SS Brew Bucket questions before ordering

[Woodbrews]

Does anyone happen to know whether the Cool-Zone conical cooling jacket would fit the BrewBucket? I'm going through the same mental calculus as Rev., and like the look of the BrewBuckets. I already have an investment in the CoolZone system and would like to keep using it if possible.

 

[Rev2010]

Does anyone happen to know whether the Cool-Zone conical cooling jacket would fit the BrewBucket? I'm going through the same mental calculus as Rev., and like the look of the BrewBuckets. I already have an investment in the CoolZone system and would like to keep using it if possible.

I don't own one, but looking up the jacket info and dimensions of the Brew Bucket it looks like you would use either one jacket plus the expansion or two jackets. But you can email SS brewing, shoot them a link to the jacket and what you have exactly and I'm sure they'll let you know if it will work fine.


Rev.

 

[normonster]

I had a lot of issues with the orings that seal the valve when I first got mine. They were finicky about sealing. I bought some o-rings with a slightly thicker cross-section and that solved my problems. I also ending up finding some feet that last a lot longer on Amazon. $10 spent and now I'm very happy with both of my BrewBuckets.

Da'faq Spartan....link em.

 

[Schumed]

I wrote the original thread ...its great...in the end its just a fermenter...still have to excute the brewing process and temp control to make great beer

 

[Spartan1979]

Aby chance you can link to the o-rings and feet?

Thanks!


Rev.

The feet:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8UN6XI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

These are a hard rubber, but they do fit with a bit of persuasion.

For the O-rings, SS Brewing Technologies says they're 16MM x 1.8MM Buna N-90 Orings. So something like this:

http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=368_52_51&products_id=2301

Or you could go thicker and try these:
http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=368_52_617&products_id=20206

Buy some of the small ones for the racking arm. Those are 8.5MM x 1MM Buna N-70.

http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=368_12_36&products_id=1787

 

[normonster]

I already ripped out the racking arms and tossed em but better orings sounds great! Thank you!

 

[Woodbrews]

Quick question for anyone with a BrewBucket with a thermowell -- can you insert a digital temp sensor into the thermowell, or are you limited to the thermometer supplied with the BB? I ask, because I'd like to hook it up to my STC-1000 temp controller. Thanks!

 

[augiedoggy]

Does anyone happen to know whether the Cool-Zone conical cooling jacket would fit the BrewBucket? I'm going through the same mental calculus as Rev., and like the look of the BrewBuckets. I already have an investment in the CoolZone system and would like to keep using it if possible.

The single carboy jacket will fit perfectlyplus it has much better cooling capacity.... The ones they now market for conicals are worthless tiny things actually designed for 1 gallon jugs... I believe they are just marketing them for conicals so people buy 3-4 or them for $200 to cool one conical...Honestly the $10 discharge hose setup I made for my newest conical works better than the coolzone jacket I use on my 12.5 gallon stout conical.

 

[augiedoggy]

Quick question for anyone with a BrewBucket with a thermowell -- can you insert a digital temp sensor into the thermowell, or are you limited to the thermometer supplied with the BB? I ask, because I'd like to hook it up to my STC-1000 temp controller. Thanks!

If its an actual thermowell a temp sensor will fit.

 

[Rev2010]

Mine is arriving Friday, though it won't get used for a week or so. Will report back in time.


Rev.

 

[Wild1z]

Quick question for anyone with a BrewBucket with a thermowell -- can you insert a digital temp sensor into the thermowell, or are you limited to the thermometer supplied with the BB? I ask, because I'd like to hook it up to my STC-1000 temp controller. Thanks!

I'll get a caliper and measure the pocket size for your.. um... probe. [emoji12]

 

[Wild1z]

Duplicate

 

[Wild1z]

Thermo well dimensions
. 250 diameter hole pretty much, .251
5 inch depth

 

[Woodbrews]

Thermo well dimensions
. 250 diameter hole pretty much, .251
5 inch depth

Thanks for measuring for my "probe." I'm sad to say, I think it will fit!

I've ordered the BB and it should be here in time for my next brew. I'll try using it with the CoolZone wrap (I have the wrap designed for a carboy). If that doesn't work, then I may eventually invest in the FTS system.

Thanks!

 

[Wild1z]

Thanks for measuring for my "probe." I'm sad to say, I think it will fit!

Hahaha

:I've ordered the BB and it should be here in time for my next brew. I'll try using it with the CoolZone wrap (I have the wrap designed for a carboy). If that doesn't work, then I may eventually invest in the FTS system.

Thanks!

I live in MN and year round the basement(of my house) is 62-66. So I have some slow ferments. Right now I have a small electric baseboard heater in a small bathroom and it's brought it up to 68.5. I'm wondering how this cool mat would be better as I've read you can use it with a heating pad?

 

[augiedoggy]

Thanks for measuring for my "probe." I'm sad to say, I think it will fit!

I've ordered the BB and it should be here in time for my next brew. I'll try using it with the CoolZone wrap (I have the wrap designed for a carboy). If that doesn't work, then I may eventually invest in the FTS system.

Thanks!

There are 3 different types of probes for stc and stc clones on ebay for about $3-8 each the stainless tip ones look smaller but they really are the same diameter as the smaller rubber tipped ones from what I have found.

 

[bizoneill]

@Joe_CraftBeerTraders

 

[Rev2010]

Cleaned and passivated my Brewmaster Bucket today, haven't fermented in it yet but some initial opinions:

1. I agree with the comments about the o-rings. They are rather thin and I will be ordering thicker one's like Spartan1979 did. Even finger tightening a little too much can cause the o-ring to squeeze out. Some slighter thicker ones should fix that.

2. The rotating racking arm is rather loose in that the slightest touch moves the arm (not the valve, just the dip arm), probably could also benefit from thicker o-rings as well though I'm thinking when I use it I may just leave the valve in place and use my plastic spoon (sanitized) to simply nudge the arm from horizontal to downward when near the end to get the very last bit.

3. The thermometer was initially reading 1.4F higher than my trusty digital thermometer, however for some reason, once it was exposed to a higher temp (hot water when cleaning with TSP) it now reads *exactly* the same temp as my thermometer. Happy about that

4. The legs are not exactly even, there's a small bit of wobble when set on a flat surface, however when filled the weight seems to level it out. Can also easily be fixed by wedging something between the rubber foot and leg.

5. As I've read from some reviews and such, I agree it would be awesome if it could come already passivated, but no biggie.

Overall I think once I get the o-rings swapped out everything will be perfect.

*edit - ah yes one more thing, would be nice if they started rubber coating the handles! They're quite thin and not comfortable moving a filled fermenter even short distances. More importantly for me it would lessen the noise when cleaning - constant jangling against the walls.


Rev.

 

[normonster]

;)

 

[Rev2010]

Decided to go ahead and use my first Brewmaster Bucket today for my Amber ale I brewed. Still going to replace the o-rings, but I figured the current one's will be fine for now. No leaking and currently holding at 63.1F. Went well, liking it so far. Here's a pic of it in my hallway where I keep my fermenters.

 

[Rev2010]

Kegged my amber ale today. Everything went smoothly and cleaning the fermenter was certainly easier than cleaning my plastic fermenters. Seems the krausen crud really sticks on stronger with plastic than smooth stainless. The yeast/trub at the bottom collected so nicely and my beer appeared clearer than usual without having used any finings. Only thing I want to fix is the silicone tubing I bought 3/8" doesn't really hold on tight enough on it's own and I could tell it would eventually slip off if I weren't holding it. So I just held onto the tubing around the spigot. What size ID tubing should I use that would give a tighter fit but still be easy enough to slip on and off? I'm thinking 1/4"? Or is there some type of quick clamp on/off I can use? I tried the plastic brackets like what they give you with kegerators but at the tightest clamp I still wasn't comfortable with its hold and removing it when at the tightest clamp notch is a little more difficult to remove.

Also now considering buying a Chronical domed lid, since it fits perfectly on the Bucket, just so I can have some extra headspace when doing hefeweizens or wit's and not need to use a blowoff.


Rev.

 

[rivalry15]

I ordered the domed lid for my brew bucket. I have the ftss for temp control and I am thinking about relocating the holes for the temp probe and coils. That way I can drop hop whenever I need to without taking the whole lid off. I have the 17mm hole bit coming as well.

 

[Rev2010]

So I have 3 BrewMaster Buckets now. Just wanted to add that I'd ordered better o-rings from theoringstore.com as suggested by Spartan1979. For the spigot I ordered 2.4mm X 15.8mm Buna-N 90 Metric O-ring (H2.40X015.8). These o-rings are much better than the flimsy included ones that warp out past the nut at the slightest over-tightening even with one's fingers. The new ones really stay in place without warping and zero leaking on all three I've tested. I also replaced the tiny dip tube o-rings as I felt the dip tube moved too freely. I ordered these 1mm X 8.5mm Metric Buna-N 70 O-ring (N1.00X008.5).

I just wish I'd ordered extras of the first o-rings so I could replace the thermowell o-rings. For some reason, my first Ss brew bucket thermowell mounted nice and tight, as per their instructions to tighten with wrenches. On the two new ones the o-rings are warping out beyond the nut even when tightening it a good amount with my fingers so I had to just finger tighten it but not too tight. It's working fine and not leaking, but since I don't plan to remove the thermowell after each use it would be nice to have a more tight seal. Just need to get more o-rings.

So, I'd recommend these other o-rings. Not sure why Ss includes such super soft thin o-rings. But, they work so whateva


Rev.

 

[Rev2010]

All cleaned, passivated, air dried, then very well rinsed. Here's a pic for the heck of it:


Rev.

 

[Rev2010]

Just wanted to add an update since there has been talk about the 3/8" tubing seeming to be a bit loose on the 3/8" spigot. I use silicone tubing (since it doesn't coil) and I had to hold the 3/8" tubing tightly on the spigot otherwise it would easily slide off. I emailed Ss and they said the barbing on the spigot has been intentionally made less aggressive so as to not wear down tubing. I bought 1/4" silicone tubing and it works perfectly on the spigot. Since silicone tubing is more flexible it works on pretty easily. I don't think 1/4" would work with vinyl tubing however. The silicone fits nice and snug when it's on and there's no way it would slip off on its own. So if you also use silicone tubing instead of vinyl go with 1/4" - which I ordered off of Amazon (it's food grade) since I don't see that tubing size on HBS's. You can also try 5/16" vinyl.


Rev.

 

[Vandulus]

Just wanted to add an update since there has been talk about the 3/8" tubing seeming to be a bit loose on the 3/8" spigot. I use silicone tubing (since it doesn't coil) and I had to hold the 3/8" tubing tightly on the spigot otherwise it would easily slide off. I emailed Ss and they said the barbing on the spigot has been intentionally made less aggressive so as to not wear down tubing. I bought 1/4" silicone tubing and it works perfectly on the spigot. Since silicone tubing is more flexible it works on pretty easily. I don't think 1/4" would work with vinyl tubing however. The silicone fits nice and snug when it's on and there's no way it would slip off on its own. So if you also use silicone tubing instead of vinyl go with 1/4" - which I ordered off of Amazon (it's food grade) since I don't see that tubing size on HBS's. You can also try 5/16" vinyl.


Rev.

Thanks for the tip! I just got my second Brewmaster Bucket yesterday and was wondering why my silicon tubing seemed so loose.

 

[Oldskewl]

I ordered some extra 5/16 vinyl tubing when I ordered some tubing for my second co2 tank. It worked excellent on the barb with no clamps. Has anyone had any luck pasivating the outside of the brew bucket? After 2+ weeks in my fermentation chamber, it comes out quite rusty. Bar keepers friend takes it off but the next time it looks just as bad.

 

[rivalry15]

What I've done is take out the racking valve and dunk it in a 6 gallon plastic bucket of strong starsan and water for the 20 min then flip upside down for another 20. Air dry and I haven't had a problem.

 

[Spartan1979]

I ordered some extra 5/16 vinyl tubing when I ordered some tubing for my second co2 tank. It worked excellent on the barb with no clamps. Has anyone had any luck pasivating the outside of the brew bucket? After 2+ weeks in my fermentation chamber, it comes out quite rusty. Bar keepers friend takes it off but the next time it looks just as bad.

I've never seen rust on the outside of my buckets. Maybe you need some kind of dehumidifier in your fridge.

 

[Oldskewl]

What I've done is take out the racking valve and dunk it in a 6 gallon plastic bucket of strong starsan and water for the 20 min then flip upside down for another 20. Air dry and I haven't had a problem.

Thanks for recommendation. I'll give that a shot. Will it work for the lid too? The lid is the worst.