pimp my bucket?

[hobbsj]

so i got the new issue of brew your own and checked out the article about "upgrading" my bucket. has anybody tries this yet? i'm mostly interested in attatching the ball valve. i'm not worriied about not having to siphon, but i like the spigot idea for testing the gravity. i figure it would be easier and risk less contamination if i can just turn the spigot to get a sample rather than remove the lid and stick something into my wort to take a sample. what do you guys think? am i risking any sort of contamination?

 

[rdwj]

Get one of these - or use a bottling bucket. If you keep it clean, you have no issues

 

[The Pol]

See, even on my bottling bucket I have NEVER gotten a good seal with that spigot, there is always a drip where it seals to the bucket...

 

[rdwj]

I bought the one I linked for wine - works like a charm. I use it as a primary all the time. Have you checked to see if you have any burrs or anything?

 

[tbulger]

will the trub come right out of the spigot it seems the cake would be about the spigot height?

 

[The Pol]

Where my hole is drilled in my old bucket, it is well above the level of the cake, unless you have alot of break material/hops that make it into the fermentor, otherwise it should stay above tha level...

 

[david_42]

I have three buckets, all with spigots. I have had no leakage problems and only occasional trouble with trub. Never had the spigot clog. Even my latest, which was third generation on the cake, I got very little trub. The spigot was buried, but after enough brew drained to form a pit (about a pint), the rest flowed clear.

I did like the alternative lid. Getting the standard lid off is a pain, even with a bucket tool.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

See, even on my bottling bucket I have NEVER gotten a good seal with that spigot, there is always a drip where it seals to the bucket...

I think the problem is overtightening. I know it seems counter intuitive, but if you tighten it too much, it will leak. I had two buckets that just would not seal right. I bought new gaskets for them and the LHBS guy said not to tighten them as much. I just used moderate pressure with a finger tightening and bam, no more leaks.

 

[Ol' Grog]

I was going to go that route, but my LHBS guru suggested not to because of possible infections and then having to clean it every time.

 

[sirsloop]

See, even on my bottling bucket I have NEVER gotten a good seal with that spigot, there is always a drip where it seals to the bucket...

try putting some keg lube on the gaskets, and don't tighten it so much...

 

[casebrew]

My drip stopped when I replaced the soft rubber washer with a black o-ring. Now I can tighten her up good.

I would put the spigots on my other bucket, but then they won't nest together.

 

[sirsloop]

the ring gaskets have a tendency to push out the side of the spigot if overtightened... thats all...