Turning your Fermonster into a complete closed transfer system for cheap!

[Brewer dad]

In re the cold crash/suckback questions. I have the space(usually) to put both my Fermonster and the attached keg in a fridge. Has anyone tried using that keg in the same way as some use the balloons full of CO2? I would disconnect the liquid out post. Figure fermonster would be ok it’s the keg I’m more concerned with.

Insert generic apology if this has been covered already.

 

[Dgallo]

In re the cold crash/suckback questions. I have the space(usually) to put both my Fermonster and the attached keg in a fridge. Has anyone tried using that keg in the same way as some use the balloons full of CO2? I would disconnect the liquid out post. Figure fermonster would be ok it’s the keg I’m more concerned with.

Insert generic apology if this has been covered already.

You certainly could. You just want to make sure it’s at about 3 psi as the psi in the keg will drop fast otherwise and you’d have the keg vacuuming first and pulling from the fermonster

 

[RyPA]

Is anyone else getting cracked lids? I’m on my second one. Not over tightening and no more than 5-7psi applied for my transfers

 

[Dgallo]

Is anyone else getting cracked lids? I’m on my second one. Not over tightening and no more than 5-7psi applied for my transfersView attachment 843666

Are you checking your psi constantly. Because over 10 psi will crack it. I haven’t cracked a lid in 3 years since always keeping it below 10.

Next question is how are you cleaning your post if youre siliconing them down ?

 

[Broken Crow]

Before I attempted my own, I read a lot about cracked lids in this thread and maybe I'm wrong but I believe the lids can't take repeated connecting and disconnecting without excessive flexing of the plastic. That's why I went my own "FermHead" route; so I can hold the cross and let my hand take the pressure of reconnecting.

 

[RyPA]

Are you checking your psi constantly. Because over 10 psi will crack it. I haven’t cracked a lid in 3 years since always keeping it below 10.

Next question is how are you cleaning your post if youre siliconing them down ?

My regulator is set to 10, so there's no way it's going over, unless my regulator is malfunctioning. And I do not even let it fully pressurize, I connect the gas line every few minutes just to keep my blow off bucket bubbling.

I hot-glued them down to provide a seal right before I put in an imperial stout. I've tried different variations of gaskets but cannot get them to seal to the lid.

Before I attempted my own, I read a lot about cracked lids in this thread and maybe I'm wrong but I believe the lids can't take repeated connecting and disconnecting without excessive flexing of the plastic. That's why I went my own "FermHead" route; so I can hold the cross and let my hand take the pressure of reconnecting.

Yeah, its pretty frustrating. I'm likely going to pickup one of Anvil's stainless bucket fermenters. I can't rely on the Fermonster anymore.

 

[Broken Crow]

My regulator is set to 10, so there's no way it's going over, unless my regulator is malfunctioning. And I do not even let it fully pressurize, I connect the gas line every few minutes just to keep my blow off bucket bubbling.

I hot-glued them down to provide a seal right before I put in an imperial stout. I've tried different variations of gaskets but cannot get them to seal to the lid.

Yeah, its pretty frustrating. I'm likely going to pickup one of Anvil's stainless bucket fermenters. I can't rely on the Fermonster anymore.

What kind of disconnects are you using? Do they go on and off easily? (I'm a stickler for genuine CMB's myself)

 

[RyPA]

What kind of disconnects are you using? Do they go on and off easily? (I'm a stickler for genuine CMB's myself)

I have some CMB's and NSF (?). Some are a pain to connect but I do not force them as I know the lid and seal is on the line if I force it. If they do not go on easy I switch to a different one. I just bought new posts for one of my corny kegs and I cannot get the liquid line fitting to connect all, pretty annoying. The posts had good reviews on Amazon, too.

 

[Broken Crow]

I have some CMB's and NSF (?). Some are a pain to connect but I do not force them as I know the lid and seal is on the line if I force it. If they do not go on easy I switch to a different one. I just bought new posts for one of my corny kegs and I cannot get the liquid line fitting to connect all, pretty annoying. The posts had good reviews on Amazon, too.

Do you use keg lube? (sorry if that sounds obvious..just trying to cover all the bases). It'd be a shame to see a Fermonster go to waste....if you just want some food for thought, adding the cross and valve and only using a single hole really does take the stress off the lid:

 

[RyPA]

Do you use keg lube? (sorry if that sounds obvious..just trying to cover all the bases). It'd be a shame to see a Fermonster go to waste....if you just want some food for thought, adding the cross and valve and only using a single hole really does take the stress off the lid:

I do not use keg lube. What do you mean by adding the cross and valve?

 

[Dgallo]

My regulator is set to 10, so there's no way it's going over, unless my regulator is malfunctioning. And I do not even let it fully pressurize, I connect the gas line every few minutes just to keep my blow off bucket bubbling.

I hot-glued them down to provide a seal right before I put in an imperial stout. I've tried different variations of gaskets but cannot get them to seal to the lid.

Yeah, it’s pretty frustrating. I'm likely going to pickup one of Anvil's stainless bucket fermenters. I can't rely on the Fermonster anymore.

To clarify for you, the regulator does not work the way your thinking. It’s not a spunding valve. When you set it to 10 psi it means the co2 coming out of the co2 tank can’t exceed 10 but doesn’t mean the pressure in the fermenter can’t exceed 10. You need to constantly monitor the reading on the regulator as the temperature changes in both vessels can change the pressure

 

[RyPA]

To clarify for you, the regulator does not work the way your thinking. It’s not a spunding valve. When you set it to 10 psi it means the co2 coming out of the co2 tank can’t exceed 10 but doesn’t mean the pressure in the fermenter can’t exceed 10. You need to constantly monitor the reading on the regulator as the temperature changes in both vessels can change the pressure

But how would the pressure in the fermenter exceed the max that the regulator would output? -- the fermenter has no pressure when I started my transfer today. I did peak up at it and if anything it would fall below 10.

 

[Broken Crow]

I do not use keg lube. What do you mean by adding the cross and valve?

Sorry..sometimes my brain gets non-linear..
I meant to recommend trying my 'FermHead" version for less lid-stress;

 

[RyPA]

Sorry..sometimes my brain gets non-linear..
I meant to recommend trying my 'FermHead" version for less lid-stress;

Knowing that the lid is temperamental I'm not sure I want to invest any more money into it. I already have a problem with getting the posts to seal on the lid, in addition to this cracking issue. I'm thinking of going with the stainless bucket from Anvil and calling it a day.

It would be cool if I could get this thing to transfer using gravity, with a spigot towards the bottom.

 

[Dgallo]

But how would the pressure in the fermenter exceed the max that the regulator would output? -- the fermenter has no pressure when I started my transfer today. I did peak up at it and if anything it would fall below 10.

Temperature changes making the gas expand and Co2 getting knocked out of the beer during transferring

 

[IslandLizard]

I don't own Fermonsters, just use brew buckets, but they've always been on my short list for when I want to change that.

It's not just the fermonsters that suffer from cracked lids. From what I've read, Kegland's All-Rounders seem to have their weak spot in their collar (the lid is made up of a flat disk plus a separate threaded collar). They look to be made of similar material as these one piece lids.

I wonder if using a flat round piece of plexiglass on top of the lid will strengthen it enough and reduce the amount of flex.

 

[Yesfan]

What about just transferring at a lower pressure? You guys seem brave pushing the Fermonsters to 10psi. When I had mine, I never went above 2-3psi when transferring.

 

[Yesfan]

Mine's not a TC.. It's just a regular NPT tee and close-coupler with a flat SS washer under the tee, and a flat silicone o-ring between that and the the tee (allows you to just tighten it by hand), and on the inside of the lid; a simple grooved locknut and o-ring.
1-gas bulkhead (1/2"NPT)
1-liquid bulkhead (1/2"NPT)
1-ball-valve (1/2"NPT)
1-1/2"NPT>1/2" hose barb
1-1/2"NPT cross
1-1/2"NPT close coupler
1-flat SS washer
1-flat silicone washer
1-1/2" o-ring
1-1/2" grooved lock nut

Just curious Broken Crow. Did you get all of that at Amazon? What is the overall height of your Fermonster with the Fermhead attached?

 

[RyPA]

What about just transferring at a lower pressure? You guys seem brave pushing the Fermonsters to 10psi. When I had mine, I never went above 2-3psi when transferring.

I was too lazy to adjust my regulator, I figured I'd just give it bursts of co2 on occasion when the bubbling slowed down. Would be cool if someone fabricated a metal lid, or 3d printed one that is stronger.

 

[Yesfan]

I was too lazy to adjust my regulator, I figured I'd just give it bursts of co2 on occasion when the bubbling slowed down. Would be cool if someone fabricated a metal lid, or 3d printed one that is stronger.

Thought the same thing yesterday. A 3D printed lid would be stronger, but I'd prefer a metal one though

 

[Dgallo]

Personally, I’d rather the lids crack at greater than 10 psi. I think of it as a fail safe. No one gets hurt and no beer is lost. A stronger cap may cause knuckle heads to push the psi and have the seam in the fermenter fail

 

[Yesfan]

Personally, I’d rather the lids crack at greater than 10 psi. I think of it as a fail safe. No one gets hurt and no beer is lost. A stronger cap my cause knuckle heads to push the psi and have the seam in the fermenter fail

Can't argue that. Speaking for myself, I've thought about buying a Fermonster or two and do the "Fermhead" mod like Broken Crow's. I'd keep the new ones (way) under 10psi like I did my old ones. A stiffer lid is just peace of mind for me. I don't like to tempt fate.


But wouldn't that be a sight to see. A Fermonster full of beer failing, say, around 35-45psi. Hello, Mythbusters?

 

[grzrk]

I ended up cracking my vessel doing a (not so attentive) 3 psi pressure transfer with a clogged dip tube. It bulged out the bottom. Worked great up until then .
Someday I'll probably buy another vessel for small batches since I still have uncracked lids...

 

[Broken Crow]

Just curious Broken Crow. Did you get all of that at Amazon? What is the overall height of your Fermonster with the Fermhead attached?

Sorry for the delay... I don't think I'd ever measured the height which is a major downside for many (I don't have a ferm-chamber), so i just went and checked;
It looks to be 25-1/4", so not a lot taller than a corny;

I try and buy NPT fittings in batches when I can find a good price from a reliable source and being in Canada, amazon is not reliable...The prices for parts from the US are insane on there...heck; even the Flotit costs $39.99 on the .ca site. If I coud, I'd buy everything from @Bobby_M he's got all the parts. As it is the posts came from a highly reliable Aliexpress dealer;
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/330....order_list.order_list_main.10.10b11802bbHZwU
..most of the bits are from Canadian sources.

 

[Broken Crow]

I wonder if using a flat round piece of plexiglass on top of the lid will strengthen it enough and reduce the amount of flex.

I really like that idea! If I ever crack a lid I think I'll try it.
I don't have any brewbuckets, but I was considering milk-cans (inspired by Bracconaire) and this Fermhead is supposed to be "One Closed-Transfer System To Rule Them All" It's not exclusive to Fermonsters and you can put it on any vessel you can drill a 13/16" or 7/8" hole into as long as it holds pressure...of course I also have one on a 2" TC fitting for a sanke keg so I can use that without having to weld on any oversize TC fitting.

 

[RyPA]

Fermenting in the serving keg is by far the easiest and my go to for 99.9% of batches. I only broke out a separate vessel since i am doing an imperial stout and conditioned on cacao nibs. If you haven’t tried it, try it.

 

[Dgallo]

Fermenting in the serving keg is by far the easiest and my go to for 99.9% of batches. I only broke out a separate vessel since i am doing an imperial stout and conditioned on cacao nibs. If you haven’t tried it, try it.

I personally do not get to brew enough to only yield 4 gallons of beer. That’s my down side to same vessel serving. At least in 5gallon kegs.

 

[Yesfan]

I personally do not get to brew enough to only yield 4 gallons of beer. That’s my down side to same vessel serving. At least in 5gallon kegs.

If you have enough spare kegs, you could just do an 8 gallon batch split to two 5 gallon kegs to help tie you over until you're able to brew again. It's cheaper than buying a 6 gallon keg.

 

[CyberFox]

Fermenting in kegs is really nice. You can ferment and dry hop under pressure and kegs can handle A LOT of pressure, so it's less to worry about. They are also crazy durable and last forever. I use a 6 gallon keg and end up with at least 4.5 gallons of finished beer when I dry hop with 6 oz. Like mentioned, you can also serve out of the same keg you ferment in (although I'm still not sure if keeping beer on the trub for months is a bad thing, but that's another story). Can't complain.

 

[gromitdj]

Is anyone else getting cracked lids? I’m on my second one. Not over tightening and no more than 5-7psi applied for my transfers…

This may be anecdotal, but I left one of my lids in StarSan for longer than I intended and it cracked rather easily on its next use.

Is it possible that you are doing this?