What can I use as food grade seal on fermenter?

[Microphobik]

Hi,

I have a 100 Liter SS pot I would like to convert into a fermenter. My thinking is that I would just take some kind of a food grade rubber-type material and run it around the rim of the pot, drill a whole and ad an airlock, and then use a vise grip to clamp down the lid. But what product can I use as the food grade seal? Any links or product names? I realize i could just do a quasi open fermentation but I want to make a pretty tight seal so I don't have to secondary.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Silicone would work.

 

[Microphobik]

Silicone would work.

What kind of Silicone product exactly?

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I think ssbrew tech uses it. It is like a silicone hose with a slit in it

 

[Microphobik]

I think ssbrew tech uses it. It is like a silicone hose with a slit in it

Thanks. I found a lid seal on ssbrew's site that appears to be what you are talking about, but its sized specifically for there fermenters, unless I missed something. Do you know where I could find the material you are referring to itself, or what term I might Google. Not clear what I should be searching for. Thanks for getting me closer though.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Ha no problem. I won't be on a real computer until tomorrow night. Shoot them an email and see what they say. You could also look at stout kettles or brewers hardware and see what they use. Also, brewha might have something.

What is the diameter of your pot?

 

[jbaysurfer]

Thanks. I found a lid seal on ssbrew's site that appears to be what you are talking about, but its sized specifically for there fermenters, unless I missed something. Do you know where I could find the material you are referring to itself, or what term I might Google. Not clear what I should be searching for. Thanks for getting me closer though.

Silicon tubing split lengthwise. Probably 1/4" would work great. You also could use binder clips to hold the lid down, you don't have to commit your vice-grips to long term obligations this way

 

[Microphobik]

Silicon tubing split lengthwise. Probably 1/4" would work great. You also could use binder clips to hold the lid down, you don't have to commit your vice-grips to long term obligations this way

Ah, okay. Now I follow. So just stuff like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TJ9YQU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 splut with a razor and run round the edge of the pot? That makes perfect sense. i wasn't connecting with what the product was for some reason. Any thoughts on the potential gap that might be made where the two ends connect? Or is it pliable enough that a slight overlap and a clap might not just take care of it?

I'm in New Zealand and I can get 100L stainless pots for about $100 while a plastic 60L fermenter costs about $90. So I figure why not just convert a pot and get stainless. This sounds like it will do the trick. Thanks.

 

[jbaysurfer]

Yeah, that's the idea. Just cut it long enough to overlap it and you should be fine. Also a dab of completely cured silcone caulking could hold it together at the end, but I don't think it's necessary.

 

[Microphobik]

Awesome, thanks for the help guys. What an easy way of turning a pot into a fermenter. Not sure why more people don't do this. I suddenly have a 100L stainless fermenter for a few bucks in tubing. Nice.

 

[davygoat2]

Old Stainless pool filter housing

 

[Blitzkrieg]

If you're pretty good with a caulking gun you could try making a gasket surface on the lid or pot with aquarium grade silicone caulking. It's FDA approved food grade. that way you wouldn't have an overlap, might be a pain to clean though.

 

[Microphobik]

If you're pretty good with a caulking gun you could try making a gasket surface on the lid or pot with aquarium grade silicone caulking. It's FDA approved food grade. that way you wouldn't have an overlap, might be a pain to clean though.

Cool. I didn't know that stuff was food grade. I might just use a dab to seal the gap where the hoses connect so there is less of a bump than there would be with an overlap. That should work great. Thanks.

 

[heckels]

Measure the circumference of your pot (assuming there is a lip the lid rests on) and then cross-reference it with a o-ring guide.

Then go to somewhere like oringwarehouse.com and order a silicone ring.


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