Window Sill Brewing

[Ink]

Hi guys. I have decided to try a few of your 'other brews' recipes while I wait for my hybrid cider to finish up in my 5 gallon FV. I have a load of 5lr bottles that I intend to do small experimental brews in. The thing is, we are kind of low on space and SWMBO won't take too kindly to losing anymore sideboard space in the kitchen being lost to my bottles and buckets.

So, short of moving out to my chilly shed, I was wondering if I could whack a couple of these on the windowsill? Maybe wrapped in something to keep the sun off?

Even though she doesn't want it to take up the space, she is pretty eager for me to either make something for her or shut up about all the things I keep reading her from the forum!

I'm off to Wilkos later to grab a few more bits-yeasts and stuff.

I have made a cunning airlock from a lucozade sport rubber topped bottle and a lid from the 5lr bottle using a drill, some hot glue (and a few swear words when I drilled through in to my favourite cutting board). Will this work? Or should I just pick up a couple of proper ones when I go out later?

[Jim]

You might have some problems with large temperature variations depending on whether the window faces south (sunshine during the day, cold at night). Other than that, worth a go.

Re your airlocks, 10/10 for bodger of the year award, but we'd need a picture to truly judge them.

[Ink]

I'll sort photos soon.

[WalesAles]

You might have some problems with large temperature variations depending on whether the window faces south (sunshine during the day, cold at night). Other than that, worth a go.

Re your airlocks, 10/10 for bodger of the year award, but we'd need a picture to truly judge them.

Hello Ink,
I can`t wait to see your Ars$lock pics to pass on to Ditch!
WA

[danbrew]

Definitely make sure you shield it from direct sunlight... A sleeve made out of brown paper works well...

[Ink]

It's a little messy. This is my second one made using 2 part epoxy glue because the glue gun glue didn't stick to the plastic to well.

I tested it by blowing and it seems to take a huge amount of pressure to push the rubber valve out so it might more likely create a sugary fountain.

Seemed like a good idea at the time, but I'll still give it a go.

[Jim]

I can't figure out how that works from the pic, but if it takes any significant amount of pressure to get air through it, it'll be useless.

[Ink]

It was a nice idea at the time but I have got some proper air locks now. The top of the light blue bit has a silicone diaphragm on top that when subjected to negative pressure, opens up-ie when you suck on the bottle it works. However, it seems the pressure required from the other side seems to be too great to work it.
I might give it a whirl during the later stage of fermentation when it is less likely to make a mess, or make the hole in the diaphragm slightly bigger and place the old cap loosely over the top.

[Geezah]

Rubber band & a finger off a rubber glove or a balloon is all you need for an airlock.



Erect = fermenting
Flacid = its all over

[Ink]

Nice. Both of my brews I put on yesterday now have standard airlocks pushed through the plastic lids. A good job really, the wine was all out the top when I got home. I think if I had used either the glove or lucozade top, it would have been a right mess for the wife to walk in to.

[Ink]

I bottled my first one of the raspberry this weekend. I have primed it with a bit more syrup but it isn't quite as tasty as I would like. Got another one straight on the go alongside the turbo wine I started a couple of weeks back. Still, I'm going to try and find somewhere less exposed to changes of temperature.