Leaky bucket

[TheMarquis]

I recently bought a plastic bucket from a major online supplier to use as a primary fermenter. On brew day I put a gallon of Starsan in, capped it, and gave it a shake. I got drenched. Tried a different lid, same thing. Luckily I had a different bucket to use because I was already mid-boil. I emailed them and they tell me that they've changed bucket suppliers and all their buckets will leak now. I'm pretty shocked that they'd sell me a bucket that they knew would leak. They credited my account at least.

I hate calling them out, but this was a Morebeer bucket. Steer clear.

 

[TipsyDragon]

yet another reason i like glass carboys.

 

[Yooper]

I don't understand. If it was leaking around the lid, that's no big deal at all. Some bucket lids have rubber gaskets, some don't. I wouldn't shake mine because I bet it's not 100% liquid tight. But if the bucket itself was leaking, that would really be an issue.

 

[camiller]

I don't understand. If it was leaking around the lid, that's no big deal at all. Some bucket lids have rubber gaskets, some don't. I wouldn't shake mine because I bet it's not 100% liquid tight. But if the bucket itself was leaking, that would really be an issue.

+∞, There is no real problem with leaking around the lid for a primary fermentor. Positive CO2 pressure inside will prevent any contamination.

 

[TheMarquis]

It's a problem if your process of pitching yeast includes shaking the bucket.

 

[camiller]

It's a problem if your process of pitching yeast includes shaking the bucket.

I have to admit, since your the first person I have ever heard of doing that, that yes indeed it would be a problem for you.

 

[TheMarquis]

I sprinkle the yeast, let it sit on top for 30 minutes, then shake it. I can't image I'm the only one doing it that way because the only way I would've gotten that idea is from someone here

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

It's a problem if your process of pitching yeast includes shaking the bucket.

Agreed. It's an unusual method for buckets, but valid, and the bucket should not leak.

You got credited for it though, so now it's time to count the savings and make the best of what you have! Try dropping the wort from a height into the bucket. that gives plenty of aeration, and you won't need to shake the bucket.

 

[TheMarquis]

You got credited for it though, so now it's time to count the savings and make the best of what you have! Try dropping the wort from a height into the bucket. that gives plenty of aeration, and you won't need to shake the bucket.

I do aerate it by splashing it in when I siphon it. The shake after 30 minutes was also get the yeast off the foam and into the wort. Maybe it's time I started hydrating before I pitch, but that was one more step and a chance for contamination that I've avoided so far.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I recently bought a plastic bucket from a major online supplier to use as a primary fermenter. On brew day I put a gallon of Starsan in, capped it, and gave it a shake. I got drenched. Tried a different lid, same thing. Luckily I had a different bucket to use because I was already mid-boil. I emailed them and they tell me that they've changed bucket suppliers and all their buckets will leak now. I'm pretty shocked that they'd sell me a bucket that they knew would leak. They credited my account at least.

I hate calling them out, but this was a Morebeer bucket. Steer clear.

I sprinkle the yeast, let it sit on top for 30 minutes, then shake it. I can't image I'm the only one doing it that way because the only way I would've gotten that idea is from someone here

I do aerate it by splashing it in when I siphon it. The shake after 30 minutes was also get the yeast off the foam and into the wort. Maybe it's time I started hydrating before I pitch, but that was one more step and a chance for contamination that I've avoided so far.

First off, get a spray bottle and you won;t need a gallon of StarSan to sanitize a bucket.

Second, add some wort, stop, pitch the yeast, stop, proceed adding wort. Done. Yeast mixed.

Get a mud mixer and a drill to aerate. Or use a wisk. Better yet, go to straight O2.

 

[TheMarquis]

First off, get a spray bottle and you won;t need a gallon of StarSan to sanitize a bucket.

Second, add some wort, stop, pitch the yeast, stop, proceed adding wort. Done. Yeast mixed.

Get a mud mixer and a drill to aerate. Or use a wisk. Better yet, go to straight O2.

I don't really "use" a gallon. I keep some Starsan mixed in a gallon milk jug. I dump that in, shake it and siphon it back to the gallon jug to sanitize the siphon.

I pitched the wort mid-transfer once and it seemed to take a lot longer to start fermenting than it did after I started using the pitch-wait-shake method. But that could've been a temperature thing and I will reconsider that one for sure.

Thank you for all the ideas!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I don't really "use" a gallon. I keep some Starsan mixed in a gallon milk jug. I dump that in, shake it and siphon it back to the gallon jug to sanitize the siphon.

I pitched the wort mid-transfer once and it seemed to take a lot longer to start fermenting than it did after I started using the pitch-wait-shake method. But that could've been a temperature thing and I will reconsider that one for sure.

Thank you for all the ideas!

I use the aformentioned methods including O2 and routinely saw 4 hour lags.