Seriously can not get the lid off the bucket-please help

[MyNameIsPaul]

Flavors go best in bottling BL! Nice way to rock the pestle though, I like it!

 

[Nightshade]

O-so-ez lid and pail opener

 

[Obliviousbrew]

I seriously can not get the lid off my new fermenter bucket. I have always used glass carboys so this was my first experience with plastic.

Seriously, without heavy tools, and I'm causing damage to the lid trying, I can't get the lid off the bucket and I want to transfer it today!!! WTH? Why won't the lid come off?!? Is there a trick to it?

Glad you finally managed to open the lid, next time remeber that opossum mini claws make a perfect tool to open bucket lids, don´t know if you ever catched the little bastard but if you haven´t that´s another reason to do it
Cheers.

 

[Patro]

What you need to do is take the airlock out, funnel a couple pounds of corn sugar in through the hole, plug it up good and the yeast will take it off for you.

 

[landshark]

This is a good laugh. Opening buckets. I'm imagining BL struggling to get a lid off. LOL.....

Sorry BL.

 

[Cathedral]

What you need to do is take the airlock out, funnel a couple pounds of corn sugar in through the hole, plug it up good and the yeast will take it off for you.

That's what I was going to say! When your bucket blows its top, that's the yeasts way of saying it's time to bottle. Bottle your beer and store them in your bottling bucket (duh, what else would it be for?) When the bottles explode, that's your indicator that the beer is ready! Just drain out of the spigot into your glass!*

*put a sock over the spigot to catch glass particles.

 

[PanzerBanana]

I think it's a "Bucket Wrench". They're invaluable. After my first batch of beer. I made sure to buy one when I got supplies for my second batch.

 

[geezerpk]

I haven't followed every response on this thread, so it's possible that others have suggested the following: don't seal the bucket in the first place. I use holeless, or stoppered hole lids on my plastic buckets, and just set the lid evenly on top of the bucket with a can of veggies or similar weight on top. This eliminates problems with blocked locks and bleed-off setups, etc. I've never had any problems with infections. I struggled with the sealed lids and airlocks for a few batches and finally resorted to the no-seal approach a couple of years ago and never looked back.

 

[DrunkleJon]

The lids will stretch out with use. There are as mentioned above places on the rim of the lid (think bottom rim, the part that you get your fingers/thumbs under that if you look at while the lid is offthere are thin places in the plastic that you can cut maybe 1cm from the bottom which gives you tabs that you can more easily pry up. You only would really need to make 2 or 3 cuts if you go this route, and it will make it so the lid does not seal as tightly (obviously).

On the other hand, you can always warm the bucket up a bit and the plastic will get softer and flex a little more to make it easier to open.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

We at Austin Homebrew Supply suggest the standard bucket opener to remove a lid from our buckets.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=12791

Also we find it easier to put the bucket lid on with a rubber mallet.
If anyone is having a problem with any of our products like the 7.9 bucket and/or lid please contact us. Our lids and buckets should work together with the tool without damaging the lid. other posters are correct in saying that the lid will be easier to remove after it has been used a couple times. However at no time should it be extremely difficult to remove while using the tool.
Once again if there are ever any problems with our products such as lids please contact us and we will get it resolved for you.

Thank you and happy brewing.

 

[BobbiLynn]

We at Austin Homebrew Supply suggest the standard bucket opener to remove a lid from our buckets.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=12791

Also we find it easier to put the bucket lid on with a rubber mallet.
If anyone is having a problem with any of our products like the 7.9 bucket and/or lid please contact us. Our lids and buckets should work together with the tool without damaging the lid. other posters are correct in saying that the lid will be easier to remove after it has been used a couple times. However at no time should it be extremely difficult to remove while using the tool.
Once again if there are ever any problems with our products such as lids please contact us and we will get it resolved for you.

Thank you and happy brewing.

It was the 7.9 gallon bucket I purchased from you folks. How did you know? I have ordered the tool and waiting for it to come in the mail. I used the pestle from my mortar and pestle set to get the lid on, but see how a rubber mallet would be better. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Dr. Francois]

I ordered the opener when I got my AHBS bucket.

I think the Austin bucket is a step up from most. The extra volume more than makes up for the tricky lid!

 

[BobbiLynn]

I'm actually just glad to hear it wasn't just me. I am normally quite capable of everyday tasks, but I swear that lid gave me a hard time. I ordered 2 because I liked the idea of having the extra room in there. Just never thought that a bucket lid would give me so much trouble. Now looking at comments on the AHBS website, I should have ordered the tool to go with them in the first place. Live and learn. :smack: