I was searching the forum to see if the orange Homer buckets are safe to ferment in. There was a lot of discussion back in 2009. Someone was saying that a chemist had verified that they are food grade, then someone else said that they sold an injection mold to a guy who makes the orange buckets for HD and they use the cheapest worst crap possible. Not sure who to believe.
The most recent discussion (2012 - ghetto brew kit) was by cherrington3, who actually used one of the buckets to boil his wort and then was never heard from again.
I was wondering if in the past 4 years, anybody has actually regularly fermented (not boiled) in one and could testify as to whether or not they poison the brew or cause any bad flavors.
EDIT:
For readers viewing this thread in the future, be aware that it contains >10 pages of excessive B.S. not worth reading.
The pertinent information can be found in posts #42 & #103. Long story made short, my personal recommendation is that only FOOD GRADE buckets be used for fermentation and grain storage. Buckets not specifically marketed as food grade, in all likelihood have toxic mold release agent impregnated into the plastic. AND if a bucket is not specifically marketed as food grade, it is NOT food grade. Nobody, Home Depot included, is going to spend the extra money to use non-toxic (food grade) mold release agent and then not charge for that.
The most recent discussion (2012 - ghetto brew kit) was by cherrington3, who actually used one of the buckets to boil his wort and then was never heard from again.
I was wondering if in the past 4 years, anybody has actually regularly fermented (not boiled) in one and could testify as to whether or not they poison the brew or cause any bad flavors.
EDIT:
For readers viewing this thread in the future, be aware that it contains >10 pages of excessive B.S. not worth reading.
The pertinent information can be found in posts #42 & #103. Long story made short, my personal recommendation is that only FOOD GRADE buckets be used for fermentation and grain storage. Buckets not specifically marketed as food grade, in all likelihood have toxic mold release agent impregnated into the plastic. AND if a bucket is not specifically marketed as food grade, it is NOT food grade. Nobody, Home Depot included, is going to spend the extra money to use non-toxic (food grade) mold release agent and then not charge for that.