Stainless Stock Pot as Fermentor

[gdanby]

I've been using a 50l stainless stock pot as a fermentor for a while, the fact that the lid was never a 100% air tight seal (just metal on metal) never bothered me, but now it does !

I'd like to get a silicon/rubber gasket to fit inside the lid and then clamp the lid on to make this air tight. The inner diameter of the seal would need to be 41.5cm and the outer 42.5cm. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get one off the shelf, but has anyone any ideas about making or getting hold of one ..? I'm assuming the clamps will be easier to source !

[chefgage]

The only thing i could think of is to get some rubber/silicone tubing (like you use for fluid transfer/siphoning). Then split it along the full length. This can then be fitted to the lid. With the clamps you mention that should give you a seal. I made a similar thing for a false bottom. I had to make a jig with a stanley blade that kept the tubing from spining around so the cut was in a straight line

[chefgage]

Also for this setup you will probably have to seal the joint where the tubing meets, you can get food grade silicon sealent.

[Fastline]

Cling film is cheap, not as convenient but would work as an alternative idea

[Hogarth]

Maybe an extra-large baking mat cut into a gasket? You can buy them cheaply these days.

[gdanby]

Some good ideas there, thanks fella's!

[Fastline]

Look up a company called polymax on the web, they sell lots of Orings and silicone sheet, they may have suitable material

[basswulf]

For my small scale BIAB approach, I use the same stockpot for fermenting as I do for mashing and boiling the wort. I did use clingfilm but it is a bit of a pain because of where it lives while fermentation is happening. Recently I've taken to sitting the lid on, slightly askew to allow for the temperature probe I keep in there, and then putting a black plastic bag over the top of the whole lot. The aim is to keep airborne particles from falling into the brew; it seems to have done pretty well so far although definitely at the low tech end of possible solutions.

Wulf

[rpt]

Why are you bothered about the seal? The lid will stop stuff falling in.

[Belter]

With the cost of brewbuilders little fermenters I went down that route for trial batches. Fits in a fridg, seals, tri-clamp. Basically a stock pot but much much more suitable and a similar price.