StillSmart

Hi guys

I've just ended up making an open airlock, or not an airlock if you please.
After all, most turbos suggest fermenting without an airlock!

I was drilling a hole in a bucket lid when had a female moment with the drill, my step drill suddenly cut the hole several sizes too big!!

It was however a good size hole for a demijohn bung, and having seen how some of our American counterparts use just a tube, I decided to make something similar.

I pushed some beer line into the holed demijohn bung and coiled it up holding it together with some cable ties.







I'm going to use this lid for the first 24-48hours of a new wash, then swap it for one with an airlock that fits.

Put the open end of the pipe into a glass or bottle of water, the perfect seal.

That's not a bad idea,it would be a determined little bug that got into your brew via that.
I rely on a loose fitting lid,but last week little flies were seemingly lifting it to go for a swim!
Robert.

I've just put it to work for the first time on a lentle wash, it's in my fermenting fridge so it's pretty well sealed from the outside world.

I've also took a litre of the wash and over pitched it to make a starter for my other wash that's seemingly stalled, it's been going for 2 weeks and is still at 1.010SG

It was a Tripple Still yeast, and they normally finish in a week but this ones been a pain, I pitched more yeast on it last week but it didn't last long, I suspect it's run out of nutrients so it can have some lentle soup this time :-)

I've fermented without an airlock for years, just a loose fitting lid is fine. If you're having trouble with beasties getting in, then a clean tea town over the opening, then the lid, will act as a breathable gasket.

As YBH, said, a bit of tube in a jam jar full of water is also a good option if your fermenter lid seals airtight.

I have never used an airlock. I even encourage airborne yeasts. Never had a problem.

RumJohn wrote:I have never used an airlock.

Ditto.