Milk can fermenter?

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Zambi

Zambi

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I got a 10 litre stainless steel milk can and I am thimking of turning that into a small fermenter (most likely without tap)
Can I just drill a hole in the lid, put it a rubber seal and stick an airlock in it? (Or bigger hole for a rubber cork with hole for fermenter)?
Or is it more complicated than that?
 
What you're planning should work just fine. Since it's10 liters, a standard airlock will work fine.

One other modification that might make things easier would be to drill a hole on the side near the bottom and install a valve. Then you won't need to siphon when you bottle.

A great advantage of stainless is that you can sterilize with boiling water. This is pretty foolproof sanitation.
 
Zambezi Special said:
I got a 10 litre stainless steel milk can and I am thimking of turning that into a small fermenter (most likely without tap)
Can I just drill a hole in the lid, put it a rubber seal and stick an airlock in it? (Or bigger hole for a rubber cork with hole for fermenter)?
Or is it more complicated than that?
Click to expand...
You can make it as complicated as you'd like, but what you propose will work.
 
If the lid fits airtight, then yes, it's that simple.

If it's not airtight, it would be valuable to make it so. Not knowing how the lid attaches I can't offer suggestions, but testing it will be easy: Put some soapy water on the seam and heat up the side of the vessel with a small pot of hot water (maybe 1/2 liter). That creates some pressure due to the heating of the air inside, and leaks will bubble out.

Send a photo if you wish more advice.

I second the suggestion to add a ball valve maybe 2-4 cm from the bottom to avoid having to siphon. I can imagine you don't have a hardware store down the road but next time in town visit the plumbing supply house, they'll have a suitable valve and some food-safe sealant (or 2 rubber or silicone washers)

Good find!
 
We'll go to work ;)
Yeah, think a ball valve would be a good option. Or even a tap.
Gotta see what I can get. Stainless would be best I suppose.
The alternatives are pvc, c-pvc, and brass.
C-pvc can handle high heat, so would be an option if I can't find stainless?
Pic of milk can to follow
 
OK, here is the milk can, and the old man wanted to be in the picture as well:
milk can.jpg
 
Zambezi Special said:
We'll go to work ;)
Yeah, think a ball valve would be a good option. Or even a tap.
Gotta see what I can get. Stainless would be best I suppose.
The alternatives are pvc, c-pvc, and brass.
C-pvc can handle high heat, so would be an option if I can't find stainless?
Pic of milk can to follow
Click to expand...
Brass works fine as well as long as you use the low lead variety.
 
Craigerrr said:
Cool!
Just drill a hole for an airlock and I think you are good to go!
Who cares if it leaks if the lid doesn't seal completely.
Click to expand...
Of course I mean gas leaking out if the lid doesn't have a good seal
 
A few gas leaks don't matter much. Bacteria can't crawl and any "back-suck" would draw in such a small load that it won't matter. I've done "open fermentations" in buckets.
 
Thanks all!
Yep, not too worried about drilling a hole for the airlock.
The valve/tap is a different story. That one needs to seal properly!
 
That can looks just perfect! Your little pup looks adorable too. :)

Airlock hole should be easy. Sealing the lid, almost as easy: Buy or fabricate what would essentially be a large rubber band to act as a gasket. You can cut a ring from anything somewhat pliable, like closed-cell foam. Only needs to 'seal' the rim of the lid to the top flange of the can.

The bottom tap or valve presents a small challenge in fitting to the can's curve. One option is to hammer the area flat, carefully, tap tap tap against something substantial (and flat) held by hand inside. (In the car body repair business, this is a heavy piece of metal called a 'dolly'). A second option would be to hand-make a pair of washers, one side flat and the other side curved to mate with the can's curve. Plastic would be perfectly fine. A half-hour with a file or sand paper will do. (Heck, even rubbing it against a flat stone or concrete will do). Use a little plumbing sealant (putty or similar) to handle any rough edges.

Feel free to get a plastic valve if metal isn't available, you still need to clean it no matter what it's made of.
 
Donoroto said:
That can looks just perfect! Your little pup looks adorable too. :)

Airlock hole should be easy. Sealing the lid, almost as easy: Buy or fabricate what would essentially be a large rubber band to act as a gasket. You can cut a ring from anything somewhat pliable, like closed-cell foam. Only needs to 'seal' the rim of the lid to the top flange of the can.

The bottom tap or valve presents a small challenge in fitting to the can's curve. One option is to hammer the area flat, carefully, tap tap tap against something substantial (and flat) held by hand inside. (In the car body repair business, this is a heavy piece of metal called a 'dolly'). A second option would be to hand-make a pair of washers, one side flat and the other side curved to mate with the can's curve. Plastic would be perfectly fine. A half-hour with a file or sand paper will do. (Heck, even rubbing it against a flat stone or concrete will do). Use a little plumbing sealant (putty or similar) to handle any rough edges.

Feel free to get a plastic valve if metal isn't available, you still need to clean it no matter what it's made of.
Click to expand...

If you need it flat, just drill a 22mm hole(assuming you will need metric equivalents), get a bolt to fit the hole with about 6 washers, put 3 on each side and crank it as tight as you can with a "cheater" bar. Should make a spot flat enough for a weldless bulkhead to seal.
 
Bulin's Milker Bucket Brews said:
If you need it flat, just drill a 22mm hole(assuming you will need metric equivalents), get a bolt to fit the hole with about 6 washers, put 3 on each side and crank it as tight as you can with a "cheater" bar. Should make a spot flat enough for a weldless bulkhead to seal.
Click to expand...
I like that idea better. The hole for the bolt can be whatever the valve/tap needs, and washers come in large sizes and can be fabricated.

Must be a guy with milk can experience...
 
Donoroto said:
I like that idea better. The hole for the bolt can be whatever the valve/tap needs, and washers come in large sizes and can be fabricated.

Must be a guy with milk can experience...
Click to expand...
Just know my own skill set, I'm better with brute force tan precision metal work.
 
Thanks!
Good advice. I definitely know better what to do now.
I got a hole saw and I got a step bit as well.
Washers, nuts and bolts plenty.
Job 1 is to find my little rubber washer for the airlock and start drilling.
Job 2 is the valve or tap.
My baby fermenter is still OK, I think, otherwise I would just steel the tap from that one:cool:
 
Oh by the way @Donoroto , the little Jackie is hardly a pup anymore. He's 11 :) :)
 
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