Looking for fermenters

[Leblais]

Ok guys I have a dilemma and I KNOW you are the people to ask! I need to fit 20 gallons into my fermentation chamber. It can be in 5 gallon or 10 gallon increments BUT it needs to account for space during high krausen (so like another 6 or so gallons of "dead" space.
My dimensions are 28" wide by 19" deep and 27" high.
I have a bunch of 6.5 gallon , 6 and 5 gallon glass carboys but I cant get anywhere near the 20 gallons in there with those.
I started to look at 4 wide mouth bubblers (in plastic) but they are still a little too wide (darn it)
I also was thinking (and hoping) to fit 2 speidel 15.9 gallon fermenters in there but they are over in diameter by about 2 inches or so . ugg
ANY suggestions???

 

[wilserbrewer]

How about 2 "delex 15 gallon hdpe drums "

My LHBS gives them away free. Nice heavy hdpe with threaded fitting on top.
14w x 26 h

Perhaps 4 sanke tall 1/4 kegs.

Or maybe two half sanke kegs would fit if you stagger them front to back.

 

[Leblais]

wow really for free?? Could I pay you for them to ship them to me to see if it works?? I live in CT 06231. Let me know . Not feeling the sanke kegs, though if I get desperate I may consider the half sanke . Not sure how I would convert those yet.

How about 2 "delex 15 gallon hdpe drums "

My LHBS gives them away free. Nice heavy hdpe with threaded fitting on top.
14w x 26 h

Perhaps 4 sanke tall 1/4 kegs.

Or maybe two half sanke kegs would fit if you stagger them front to back.

 

[wilserbrewer]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BPA-Free-HD...624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9890bdc8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASTIC-BAR...534?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e837762e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Emergency-F...803?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed0805493

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASTIC-BAR...532?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e837762c

 

[Leblais]

Those all look GREAT ! However not any of them will allow me to fit 2 into the fermentation chamber. I havent figured the exact diameter that is the max, but i believe it is closer to 13.5 inches. Any other ideas??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BPA-Free-HD...624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9890bdc8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASTIC-BAR...534?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e837762e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Emergency-F...803?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed0805493

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASTIC-BAR...532?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e837762c

 

[wilserbrewer]

Since you are 19 deep and 28 wide you can fit larger diameter than you think...you need to stagger front to back....guessing at least 14 likely 15 wide on the fermenter. One in the back corner right, and one in the front corner left....

 

[Leblais]

I just used a space relation program for placing furniture in a house to determine the max diameter that I can use . If I figured things correctly and the program is accurate, then it looks like I can fit two vessels with a 14.08 inch diameter.

 

[Leblais]

Now that I feel confident about having 14 inches, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase one that size but the issue I am finding is that the diameters all seem to be 15 or more!

Since you are 19 deep and 28 wide you can fit larger diameter than you think...you need to stagger front to back....guessing at least 14 likely 15 wide on the fermenter. One in the back corner right, and one in the front corner left....

 

[rekoob]

A quick AutoCAD dwg.

I would think you would need just a small bit of wiggle room, so 14" should work.

 

[rekoob]

a 1/6 keg is under 10" I believe, you could get one of the 15" HDPE fermenters and a 1/6 keg.

 

[Leblais]

Exactly!!! Thanks!

A quick AutoCAD dwg.

I would think you would need just a small bit of wiggle room, so 14" should work.

 

[Renegades_Brew]

If you are 28 wide then 14" is the max when having them exactly next to each other.

However you said you are 19" deep which allows for you to go a slight bit wider on both because you can have one in the back corner and one in the opposite front corner.

I don't have my drafting program with me currently to show how this would work.

Someone beat me to it.

 

[Leblais]

I am really looking to get 20 gallons in there plus head space. Could you try to put 4 "circles" in that rectangle to figure out what the max diameter would be for THOSE? I think it would be closer to 10"???

a 1/6 keg is under 10" I believe, you could get one of the 15" HDPE fermenters and a 1/6 keg.

 

[rekoob]

one 15" and one 12"...

 

[Leblais]

Nice...

Only problem is that if I cant get 20 gallons in there then it wont help me. Thats why they would all need to be the same size. I dont care if its 2 that go in there or 4, but I need to get the full 18-20 gallons in there plus head space. My brew rig is set up for 10 gallons and I want to use the chamber for fermenting one batch and secondary on the second batch.

one 15" and one 12"...

 

[rekoob]

four 10"

 

[Leblais]

so they JUST make it... ok. Not sure i will find any 6 gallon fermenters that have a 10" diameter either though lol

four 10"

 

[rekoob]

I'm sure you'll find something.

You could always use a blow off with a sixth (9-1/4") or corney (9").

 

[wilserbrewer]

http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item/P113

Rectangular 13 gallon HDPE 16 x 13

 

[rekoob]

another option from wilserbrewer.

 

[Leblais]

I cant see the dimensions of what you are drawing there! What is that? Is that 4 13 gallon rectangle fermenters??!?!?!?!?!?!

another option from wilserbrewer.

 

[Leblais]

I mean 2.... not 4

 

[Leblais]

Those sizes are IDEAL I think! BUT... it says "ideal for DRY food storage". Does that mean that its not air tight? Or maybe that it will leach into wet foods??

http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item/P113

Rectangular 13 gallon HDPE 16 x 13

 

[Leblais]

Do you guys see ANY downside to using these as fermenters? I have never seen square fermenters before. And being plastic (i have always used glass) do you think that would be an issue?

 

[Magnus314]

How about a single Brute garbage can. That's what we use for wine.

 

[Leblais]

That would fit in my fermentation area?

How about a single Brute garbage can. That's what we use for wine.

 

[Leblais]

OMG!!!!!! The shipping is $80 for 4 of them !!!! That is more than the cost of the product!!!!!!

http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item/P113

Rectangular 13 gallon HDPE 16 x 13

 

[wilserbrewer]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1430879043.119349.jpg

Ok, this is a standard 15 gallon hdpe drum...I measure 14 1/8 diameter.

Lesson, believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see !!!

Dimensions listed online are typically very flukey! I get kettle dimensions every day that are WRONG.

Sometimes it is shipping dimensions, sometimes it includes the handles....long short I would think my 1st suggestion would work, but I'm tired at this point....good luck getting something that works shipped at the right price.
Cheers
Wilser

 

[Magnus314]

With blowoff tube: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubberma...l-White-Round-Trash-Can-FG262000WHT/100662697

Product Depth (in.) 19.5 X Product Width (in.) 19.5 X Product Height (in.) 22

32 Gallon might fit too.

Cheap, and free shipping if you pick it up.

 

[kickflip_mj]

check these square ones out! im going to get 4 60l ones to fit in my fridge

http://www.morebeer.com/category/speidel-plastic-beer-fermenters.html