I am ready to take control of my fermentation temps. I am leaning toward a 5 or 7 cf chest freezer, but am concerned about lifting 40+ pounds of wort in and out over the top edge. How have others rigged it up so as to save their lower back?
I have seen some people rig up a pulley system. One even used a ratcheting hand crank from a boat trailer. Can be done cheap at Harbor Freight.
When I used carboys I would keep them in plastic milk crates and that helped put them in. At some point I switched to fermenting in stainless half bbl keg, after cleaning and sanitizing, I’d set it in chest freezer, pump wort in, and use co2 to push the beer out.
Go with Better Bottles to lighten the load a bit too. I’d go with the bigger chest freezer as well. One better bottle in a milk crate fits in a 5 cu ft freezer but barely (scrapes knuckles lowering his in). The 7.2 cu ft would give you more space, and possibly allow you to put 2 carboys in there.
You could also go with an upright freezer if you’re concerned about lifting and lowering.
You’d need some sort of hoist. I just bite the bullet and try to minimize any lifting. Usually all I need to do is lift once per fermenter.
Oftentimes what I’ll do is just put the empty fermenter in there… and pump the beer in from a bucket/buckets using a self priming pump.
Like to add that I built a shelf in each of my 7cu freezers so that the buckets are off the bottom and I don’t have to bend over very far.
I pulled a tricep muscle a couple of years ago by pulling a fermenter out of a chest freezer. It took quite a while to heal, so I can relate to this concern. If you’re going to go the chest freezer route, then practice proper lifting and pulling techniques to avoid potential injury. A hoist or pulley system is a great idea and a back saver for sure.
Or buy an upright.
Or get more exercise.
The handles on a BruHauler help keep “better” lifting form.
They are great, although getting a full carboy out of a freezer will always be awkward.
You could also use CO2 to push beer out of the carboy and into a keg or bottling bucket.
- Sent by my R2 unit
I have no issues with just a Brew Hauler. Although I’m so paranoid it will unclip I quadruple-check the fasteners before lifing.
I’m way too much of a nervous Nelly to use a pulley system.
I’ve used buckets, but the single handle is literally a pain with a full bucket in a chest freezer. If Better Bottles, i use a milk carton. Just recently purchased a Speidel, I think I’m really going to like it.
My fiance works well for this. But if he’s not in the house, I lift them in two stages.
If the concern is hurting yourself (as opposed to avoiding aggravating an existing injury) just doin git correctly is the best bet. If the desire is for an easier way I like the big fermenter that you fill in place and use pressure to empty. I have an old fridge so it’s not an issue for me but if I get a big speidel I’ll likely have to figure something out. I’m a strong guy and can probably ‘easily’ handle 80-100 lbs of wort but getting it out and up onto a counter to fill kegs with a siphon would still be a challenge.
I grab better bottles by their necks and lift. Strong grip, but it can’t be good for my shoulder.
Go big or go home. 8)
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_120327_120327
The lazy way out. I would probably do something like this in a few years as the beer gets heavier. ;D
Paul
Yeah, so do I. Then I put the buckle towards my in case it accidentally pops. Really, if you balance out the straps evenly it should not end catastrophically if the buckle did come undone. Not that I plan on testing that theory. :
I’m sorry, this post was a bit snarky. I’m a big guy and have no trouble lifting kegs in and out of my chest freezer, but it would be more difficult with carboys or buckets. If it came down to it I’d most likely use siphons or pumps as most people have already posted.