Plastic or Glass

[zeg]

Glass will last forever if you care for it properly.

... and may kill you if you don't.

:rockin:

 

[TrainSafe]

Started with all glass. Then I had my first broken carboy. Now I only use plastic.

 

[biochemedic]

I used to use buckets then transitioned to better bottles 'cause I like to watch...

I still currently use glass for my mead, but after doing more reading on the essentially non-relevant degree of oxygen permeability for better bottles, I'm thinking about transitioning to no-glass. The risk of breakage definitely makes me nervous, and damn, those glass carboys are heavy! Just trying to wash a glass carboy is a workout...

 

[DPBISME]

Neither.... Plastic buckets.... I leave Kolschs in them for 5 weeks with no problem.

 

[ktblunden]

I like my blood and wish for it to remain on the inside, so only plastic for me.

 

[porcupine73]

Must in stainless such as if doing a fruit wine, etc. Beyond that I use glass for carboys and bottles. Though after now hearing some of the stories of them breaking it makes me think I should wear welding gloves when handling them maybe. I saw the better bottles at the LHBS but they weren't much cheaper than glass and I just can't bring myself to like plastic for food/drink applications.

 

[kh54s10]

Must in stainless such as if doing a fruit wine, etc. Beyond that I use glass for carboys and bottles. Though after now hearing some of the stories of them breaking it makes me think I should wear welding gloves when handling them maybe. I saw the better bottles at the LHBS but they weren't much cheaper than glass and I just can't bring myself to like plastic for food/drink applications.

Take a look in your refrigerator. I bet half the stuff in there is in plastic containers!

 

[Brulosopher]

Anyone ever ferment in their SS kettle? I've heard this can work really well- just boil, chill, pitch yeast, and put lid in place. Hmm, perhaps I'll try this soon...

 

[porcupine73]

I have some Winware SS pots I got from Amazon, i think those could be used as fermenters pretty easily. The lids fit very tightly onto the pot. If you could find the right size flat o-ring and maybe use a bunch of little c clamps on it, I think it would secure on there pretty nicely.

Take a look in your refrigerator. I bet half the stuff in there is in plastic containers!

Actually it is not, because I do not buy food or drink at the grocery store.

 

[el_caro]

I have some Winware SS pots I got from Amazon, i think those could be used as fermenters pretty easily. The lids fit very tightly onto the pot. If you could find the right size flat o-ring and maybe use a bunch of little c clamps on it, I think it would secure on there pretty nicely.

There is no need for the lid to fit tightly the CO2 produced will keep nasties out. No need for an airlock - just wrap a bit of plastic food wrap around edge of lid if you are concerned about anything getting in. Get one with a glass lid and you can watch the action if that is what you like to do.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

Stainless period.

 

[TwoGunz]

Stainless period.

Is that similar to the Bronze Age?

 

[Jeepinctbrewer]

6 gallon better bottle for primary, and a 5 gallon for secondary

 

[Gameface]

First 3 brews in glass, plastic from then on.

Glass is too heavy, too cumbersome, too dangerous for my liking.

Now that I make 10g batches I don't think glass is a real option, although I'm sure I could find large glass vessels if I wanted to.

I'm very happy with my 60L (15.9g) Spiedel tanks. Pure joy to use.

 

[Brulosopher]

First 3 brews in glass, plastic from then on.

Glass is too heavy, too cumbersome, too dangerous for my liking.

Now that I make 10g batches I don't think glass is a real option, although I'm sure I could find large glass vessels if I wanted to.

I'm very happy with my 60L (15.9g) Spiedel tanks. Pure joy to use.

Ah, I've been eyeing one of those... but are they too heavy to lift out of a chest freezer alone? I'm not too weak, but I also wanna save my back.

 

[Gameface]

Ah, I've been eyeing one of those... but are they too heavy to lift out of a chest freezer alone? I'm not too weak, but I also wanna save my back.

Well, it's heavy but the bigger problem is that it's such a snug fit the chest freezer wants to come up with the tank. I have to have my wife hold the chest freezer down while I lift it out.

I drain from my BK into the tank with it already in the freezer. Now I just need a way to transfer out of the tank without lifting it and I'll be set.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

I have a 60l speidel too (and a 30l) have you guy ever seen the Mr Malt (italian) fermentors the is one 50l that looks great.

 

[jwalker1140]

I've used both. I prefer plastic.

 

[Brulosopher]

I have a 60l speidel too (and a 30l) have you guy ever seen the Mr Malt (italian) fermentors the is one 50l that looks great.

Never seen it, but it looks great!

 

[Brulosopher]

Well, it's heavy but the bigger problem is that it's such a snug fit the chest freezer wants to come up with the tank. I have to have my wife hold the chest freezer down while I lift it out.

I drain from my BK into the tank with it already in the freezer. Now I just need a way to transfer out of the tank without lifting it and I'll be set.

I've got a bigger (15 cu ft) freezer, so it should fit that fine, no? My only concern is getting the darn thing out on my own...

 

[Gameface]

I've got a bigger (15 cu ft) freezer, so it should fit that fine, no? My only concern is getting the darn thing out on my own...

I'm not sure if the 15ft chest freezers are wider than the small ones but I don't think you'll have a problem. This thing fits a 5cuft chest freezer like a glove. I like that there isn't very much deadspace in the freezer.

The handles are pretty nice. You can lift when full by the handles. I do 11g into the fermenter and I'm not he-man but I manage to lift it out. It's not graceful or anything, but I get the job done.