Which is the best plastic fermenting bin?

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johnmac
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Which is the best plastic fermenting bin?

Post by johnmac » Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:23 am

I have one of these:

Image

It's an unbranded fermenter, made by HK Plastics. I had thought it was quite good quality, but there are now rough patches inside it, which feel llike fine sandpaper. I guess the plastic must have been degraded by the bleach solution or by the beer.

So, which is the best brand of plastic fermenter to buy?

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Andy
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Post by Andy » Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:50 am

How many times have you brewed using it ?
Dan!

Frothy

Post by Frothy » Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:03 pm

I like these

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Post by TC2642 » Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:36 pm

Frothy wrote:I like these Content deleted in accordance with forum rules.
I too like these ones, although its best not to trust the measurements on the side!

SilverAnalyst

Post by SilverAnalyst » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:41 pm

TC2642 wrote:
Frothy wrote:I like these Content deleted in accordance with forum rules.
I too like these ones, although its best not to trust the measurements on the side!
I have always trusted the mesurements! :shock:

Shouldn't I? :oops:

delboy

Re: Which is the best plastic fermenting bin?

Post by delboy » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:51 pm

johnmac wrote:I have one of these:

Image

It's an unbranded fermenter, made by HK Plastics. I had thought it was quite good quality, but there are now rough patches inside it, which feel llike fine sandpaper. I guess the plastic must have been degraded by the bleach solution or by the beer.

So, which is the best brand of plastic fermenter to buy?
How do you clean it after a brew maybe you are inadvertantly scratching the surface, i don't use anything harsher than a sponge on mine!

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Andy
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Post by Andy » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:52 pm

I asked about the number of times used as I suspected beerstone as DaaB mentions....
Dan!

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johnmac
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Post by johnmac » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:34 pm

It's been used about 30 times. I hadn't thought of beerstone, I must admit.

David Edge

Post by David Edge » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:52 pm

To clean off beerstone you need Vescal; Oscar's got some. Were you thinking of going to the Newark meeting perhaps? I'm sure something could be arranged. Otherwise you yould propose yourself for a brewday at The Signalbox in Derby and collect some from me.

To avoid beerstone a little calcium well mixed in with the mash wouldn't go amiss. If it's gypsum or DWB/DLS, mix with the grist; CaCl2 can be mixed with the grist or dissolved in the HLT. A teaspoon would be fine.

It might just be limescale - do you have chalky water / furry kettles? Do you treat with acid to remove carbonates? You can remove that with phosphoric acid.

An afterthought. I wonder of 5.2 is effective at preventing beerstone?

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Post by johnmac » Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:16 pm

I've just had a scrape at it with a thumb nail and it's certainly a powdery white deposit and not a degradation of the plastic. I think I can remove it mechanically.

I've used Burton Water Salts in many of my brews, plus some gypsum or calcium chloride. More recent brews have used PH5.2. I wonder if it's just limescale, as it's easier to remove than I understood beerstone would be.

Our mains water is pretty soft, coming from The River Dee, so I'm thinking limescale from what I've added. In fact, many of the brews have used reverse osmosis water.

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:40 pm

I've just had a scrape at it with a thumb nail and it's certainly a powdery white deposit
Do you get it in your boiler/copper as well JM :?:

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Post by johnmac » Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:20 pm

Do you get it in your boiler/copper as well JM?
No, not at all.

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Post by TC2642 » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:56 pm

SilverAnalyst wrote:
TC2642 wrote:
Frothy wrote:I like these
Content deleted in accordance with forum rules.
I too like these ones, although its best not to trust the measurements on the side!
I have always trusted the mesurements! :shock:

Shouldn't I? :oops:
:D , I have two of these as FV's and the blokes printing the measurements on the side must be drunk when their doing it, I have found that for 5gal/23Ltrs when the wort reaches the first plastic ridge at the top is about right.

mysterio

Post by mysterio » Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:05 pm

I use the HK one you posted. I like it, but mine has similar fine scratches. I still never get an infection though.

Frothy

Post by Frothy » Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:35 am

TC2642 - I agree the bottom of the first ridge is 5gal/23L on mine too. The graduations are ok as a guide for HLT water etc. but really undermeasure.

Frothy

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