Sanke Fermenter Upgrade Question

[j_jones84]

Our neighbors on the distilling side of the street use cork as the gasket due to concerns about chemicals being leeched into the "brew". Of course vaporized alcohol is passing by their stuff, but it still might be the answer for you. You can by rolls of the stuff for cheap and cut to your size.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=13514

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Here are some photos of me cutting the top out of a keg to try this idea for better access to the inside of a fermenter.

There have been threads re the simplest keg cutting jig... mine is more complicated. It's adjustable horizontally and vertically. It rides on the rim of the keg, so it doesn't drop when the cut is complete.
Had to make some adjustments (2x4 clamped behind the angle grinder) because I wanted to make this hole pretty small (about 9" in diameter). The cuts shown are before any cleanup took place.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

The pressure cooker "seal" I found. Then just cut some plywood rings to get even pressure all the way around the "lid". I tested iw c-clamps, but need to find a better way to clamp the top down. Similar to GreenMonti, J-bolts may be the answer.

 

[RegionalChaos]

Did you ever try PBW? Oxi cleans organics, but it won't touch mineral deposits. Beer stone is all mineral deposits.

 

[thesanch]

How well does your system work? does the seal help hold pressure?

 

[Simphoto02]

The pressure cooker "seal" I found. Then just cut some plywood rings to get even pressure all the way around the "lid". I tested iw c-clamps, but need to find a better way to clamp the top down. Similar to GreenMonti, J-bolts may be the answer.

THIS IS EXACTLY what I need. BRILLIANT!!!! My only problem is I only have one sanke fermenter, mmmmmmmmm.
Thank you SO MUCH.

Where did you find the seal?

 

[Ohio-Ed]

How well does your system work? does the seal help hold pressure?

THIS IS EXACTLY what I need. BRILLIANT!!!! My only problem is I only have one sanke fermenter, mmmmmmmmm.
Thank you SO MUCH.

Where did you find the seal?

I have not had a chance to take new pictures... The seal in the post here didn't work so great. I ended up ordering a very large silicon o-ring from McMaster. Also, the clamps in this pic were replaced by some clamps I had laying around that were intended to hold a camper shell on a pickup truck.

With the updates, it worked great.
I have one brew through it.
I started by cleaning it, then fired it with water to steam sanitize the inside (just like I did before I cut it). When the yeast got busy, the airlock bubbled away (holding preasure). Then when fermentation was complete, I used CO2 to transfer to corny kegs that I used as secondary's.

I will get new pictures and update this thread when I get a bit of time.

 

[GreenMonti]

I have not had a chance to take new pictures... The seal in the post here didn't work so great. I ended up ordering a very large silicon o-ring from McMaster. Also, the clamps in this pic were replaced by some clamps I had laying around that were intended to hold a camper shell on a pickup truck.

With the updates, it worked great.
I have one brew through it.
I started by cleaning it, then fired it with water to steam sanitize the inside (just like I did before I cut it). When the yeast got busy, the airlock bubbled away (holding preasure). Then when fermentation was complete, I used CO2 to transfer to corny kegs that I used as secondary's.

I will get new pictures and update this thread when I get a bit of time.

I'm glad you found a method that works for you. I would like to see what you came up with.

 

[Huaco]

Can you update this? are you still using this fermenter and if so, is there anything you would change about it? Can you post pictures of your final setup?