I've been toying with the idea of building one for next season's beer
making.

All the commercial hype points to the ease of use without any mention
of the drawbacks.

An "agrisupply" wholesaler has tons of plastic vessels on his lot,
among them, some conical plastic ones that look good for ~10 - 15
gallons. They appear to be yellow polyethylene - haven't been in that
area during business hours so I never spoke to anyone.

My questions:
Seems that removing the yeast would cause a negative pressure in the
vessel so you'd suck some air in - bad for the wort or risking
contamination. Is that so? Is there a work-around?

Easy enough to clean?

Can I just add a measured amount of undissolved corn sugar to my
bottles for carbonation? (and avoid the transfer to a bottling
bucket)

Anyone try making a conical? Most of the agrisupply tanks are in the
<$1/gallon range (sans fittings) and designed to withstand chemicals
sprayed on crops.


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Yes, but are they food grade plastic? Very important. Just because
ethey can resist corrosion doesn't mean that the plastic won't leach
nasties into your beer.

Thanks,

Mike

default wrote:[color=blue]
> I've been toying with the idea of building one for next season's beer
> making.
>
> All the commercial hype points to the ease of use without any mention
> of the drawbacks.
>
> An "agrisupply" wholesaler has tons of plastic vessels on his lot,
> among them, some conical plastic ones that look good for ~10 - 15
> gallons. They appear to be yellow polyethylene - haven't been in that
> area during business hours so I never spoke to anyone.
>
> My questions:
> Seems that removing the yeast would cause a negative pressure in the
> vessel so you'd suck some air in - bad for the wort or risking
> contamination. Is that so? Is there a work-around?
>
> Easy enough to clean?
>
> Can I just add a measured amount of undissolved corn sugar to my
> bottles for carbonation? (and avoid the transfer to a bottling
> bucket)
>
> Anyone try making a conical? Most of the agrisupply tanks are in the
> <$1/gallon range (sans fittings) and designed to withstand chemicals
> sprayed on crops.
>
>
> -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
> [url]http://www.newsfeeds.com[/url] - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----[/color]

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 20:14:45 -0500, "Mike (remove XX's to reply)"
<aXXeneXXas@gwis.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Yes, but are they food grade plastic? Very important. Just because
>ethey can resist corrosion doesn't mean that the plastic won't leach
>nasties into your beer.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mike[/color]

Thanks. I considered that. I figured to call the manufacturer to see
what they say. Even if it isn't certified FDA food grade it may be
safe. I worked in a pharmaceutical company (electronics - not
chemistry) a lot of what is "approved" for a particular use is
frequently a matter of paperwork, handling and storage, even when the
product is identical. I can get a little help in that department from
my friends.




-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
[url]http://www.newsfeeds.com[/url] - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

"default" <none@defaulter.net> a écrit dans le message de
news:94866054m66e0k3kujfs625se1igmuhctu@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 20:14:45 -0500, "Mike (remove XX's to reply)"
> <aXXeneXXas@gwis.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >Yes, but are they food grade plastic? Very important. Just because
> >ethey can resist corrosion doesn't mean that the plastic won't leach
> >nasties into your beer.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Mike[/color]
>
> Thanks. I considered that. I figured to call the manufacturer to see
> what they say. Even if it isn't certified FDA food grade it may be
> safe. I worked in a pharmaceutical company (electronics - not
> chemistry) a lot of what is "approved" for a particular use is
> frequently a matter of paperwork, handling and storage, even when the
> product is identical. I can get a little help in that department from
> my friends.
>[/color]

Don't forget to check the angle of the cone, it must be at least 60° for the
turb to run out.
--
Altair (:-o)>=®
"The History of every major Galactic Civilisation tends to pass through
three distinct and recognisable phases... characterised by the questions How
can we eat? Why do we eat? and Where shall we have lunch?"
Douglas Adams.

I couldn't help you with the plastic question without knowing the
manufacturer's spec's. As for draining the trub, you'll need to open the top
of the fermenter before draining it to prevent the negative pressure. The
main concern at this point (as long as you're in a fairly clean environment)
isn't contamination but oxidation. If you open the valve (which should be
the ball-**** type) without venting the fermenter air will be sucked in
through the valve and cause bubbles (like what happens when you get a drink
from a bottled water dispenser). This will oxidize the brew and screw up
your beer, unless you're big on malted vinegar.

While I have never attempted to individually prime each bottle, I've been
told by most experienced brewers that this is a big no-no. It could lead to
off flavors and possibly popped bottles. Have fun -
BUBBA

default <none@defaulter.net> wrote in message
news:s57360deosh3por1pblp3ete40dtokqeql@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> I've been toying with the idea of building one for next season's beer
> making.
>
> All the commercial hype points to the ease of use without any mention
> of the drawbacks.
>
> An "agrisupply" wholesaler has tons of plastic vessels on his lot,
> among them, some conical plastic ones that look good for ~10 - 15
> gallons. They appear to be yellow polyethylene - haven't been in that
> area during business hours so I never spoke to anyone.
>
> My questions:
> Seems that removing the yeast would cause a negative pressure in the
> vessel so you'd suck some air in - bad for the wort or risking
> contamination. Is that so? Is there a work-around?
>
> Easy enough to clean?
>
> Can I just add a measured amount of undissolved corn sugar to my
> bottles for carbonation? (and avoid the transfer to a bottling
> bucket)
>
> Anyone try making a conical? Most of the agrisupply tanks are in the
> <$1/gallon range (sans fittings) and designed to withstand chemicals
> sprayed on crops.
>
>
> -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
> [url]http://www.newsfeeds.com[/url] - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
>[/color]

Are you sure the cone has to 60 Deg. I checked out some commercial
fermenters , while I had nothing to measure the angle I would guess it would
be 120 Deg Plus .
As for oxy. entering the fermenter I would introduce a stream of Co2 into
the top of the fermenter as you carefully drain the trub .
.................Cheers Ian in Bendigo



"Altair" <sylvain.dupuis@NoSpam@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:lbL8c.22145$0T2.455775@weber.videotron.net...[color=blue]
> "default" <none@defaulter.net> a écrit dans le message de
> news:94866054m66e0k3kujfs625se1igmuhctu@4ax.com...[color=green]
> > On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 20:14:45 -0500, "Mike (remove XX's to reply)"
> > <aXXeneXXas@gwis.com> wrote:
> >[color=darkred]
> > >Yes, but are they food grade plastic? Very important. Just because
> > >ethey can resist corrosion doesn't mean that the plastic won't leach
> > >nasties into your beer.
> > >
> > >Thanks,
> > >
> > >Mike[/color]
> >
> > Thanks. I considered that. I figured to call the manufacturer to see
> > what they say. Even if it isn't certified FDA food grade it may be
> > safe. I worked in a pharmaceutical company (electronics - not
> > chemistry) a lot of what is "approved" for a particular use is
> > frequently a matter of paperwork, handling and storage, even when the
> > product is identical. I can get a little help in that department from
> > my friends.
> >[/color]
>
> Don't forget to check the angle of the cone, it must be at least 60° for[/color]
the[color=blue]
> turb to run out.
> --
> Altair (:-o)>=®
> "The History of every major Galactic Civilisation tends to pass through
> three distinct and recognisable phases... characterised by the questions[/color]
How[color=blue]
> can we eat? Why do we eat? and Where shall we have lunch?"
> Douglas Adams.
>
>[/color]

"ian .at.bendigo" <ian.kentish@bigpond.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:oJNdc.2909$ED.2029@news-server.bigpond.net.au...[color=blue]
> Are you sure the cone has to 60 Deg. I checked out some commercial
> fermenters , while I had nothing to measure the angle I would guess it[/color]
would[color=blue]
> be 120 Deg Plus .
> As for oxy. entering the fermenter I would introduce a stream of Co2 into
> the top of the fermenter as you carefully drain the trub .
> ................Cheers Ian in Bendigo
>[/color]

I was considering the angle made between a flat surface, the valve and the
wall of the cone. No angle would be 0°, the max. angle would be close to
90° and a medium would be 45°. I don't know how you came with a 120° angle.
--
Altair (:-o)>=®
"The History of every major Galactic Civilisation tends to pass through
three distinct and recognisable phases... characterised by the questions How
can we eat? Why do we eat? and Where shall we have lunch?"
Douglas Adams.[color=blue]
>
>
> "Altair" <sylvain.dupuis@NoSpam@videotron.ca> wrote in message
> news:lbL8c.22145$0T2.455775@weber.videotron.net...[color=green]
> > "default" <none@defaulter.net> a écrit dans le message de
> > news:94866054m66e0k3kujfs625se1igmuhctu@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
> > > On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 20:14:45 -0500, "Mike (remove XX's to reply)"
> > > <aXXeneXXas@gwis.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >Yes, but are they food grade plastic? Very important. Just because
> > > >ethey can resist corrosion doesn't mean that the plastic won't leach
> > > >nasties into your beer.
> > > >
> > > >Thanks,
> > > >
> > > >Mike
> > >
> > > Thanks. I considered that. I figured to call the manufacturer to see
> > > what they say. Even if it isn't certified FDA food grade it may be
> > > safe. I worked in a pharmaceutical company (electronics - not
> > > chemistry) a lot of what is "approved" for a particular use is
> > > frequently a matter of paperwork, handling and storage, even when the
> > > product is identical. I can get a little help in that department from
> > > my friends.
> > >[/color]
> >
> > Don't forget to check the angle of the cone, it must be at least 60° for[/color]
> the[color=green]
> > turb to run out.
> > --
> > Altair (:-o)>=®
> > "The History of every major Galactic Civilisation tends to pass through
> > three distinct and recognisable phases... characterised by the questions[/color]
> How[color=green]
> > can we eat? Why do we eat? and Where shall we have lunch?"
> > Douglas Adams.
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]