that's fine, but you have to at least concede that the beer you would lose to blow-off is worth something. In that case, there is a break-even point where is makes sense to buy the larger bucket to avoid that loss.
The same goes for labor....sure you might not value it to what you get paid for work, but your time is definitely worth something isn't it? Is an extra 8-12 bucks worth being able to put in the same amount of labor to get 5 gallons instead of 4? (not to mention....with a 7 gallon bucket you can brew a 5.25 gallon batch to end up with a full 5 gallons)
You could even call it an intangible cost...lets say you LOVED that latest batch of beer and you are all out. How much would you pay to have another 6-pack of it? You could consider that towards how much you are willing to pay for a slightly larger bucket (or how much to upgrade to a 10 gallon system, but I digress).
Again, if you are doing the traditional 5 gallon batch a 7 gallon fermenter is the BEST tool for the job.
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.
Wouldn't there be 0 headspace with 7 gal in a 7 gal bucket?
Curiously, just as most 5 gal buckets hold more than 5 gal.,
I use two 5 gallon carboys for most of my beer. Scale recipe to 7 gallons and put 3-1/2 gallons in each. Plenty of head space, more beer!
Also, remember BPA? That's still used in some food storage containers and is proven to be harmful to human health.
pwkblue said:I generally shop at The Home Depot as they are always $2 per item cheaper than Lowes.....but Lowes now carries a 5 gallon "Food Grade" bucket for under $3. The matching lid is another $2...but has a nice gasket seal..seals very tight.
The only truly safe option that I'm aware of for the super paranoid is probably glass.
allaway said:I'm Ron Burgundy?
Also, remember BPA? That's still used in some food storage containers and is proven to be harmful to human health.
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.
While this is written clearly, please clarify - he boiled IN a plastic homer bucket??? Am I reading that right?
here is the thread...and a picture of the boiling bucket
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ghetto-brew-kit-369699/
Don't make it a habit to ferment in Homer Buckets. They're made for mixing paint and cement. Store grain in them, but maybe use a liner for long term storage stuff. Would you use the same cheap orange plastic to eat off of if they made dishes out of it? Maybe once...if I had to, but not by choice.
Come on, common sense people.
For the record I think that the mold releasing agent argument that was brought up is totally valid. I have worked on injection mold machines before and watched the operators. They spray the mold with some nasty stuff called "stoner" and shoot the molten polymer/rubber/plastic/HPDE/whatever pellets in there. The pellets melt against and conform to the shape of the surface of the freshly "stoner" coated mold, so I assume that some of that crap HAS to become impregnated into the plastic. I had not thought of this (did not realize that buckets were injection molded) before asking about the homer buckets. In light of this, I would recommend using only food grade containers for storing grains or fermenting.
And that is my final word. I am officially withdrawing from this discussion. thanks again everybody.
Dang, I have about 12 homer buckets. I don't use them for fermentation but I have been storing grains in them. I'm not dead yet or anything but had I read this first I would have bought something else to use to keep grain in.
Since it's dry goods and presumably not left in there very long, not something to get too anxious about.
then scale your recipe to 4-4.5 gallons or split 5 gallons between 2 buckets. 5 gallons in 5 gallon bucket will take you right to the lip.
Putting 5 gallons of fermenting ale in a 5 gallon bucket, I would estimate you would lose 0.5 gallon to blowoff. That's a lost 6 pack every batch. If you value your homebrew similarly to craft brew...that's a $8-12 loss per batch.
That extra $8-12 for a bigger bucket doesn't seem like such a rip-off now does it?
As I said, penny-wise, pound foolish....
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