PSA: Please retire your glass carboys!

[andyfarke]

My only complaints about the SS brewtech fermenters is the base on the mini’s isn’t attached, and the o-ring for the racking tube gets cut all the time. Doesn’t seem to matter if I use food grade lube or not.

I have the same issue with the racking tube o-ring! Glad I’m not the only one…I just need to buy a bunch of replacements, I suppose.

[erockrph]

@ynotbrusum

I don’t have conical, but a couple brew buckets and a 13 gallon Kegmenter as my stainless fermenters. The kegmenter with a floating diptube and spunding valve is a relatively reasonable Total cost and it will allow fermentation under pressure, pressurized transfer and drawing from the top for transfer.  Coupled with a Tilt, I figure I have a pretty good setup and don’t see conicals in my future, unless I just want to splurge…which could happen, if I can save enough to accumulate some funny money.

And this is why I love this forum. I don’t know why I’ve never thought to get floating dip tubes for my fermentation kegs! That would be way better than blowing the trub out from the bottom, as I currently do. It would certainly do a better job at keeping gunk from making it to my serving kegs as well.

Not to drag this conversation too off-topic, but how well does the Tilt work inside a keg fermenter? I’ve toyed with getting one, but I worry that I won’t be able to pick up a reading through the keg.

[ynotbrusum]

It reads through the kegmenter with no problem, but not through a chest freezer lid and the kegmenter, so I have to open the chest freezer lid for reading the Tilt.

[Descardeci]

@TANSTAAFB

I’ve been brewing for about 12 years. I was poor and I scrounged a lot of my early brewing stuff from yard sales and the like. I was so excited when I found a couple of beautiful glass carboys! Finally, I could SEE what was going on in my little science experiments! Over the years I’ve picked up more from moving friends and fellow brewers. I usually primary in my wonderful Spiedels but for long term aging I use glass. I saw some of the gruesome and horrific broken glass carboy threads pretty early on, but I ignored these cautionary tales. They did make me careful, and for 12 years I’ve been lucky.

Last night, that luck ended. I was dumping cleaning solution from a 5 gal carboy when it shattered. No idea if I bumped the sidewall or if it just gave out.  The pressure of the water rushing out of this busted glass balloon gave the shards a little extra velocity and I was instantly soaked and bleeding from my right (dominant) hand. I immediately went into first aid mode, grabbed a towel, made a fist around it, and raised it over my head. Not my first rodeo. I was able to find gauze, vet wrap, and alcohol and went to bandage it up. First look as I got it under running water? This isn’t good, but it’s not nearly as bad as it could be. Got it wrapped up, finally sat down with my hand over my head. Gotta call my wonderful and long-suffering wife. ”I’m OK." “WTF did you do now?” 20 years, she knows me well [emoji16]

16 stitches and a case of the dumbass later, I’m asking you to retire your glass carboys. I know, it won’t happen to you because you’re careful. Like riding a motorcycle, an accident is not a matter of if but when. I was incredibly lucky it wasn’t worse. We have sooooo many options available now that we’ve never had as homebrewers before. Stainless buckets & conicals, loads of better plastic options. When I started this adventure glass was an awesome upgrade from my plastic buckets. But a plastic bucket never gave me stitches. Let em go folks, it’s time!

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Glad you’re ok, never used, only bucket but two reason in my country we don’t use those glass carboy and I fear glass I knocking the things and shard of glass everywhere.

[coolman26]

My wife just stitched up a lady that was making wine. She picked up an empty with the neck handle. Got her foot and ankle. I never understood that dang handle anyway. I still use the 4 of mine occasionally. I only use those for my ipa beers. All others still go in 15 gallon plastic barrels. I’m buying stainless soon, just can’t decide which model. I do love my plastic I must say.

[ahgrafx]

Wow I actually just purchased my first large fermenters and this makes me regret it, I have a batch going in a 6.5gal fermenter I am going to be extremely careful draining and probably get rid of them. What’s the next best option to not interoffice any off flavors plastic and metal scares me for my cider.

[reverseapachemaster]

I’m still using the same bucket I bought for my first beer eleven years ago with no plastic off flavors and I have HDPE carboys nearly the same age and same thing. Unless you abuse plastic with inappropriate chemicals or melt them you shouldn’t have off flavors. An enormous amount of food is transported and sold in HDPE containers.

[denny]

@ahgrafx

Wow I actually just purchased my first large fermenters and this makes me regret it, I have a batch going in a 6.5gal fermenter I am going to be extremely careful draining and probably get rid of them. What’s the next best option to not interoffice any off flavors plastic and metal scares me for my cider.

Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk

I’ve used plastic for many batches of cider…no problem.  I’ve also used SS.  Why does metal scare you?

[Semper_Sitientem]

True. But food containers are not meant for indefinite use. All materials break down And leach over time from use, UV, etc. IMO taste is probably not a good test to determine condition.

[fredthecat]

Glad that you’re okay OP. Lessons learned are valuable. I’ve dropped panes of glass and had them shatter. Wife screaming at me for hours was worse than my finger cuts.

@MattyAHA

i agree glass is dangerous and out dated, the selection of ss buckets and other plastic fermenters out there provide us much better options but if you are gonna use a glass carboy use a milk crate with it, dont handle esp full carboys with your bare hands duder, its only a matter of time, sorry you got hurt dude

Good addition. I think I’m going to set up some protective stuff for them now. I’m tired of worrying about them while carrying.

Anyone? I have not had good experiences with plastic carboys. I just perceived that the beer was staler. Any opinions? That’s why I’ve always gone with glass.

[denny]

@fredthecat

Glad that you’re okay OP. Lessons learned are valuable. I’ve dropped panes of glass and had them shatter. Wife screaming at me for hours was worse than my finger cuts.

@MattyAHA

i agree glass is dangerous and out dated, the selection of ss buckets and other plastic fermenters out there provide us much better options but if you are gonna use a glass carboy use a milk crate with it, dont handle esp full carboys with your bare hands duder, its only a matter of time, sorry you got hurt dude

Good addition. I think I’m going to set up some protective stuff for them now. I’m tired of worrying about them while carrying.

Anyone? I have not had good experiences with plastic carboys. I just perceived that the beer was staler. Any opinions? That’s why I’ve always gone with glass.

I think it’s equally likely it’s confirmation bias, unless you tested it with a split batch.

[Lazy_Ant_Brewing]

@EnkAMania

I knew from the beginning that I’m too big of a clutz to be trusted with glass.

^^^^^^ Me Too!

[fredthecat]

@denny

@fredthecat

Glad that you’re okay OP. Lessons learned are valuable. I’ve dropped panes of glass and had them shatter. Wife screaming at me for hours was worse than my finger cuts.

@MattyAHA

i agree glass is dangerous and out dated, the selection of ss buckets and other plastic fermenters out there provide us much better options but if you are gonna use a glass carboy use a milk crate with it, dont handle esp full carboys with your bare hands duder, its only a matter of time, sorry you got hurt dude

Good addition. I think I’m going to set up some protective stuff for them now. I’m tired of worrying about them while carrying.

Anyone? I have not had good experiences with plastic carboys. I just perceived that the beer was staler. Any opinions? That’s why I’ve always gone with glass.

I think it’s equally likely it’s confirmation bias, unless you tested it with a split batch.

I remember now, I used PET carboy style containers about 21litres in size that were designed to be used to store fruit liqueurs. Could have been confirmation bias, but I had one or two glass ones and one or two of these PET plastic ones. I think I will buy a branded better bottle one and give it a shot again. Tired of carrying heavy glass anyway.