Fermenters

[Copperhead57]

I got a 55 gallon food grade barrel and the lid would spin with the metal ring locked around it. I new it couldn't be air tight. So I took a piece of 3/8 clear plastic hose split one side of it rapped it around the top of the barrel
Set the lid on. Put the lock ring back on and it works good. Air tight now. Going to put a sugar wash in it Thursday. Hope this might help someone.

[Deplorable]

Why do you think you need an airtight lid?
Just put the lid on to keep the flies out of it. You aren't making beer. The CO2 from fermentation will push the air out and form a protective layer of gas over the top.
Get yourself a barrel dolly. It will keep it off the ground and make moving it a lot easier when it's full.

[Copperhead57]

Thanks for the info Deplorable. I'm going to put a bubble on it. Won't bubble the way it was. Tried it . Hadn't thought about a drum dolly. I'll be on the hunt for one

[Salt Must Flow]

I get what Copperhead57 was trying to do. I always knew that I didn't require an airlock, but I kinda liked using one. Now a days I don't bother using one because I've done so many fermentations and they always start bubbling away around the exact same time. Seeing bubbles in the airlock no longer does anything for me.

Copperhead57, I suspect your lids are just missing their gaskets and that's why they don't seal and can spin with the clamp on. That would kinda bother me a little bit because I made a rolling dolly with 4 swiveling casters for all of my fermenters. If I rolled them around too aggressively, I imagine the wash/mash would slosh and leak out from under the lid. If you're really feeling froggy, you could order lid gaskets. You would probably have to glue them in place with something like a little 100% silicone or something like that.

By the way, I made all of my dollies using 2x4s and a plywood top. I later coated them to waterproof them just for fun, but that isn't necessary.

[Copperhead57]

Thanks salt after I get home tomorrow will be building a dolly. Didn't think about building one.

[higgins]

I use drums as fermenters and have never sealed the lids. I use small furniture dollies (approx $15) from harbor freight - they work fine with no modifications. I can't make them as cheap as buying them.

[Twisted Brick]

I use small furniture dollies (approx $15) from harbor freight - they work fine with no modifications. I can't make them as cheap as buying them.

+1

Occasionally $10 at HF with a coupon.

Also, a number of members have installed an airlock on a barrel with a leaky lid which subsequently caused confusion and questions. In short, no airlock required.

[subbrew]

I like the idea of a strip of silicon hose, or perhaps just a small diameter hose, like a fish tank air hose, to use as a gasket. I know it is not needed but even after 20 years of fermenting, beer, wine, cider, mead and now spirits I just like to hear that airlock chugging. It puts a smile on my face to hear that bubbling as I work around my brewery.

[Biker24a69]

Been brewing beer for last 20 yrs been distilling this time for last 3 yrs before that it was like something out of moon shiner s but anyway I just use food grade plastic bags over my 30 gallon fermenter and it works great keeps good stuff in and bad stuff out

[8Ball]

With the warmer weather, I recently stopped using lids on my 10G water cooler fermenters. I now use sanitized landscape fabric secured with a loop of paracord.