I am an idiot. Got a question

[Joshua Hughes]

Right now obviously shipping times suck. I order stuff a few weeks ago to make some 1 gallon batches. It arrives tomorrow. I happened to look at my order again and I didn’t buy a stopper to put the air lock in.... is there a makeshift way to make this work? I won’t leave my house so online is the only way for me right now. I am rationing a beer a day and I will run out if I don’t brew in the next few days.

 

[wsmith1625]

Nothing I ever tried, but you got me thinking. I might try wrapping the stem on the airlock with black electrical tape. Do a small ring close to the top of the stem and then a wide ring a little bit lower. This should give you a taper. Keep winding until you get the right width. Then shoot it with StarSan and give it a shot.

 

[Velnerj]

I've heard a lot of people who have had success just covering the hole with some foil and not using an airlock at all. I think that if you're in a bind you'll be fine.

 

[Jag75]

What are you using to ferment in ? If it's a small enough opening like on a 1 gallon glass jug you could just do a blow off tube, if you had tubing to fit it right. I've seen someone on here use condoms . You could also just tape the top and punch a hole for the airlock to fit in .

 

[coonmanx]

Plastic wrap with a small pinhole in it might just work. Just need to vent that gas until fermentation dies down and then you could just cover with plastic wrap.

 

[OG-wan Kenobi]

Do you have a blowoff tube? If so just use that
Or you can use plastic wrap cut a square and tape it down on 3 sides leaving 1 untapped to work as a flap for C02 to escape not ideal but will get you through a jam for sure

 

[bracconiere]

I am rationing a beer a day

you have my symapty, and i'd go with a rubber band, and a couple layers of saran wrap.....rubber band should keep it tight enough to just let gas out.....

 

[coonmanx]

I remember when I first started making my first batch there was some info that I read that said to use a bucket covered with plastic wrap and then to simply cut a slit in the plastic wrap to vent the CO2. I also like the idea of using plastic wrap and taping it down but leaving an open flap on the side. That should work well.

 

[Joshua Hughes]

I actually have the air lock just not the stopper to put it in. The stopper needed is #10.

 

[bleme]

10 layers of Duct tape then punch a hole for the airlock.
If that doesn't work, add another 10.
This is not a paid advertisement.

 

[bracconiere]

tiny thing like that, a lot of people apparently pressure ferment...maybe they could tell you how to carb and ferment at the same time.....?


(do you have a smaller stopper you could just drill a hole in the lid....)

 

[eric19312]

Foil will do fine. Order the stopper too. When the stopper gets here replace the foil. Don’t put a hole in the foil and try to use it with your airlock. Just the foil.

 

[Joshua Hughes]

tiny thing like that, a lot of people apparently pressure ferment...maybe they could tell you how to carb and ferment at the same time.....?


(do you have a smaller stopper you could just drill a hole in the lid....)

No stoppers

pressure ferment?

guys I’m getting lots of ideas I appreciate it.

 

[Joshua Hughes]

Lol my wife had a idea since I have no tubing. She has tubes from her breast pump lol. Thanks for the tips guys.

 

[mongoose33]

Not saying you should do this. I've done a little experimenting w/ 2-liter bottle fermenters and instead of an airlock, I used a balloon with a pinhole poked in the end.

Those above suggesting covering it and poking a pinhole in it--that'll work. You just need to keep the fruit flies out. And if you can find a balloon and a small enough opening it'll stretch over, well, a balloon will work, too.