my buckets and "Ale Pails" are over 10 years old. I have yet to replace one.
I do not stack them nor store anything in them that would enable them to get scratched.
Clean up includes an overnight soak and sponged clean.

Like 99, I have used an ale pale for around 15 years now. I am careful not to scratch it, clean it pretty much the same way. I usually use it for meads and ciders which take anywhere from 2 weeks to three weeks in primary.
I prefer glass carboys for secondary conditioning and ageing just because I'm old school.
Never had an infection except for my first batch which I used commercial ice to chill the hot wort, learned my lesson from that.
Stuff works great if it's made well and you take care of it.

 

[carl spakler]

I've been brewing for ~3 years now and am on the original bucket, it still looks fine. I am careful when i clean (no abrasives) and do not use it to store anything abrasive. I expect it to last a while longer as a brewing vessel.

An abused bucket can be ruined prior to purchase; a well cared for bucket can last through years of heavy use.

 

[Crawland]

I don't know if this is common knowledge or not, but the main body of the spigot comes apart too. It's tough to get it apart, but I heat some water in the microwave for a couple minutes and then toss the spigot in the water for about 30 seconds. Then since it's really hard to get a good grip on any part of it when it is wet I stick a Sharpie pen into the part where the red piece goes and use that to help pull the two pieces apart.

I had some nasty gunk in the middle of the body that I could see through the translucent plastic. Once I got the two pieces apart it was easy to clean out.

 

[Revvy]

I don't know if this is common knowledge or not, but the main body of the spigot comes apart too. It's tough to get it apart, but I heat some water in the microwave for a couple minutes and then toss the spigot in the water for about 30 seconds. Then since it's really hard to get a good grip on any part of it when it is wet I stick a Sharpie pen into the part where the red piece goes and use that to help pull the two pieces apart.

I had some nasty gunk in the middle of the body that I could see through the translucent plastic. Once I got the two pieces apart it was easy to clean out.

Thanks for doing the picture. People have talked about it being a potential source of infection.

Now how hard is it to put back together?

 

[user 15951]

Wear not age should be your determining factor. If nothing rough ever goes into the bucket and you are not getting infected batches, I do not see any reason to switch it out. If it has scratches in it, replace it.

+1... that's how i roll.

 

[rico567]

Thanks for doing the picture. People have talked about it being a potential source of infection.

Now how hard is it to put back together?

Since I did the original pic, I can respond by saying that the spigot goes back in easier than it came out.....and easiest if it's heated under the hot water from the faucet first. It's slick nylon, and it will pop back together.

 

[Crawland]

Since I did the original pic, I can respond by saying that the spigot goes back in easier than it came out.....and easiest if it's heated under the hot water from the faucet first. It's slick nylon, and it will pop back together.

Sorry if it looked like I was trying to take credit for Rico's pics. I was trying to show that there is more to those spigots that come apart than what is shown.

Revvy, to answer your question when you separate the body into two parts in snaps back together pretty easy.

 

[Crawland]

Sorry if it looked like I was trying to take credit for Rico's pics. I was trying to show that there is more to those spigots that come apart than what is shown.

Revvy, to answer your question when you separate the body into two parts in snaps back together pretty easy.

Here's what I'm talking about.

Revvy, to clarify my earlier comment, it's easy to put this back together if it's still warm. I tried to put this one together when it was cold and I couldn't do it.