Lifting Full Fermentation Vessel

[suttonbrewer]

Because of back problems I've installed an electric winch in my garage to lift my F.V. in and out of a converted chest freezer which I use as a brew fridge. I used it for the first time at the weekend, and it worked a treat. The only thing that is worrying me is how strong the connection between the handle and body of the F.V. is.
Seeing 23 litres of precious beer suspended 4 feet off the ground by a spindly wire handle doesn't inspire me with confidence. The F.V. is the standard Youngs cheapo one with the single wire handle. Does anyone have any idea just how strong these things are?

[sbond10]

Can you not lift from bottom using either strops or a wooden plinth kept in place during ferment. Wouldn't trust them handles that's for sure

[suttonbrewer]

That is what I have been thinking of, it really didn't look very good at all suspended in mid air like that.

[JamesF]

Can you not lift from bottom using either strops or a wooden plinth kept in place during ferment. Wouldn't trust them handles that's for sure

That seems like the most sensible option to me.

James

[gobuchul]

I agree that the handles don't look strong enough. The wooden plinth seems a good idea.

However, I do regularly carry 15 litres of water from to the house to the workshop/brew shed with a cheapo Youngs FV and that's about 40m away, with no problems.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I think the handles on these fermenters are much more solid.

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... XdGks9VhBc

[JamesF]

It's just struck me that another advantage of having the FV on some sort of plinth would be that the handle is free for moving it once it has been raised.

James

[sbond10]

I agree that the handles don't look strong enough. The wooden plinth seems a good idea.

However, I do regularly carry 15 litres of water from to the house to the workshop/brew shed with a cheapo Youngs FV and that's about 40m away, with no problems.

Differance being on bollocks 15 litres of water ah well back to tap.
I cuddle my FV's full of beer when carrying um up stairs there really heavy

[Doingatun]

I've had to fit a small electric hoist on the garage ceiling for the same reasons, burst L4-L5 disc. I wheel the full 25L FV from under the boiler up to the ferment fridge using a low trolley, hoist 66cm, then swing and push into the fridge. I use Brewmaker FV's with moulded handles in the top rim, hoist using two strong cords hoops one round and under each handle, luckily the handles are so shaped that the cord cannot slip off, both hoops on the hook, sounds and looks scary as the hoist takes the weight, each time hoping nothing fails.

[GeeThom]

I have just done my back in lifting a 60 litre fermenter from the floor onto a kitchen bench.
I can barely turn around now however I got my beer bottled and in the fridge after 4 difficult hours last night.

A word from the wise "Do not try this at home"

[JamesF]

I think possibly the answer there is to buy another vessel and a pump...

James

[boingy]

Or build a shelf/stand for the freezer so you can use gravity to bottle/keg without having to move a full FV. You can fill the FV with smaller buckets, ferment then siphon or "tap" it out.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I have just done my back in lifting a 60 litre fermenter from the floor onto a kitchen bench.

That's way too much! On occasion I have been known to lift 27l no chill cubes of wort, but that's an absolute limit

[Doingatun]

I wish I hadn't ignored all the warnings over the years that my back was telling me to be careful....to late now, for the last 15 years severe back pain, frequent incapacity and limited mobility is all part of my daily life.