My friend and I have been home brewing for the last several years. We
continuously try new things and push the boundaries (sometimes WAY too
far) Anyway, we are moving and now have room to expand.
Where can we find the most affordable (new or used) products for
homebrew.
Mostly we are in need of more glass containers/carboys especially
larger ones (3 to 20 gallon!) but also 6 - 8 gallon new food grade
plastic fermenters, airlocks, yeast, etc.
Any advice, links, or help would be greatly appreciated.
THanks again

analogvacuumtube at gmail dot com

For large fermenters I use a rubbermaid "brute" trash can. the grey
(easiest to find) white and yellow ones are food grade. I got mine (32
gallon) at home depot. they have 40 gallon ones too. For 20-30 bucks
it is pretty nicely priced.

Some people use culligan water bottles for 5 gallon carboys, but I
question the stability of the plastic under long term use with wine
myself.

I have gotten all of my carboys from my local LHBS, any extra i pay
over the internet price is a lot less than shipping.


Bryan wrote:
> My friend and I have been home brewing for the last several years. We
> continuously try new things and push the boundaries (sometimes WAY too
> far) Anyway, we are moving and now have room to expand.
> Where can we find the most affordable (new or used) products for
> homebrew.
> Mostly we are in need of more glass containers/carboys especially
> larger ones (3 to 20 gallon!) but also 6 - 8 gallon new food grade
> plastic fermenters, airlocks, yeast, etc.
> Any advice, links, or help would be greatly appreciated.
> THanks again
>
> analogvacuumtube at gmail dot com

Thanks for your advice...wow - the trash cans are a great idea! you are
sure they are food grade?
thanks again

Bryan wrote:
> Thanks for your advice...wow - the trash cans are a great idea! you are
> sure they are food grade?
> thanks again

Yep, I have seen it posted several times and I called Rubbermaid to
verify.

It has to be the grey, white or yellow "Brute" containers. All other
Rubbermaid trash cans are NOT food grade.

On 3/21/2006 4:43 PM, Bryan wrote:
> My friend and I have been home brewing for the last several years. We
> continuously try new things and push the boundaries (sometimes WAY too
> far) Anyway, we are moving and now have room to expand.
> Where can we find the most affordable (new or used) products for
> homebrew.
> Mostly we are in need of more glass containers/carboys especially
> larger ones (3 to 20 gallon!) but also 6 - 8 gallon new food grade
> plastic fermenters, airlocks, yeast, etc.
> Any advice, links, or help would be greatly appreciated.
> THanks again
> [Deleted un-munged email address]
> analogvacuumtube at gmail dot com



Bryan,

Were I to have the opportunity to do things a bit differently, I would
replace a few of my many glass carboys with a few more Better Bottles.
These PET carboys are food grade and gas impermeable, and they weigh
about 10lbs less than a glass carboy and can not shatter. Your LHBS
should either carry these already, or should be able to order them for
you. They cost about the same as a glass carboy, unless you purchase
the model with the racking port, which is very handy but not required.
They do have a few minor drawbacks, the chief one being that they are
flexible and require care when lifting to avoid shooting wine out of the
airlock, but their advantages vastly outweigh their disadvantages, in
both number and importance.


Cheers,
Ken Taborek

>It has to be the grey, white or yellow "Brute" containers. All other

Droopy's right. I've also seen it posted in newsgroups, I've read it on
Rubbermaid's web site, and the "10-gallon fermenters" (and larger
sizes) that my LHBS sells *are* white Rubbermaid Brute trash cans.

It's only the Brute line, not Roughneck, not anything else. Only the
colors Droopy mentioned.

Erroll

If you look at the bottom of a brute gray, which I just bought, you'll
see LDPE, NSF 2 and I believe "Food contact".

LDPE is the type of plastic. Fine for fermenter, but bad for long term
storage. More porous than HDPE but just as resistant to most chemicals.

NSF 2 is the certification stating that it's rated for food contact.

If it doesn't have that certification go on to the next. Even though
it's made from LDPE it could be recycled plastic, which isn't food grade.

If still in doubt check out Rubbermaid's website. They explain all the
terms there and give the plastics ratings.

Droopy wrote:
> Bryan wrote:
>> Thanks for your advice...wow - the trash cans are a great idea! you are
>> sure they are food grade?
>> thanks again
>
> Yep, I have seen it posted several times and I called Rubbermaid to
> verify.
>
> It has to be the grey, white or yellow "Brute" containers. All other
> Rubbermaid trash cans are NOT food grade.
>

Oh my god. You are all amazing and appreciated. Thanks so much for the
advice.

Droopy wrote:
> For large fermenters I use a rubbermaid "brute" trash can. the grey
> (easiest to find) white and yellow ones are food grade. I got mine (32
> gallon) at home depot. they have 40 gallon ones too. For 20-30 bucks
> it is pretty nicely priced.
>
I think you are my new hero. Do you know if they come in smaller
quantities? I'm making a peach beer right now, and I need something
larger than my normal primary carboy, and preferably something with a
larger mouth. It was a real pain in the butt when I was trying to cram
cranberries in my carboys for cranberry wine. I was hoping to get
something in 10 gallons.

All,

I agree completely with Ken. I have used glass carboys for years, but as I
have been growing older, they have become increasing difficult to lift and
clean. Last year I traded my glass carboys for Better Bottles at my LHBS
and am very happy with the decision. The Better Bottles do not seem to have
any negative effect on my wine, and they are so light and easy to work with.

Regards,

Gary

http://home.carolina.rr.com/winemaking/


"mail box" > wrote in message
...
> On 3/21/2006 4:43 PM, Bryan wrote:
>> My friend and I have been home brewing for the last several years. We
>> continuously try new things and push the boundaries (sometimes WAY too
>> far) Anyway, we are moving and now have room to expand.
>> Where can we find the most affordable (new or used) products for
>> homebrew.
>> Mostly we are in need of more glass containers/carboys especially
>> larger ones (3 to 20 gallon!) but also 6 - 8 gallon new food grade
>> plastic fermenters, airlocks, yeast, etc.
>> Any advice, links, or help would be greatly appreciated.
>> THanks again
>> [Deleted un-munged email address]
>> analogvacuumtube at gmail dot com
>
>
>
> Bryan,
>
> Were I to have the opportunity to do things a bit differently, I would
> replace a few of my many glass carboys with a few more Better Bottles.
> These PET carboys are food grade and gas impermeable, and they weigh about
> 10lbs less than a glass carboy and can not shatter. Your LHBS should
> either carry these already, or should be able to order them for you. They
> cost about the same as a glass carboy, unless you purchase the model with
> the racking port, which is very handy but not required. They do have a few
> minor drawbacks, the chief one being that they are flexible and require
> care when lifting to avoid shooting wine out of the airlock, but their
> advantages vastly outweigh their disadvantages, in both number and
> importance.
>
>
> Cheers,
> Ken Taborek