Use a liner in pickle bucket?

[ILuvIPA]

I was feeling pretty smug when I picked up some free 5gal. plastic pickle buckets from the cafeteria at work today. Was planning to use as primaries to brew a bunch of 2 gallon test batches.

Spent an hour washing one bucket, a half hour searching "pickles," and now I'm not feeling so smart anymore. (Man, these things stink!)

If I line the buckets with plastic bags can I save my grand adventure or do I still risk making pickle-bock? I read somewhere about lining the primary with a bag for easy clean-up. . .will the plastic bag also keep the dill out of the primary? Anyone done this?

(and yes, I am a total nube)

 

[mordantly]

i keep my cat food in a pickle bucket. 2 years later, still smells of pickles. a few glass gallon jars i keep dme, rice syrup, malto-dex in... smell but i never taste it. (it's the lid seal in those cases)

 

[beerocd]

If you're gonna ferment in a bag, then wouldn't a good cardboard box that doesn't smell like pickles work too?