New guy from texas

[ecriner]

New guy in tx. Howdy everyone. Been brewing beer for quite some time. Got some friends that have been distilling for a few years. I am building a pot still, 30 qt. 1" column to a 3/4" worm. Ive done a few mashes in 5 gallon buckets. Tried em out on a friends still. Not too bad. I see my friends fermenting in a grey 20 gallon trash can. They have a couple airlocks on the lid. I looked at the bottom of these cans and they do not say hdpe. Is this a safe fermenter? I am limited on space and a few 5 gallon buckets to ferment in is taking to much space. Also, are you able to ferment in a galvanized can? Thanks!

[theholymackerel]

Howdy, and welcome!

[Bayou-Ruler]

welcome to the forum

[Bushman]

Welcome to the forum, if you have the space I think you will quickly outgrow that still. As far as the garbage cans for fermenting I believe you can get food grade liners for them that are cheap and work.

[ecriner]

Thanks for the welcome. Here in corpus christi, everywhere I go, its aluminum pots. I am looking for 80 - 100 qt. They are expensive and I have to order one, even from a restaurant supply. As far as plastic liners, cant find any here locally. I do work for a beer company and kegs are plenty, but they ate all aluminum. Most plastic cans I find say pp or ldpe with the triangle and #2. I am making a basic pot still with a stainless dish on the lid and my column on that. Any advice on the fermenter? Gotta be safe all the way around! Thanks!

[rad14701]

Thanks for the welcome. Here in corpus christi, everywhere I go, its aluminum pots. I am looking for 80 - 100 qt. They are expensive and I have to order one, even from a restaurant supply. As far as plastic liners, cant find any here locally. I do work for a beer company and kegs are plenty, but they ate all aluminum. Most plastic cans I find say pp or ldpe with the triangle and #2. I am making a basic pot still with a stainless dish on the lid and my column on that. Any advice on the fermenter? Gotta be safe all the way around! Thanks!

You might want to double-check those kegs because virtually all kegs in use today are stainless steel - even in Texas... Go with a SS keg...

[ecriner]

The guys at the warehouse told me they are aluminum. I will have to double check. Is a galvanized steel can ok to use?

[Bayou-Ruler]

The guys at the warehouse told me they are aluminum. I will have to double check. Is a galvanized steel can ok to use?

NO

[ecriner]

Gotcha! Thanks!

[heartcut]

As Rad said, aluminum 1/2 kegs are rare, though the 1/4 and smaller are often aluminum. Big aluminum kegs get bent up too soon to be economical. Lightly rub a file on it- it'll scratch up aluminum and barely do anything to ss. Welcome.

[ecriner]

Thanks a bunch! They are stainless. Gonna try and grab me a couple.

[ecriner]

Came into some luck today. I got me a 50 gallon, white, hdpe, drum.........for free! It was at a buddys house. Never been used. I cut the lid and cleaned it up with some water and vinegar. Letting it air dry for a couple days.