Put something heavy on top of bucket lid?

[sportscrazed2]

was wondering if it was a good idea to put something heavy on top of bucket lid in case the co2 pressure is too much in the fermenter? kind of worried i don't have a blow off tube

 

[weirdboy]

That seems like a really bad idea. Then pressure just builds up until the bucket explodes.

You do at least have an airlock, right?

 

[sportscrazed2]

yeah i have an airlock on it. it's worked for the last 2 batches but i have about half gallon more than normal in there

 

[D0ug]

I used 3 clamps on my bucket, it stretched the lid into a domed shape, but it held. Be CAREFUL though,as weirdboy said, you will build up a LOT of pressure!

 

[Kaz]

The excessive force will build up and not be able to escape through the top of the bucket. Could result in blowing a hole in the side of your house :fro: I had a Hefe blow in our coat closet last spring....trub, yeast and hefe all over the ceiling, our coats and everywhere....I now ferment with a blow off tube if possible. If its not possible, I place the fermenter in a plastic tray...something with bit of a lip on it that would keep overflow from getting on the floors, and then I cover the bucket or carboy with an upside down cardboard box. Thinking being that if the airlock or lid blow most of the gunk will be contained by the box and any overflow will end up in the tray, also the box helps to keep the light out if I'm using a better bottle.

 

[beninan]

Why not invest in a blow-off tube? They aren't expensive. I use a 3 foot long section of clear vinyl tubing ($0.25/foot at local home brew store) that fits snug in the airlock hole and just place the other in a soda bottle of starsan.

 

[D0ug]

Why not invest in a blow-off tube? They aren't expensive. I use a 3 foot long section of clear vinyl tubing ($0.25/foot at local home brew store) that fits snug in the airlock hole and just place the other in a soda bottle of starsan.

Just make sure the I.D. is big enough, the reason I had the clamps was that my blow off tube was only 3/8" ID and helped relieve some pressure, just not enough to keep up with that fermentation.

 

[beninan]

All I've ever used was a 1/4 ID tube and it has worked fine for me. Maybe I've never had as vigorous as a fermentation as you.

I don't mean to go off topic, but D0ug, is there a LHBS in Portland? If so, where? I'd have to check it out sometime.

 

[D0ug]

All I've ever used was a 1/4 ID tube and it has worked fine for me. Maybe I've never had as vigorous as a fermentation as you.

I don't mean to go off topic, but D0ug, is there a LHBS in Portland? If so, where? I'd have to check it out sometime.

sorry sportscrazed.

Maine Brew Supply on Forest Ave. next to the Great Lost Bear. I love that place, the owner is friendly, experienced, and NOT pushy.

There's also the Hop Shop out on RT. 100, 1/2 mile outside of Gray, and Ed's a good guy, takes a more traditional approach. Though honestly he doesn't quite have the selections that Maine Brew has, he does have a good selection of grains and malts, and he has a few ciders going that he started when he opened the store

 

[RM-MN]

It would be safer to leave the lid a little loose than to put weight on it. Once your yeast gets fermenting, nothing is going to get in as the carbon dioxide going out will push everything else away.

 

[beninan]

sorry sportscrazed.

Maine Brew Supply on Forest Ave. next to the Great Lost Bear. I love that place, the owner is friendly, experienced, and NOT pushy.

There's also the Hop Shop out on RT. 100, 1/2 mile outside of Gray, and Ed's a good guy, takes a more traditional approach. Though honestly he doesn't quite have the selections that Maine Brew has, he does have a good selection of grains and malts, and he has a few ciders going that he started when he opened the store

Awesome thanks!

/off topic

 

[sportscrazed2]

so i already have some extra tubing that doesn't fit in the hole in the lid. is there anything i can do to make it fit?

 

[weirdboy]

Is the tubing smaller than the hole, or bigger than the hole?

 

[Christafer11]

As some others have said put a few feet of hose in the rubber airlock and put the other end in a soda/wine bottle of starsan works great I have not had a single batch not overflow not sure what I do right but ever time over flow and blew the air lock off the carboy on the first few batches and cleaning out the closet sucks. I also use a upside down plastic lid because the overflow bucket also overflows and caused the floor to get wet.

 

[mixedbrewer]

Is there even a problem yet? Did the airlock blow out of the hole? Sometimes it helps to break the little "X" shape out of the bottom of the airlock so it wont get clogged as easily.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I put 1 volume of atmosphere over the top of mine to hold down a lid that is just laid (not snapped) on top.


And I keep a bus bin underneath just in case.

 

[sportscrazed2]

no there is no problem yet just worried since i put slightly more in the bucket than usual. and the tubing is bigger than the hole in the bucket.

 

[D0ug]

My tubing was a little larger than the grommet in my bucket, but spraying both with starsan solution provided just enough lubrication to squeeze it through. If it's still too tight, try pulling the rubber grommet out and seeing if the tube fits snugly enough just in the hole in the bucket.
I have heard many people have success with the method that GilaMinumBeer suggested to, just set the lid on top of the pail with out snapping it in place. If your krausen goes crazy it might push the lid completely off though, so keep an eye on it.

 

[Beer604]

Exploding buckets???
Wouldn't the pressure just push out the airlock instead of????

 

[MarzBock]

That bulging bucket with the clamps looks scary as hell! I wouldn't even want to go near that thing, personally, but I have an aversion to pressure bombs after my pnuematic potato gun exploded in my face and nearly killed me.

Beer604: the airlock hole gets plugged with muck, and then the weakest point is usually the lid seal.. that is unless you clamp it on there like that photo.. holy pressure bomb! With those clamps on there, you're dealing with a LOT of force delving up inside. PVC WILL Shatter under enough pressure, trust me. It ain't pretty either and I shudder to think about the ramifications of that bad-boy going pop!

 

[D0ug]

That bulging bucket with the clamps looks scary as hell! I wouldn't even want to go near that thing, personally, but I have an aversion to pressure bombs after my pnuematic potato gun exploded in my face and nearly killed me.

Beer604: the airlock hole gets plugged with muck, and then the weakest point is usually the lid seal.. that is unless you clamp it on there like that photo.. holy pressure bomb! With those clamps on there, you're dealing with a LOT of force delving up inside. PVC WILL Shatter under enough pressure, trust me. It ain't pretty either and I shudder to think about the ramifications of that bad-boy going pop!

Well I didn't say it was a GOOD idea, just that it worked for me

Two things though; 1) I would expect the tube or grommet to blow out with that set up before the pail ruptured, and 2) the buckets or pails are HDPE, which is a lot more flexible than PVC.

Sorry to hear about the potato gun, that would make me a little more leery of pressurized systems too.