StillSmart

I have for a long long time made all my small 25l fermentations in/near my airing cupboard. Which means I lug them up & down stairs - this has to stop.
A brew fridge I just don't have space for..... so I have come up with an alternative.
My larger fermentations always use electric blankets very successfully.

So... The TrashMash fermenter was borne of the two ideas, for use in the brew shed.
Stand the fermenter in the bin, slide a single electric blanket in the gap.
Use the lid and blanket controller to maintain temp.


Trials start this week.

Any thoughts/comments ?

Ingenious!!

Wow... can't remember the last time I saw an electric blanket... my mum had one...

inspector gadget wrote:Wow... can't remember the last time I saw an electric blanket... my mum had one...

Peanuts on ebay - I have 3 for my wine fermentations. The lot stand me at £20.

Should work a treat...can't see why not.

Insulate around the outside of the trashcan and jobs a goodun,

I have a double also a single electric blanket for the winter around the fermenters in the shed, works very well

great idea Mash,

Do you find it needs insulation as well, or just in the depths on winter?

in the shed I always cover the electric blanket with an old thick curtain or two on real cold frosty nights, makes it really cosy for the yeasties,


if fermenting in a unheated house room maybe no need to insulate that set up

I do see some problems with observing where you are with racking off with your proposed set up.
But guess a decent torch will help.

Robert.

That was a very timely solution to a looming problem I have Mash. Thank you very much.

Leccy blankets are cheap enough, now on the outlook for a trash bin with enough clearance to accommodate fermenter with tap.

Easydrinker wrote:I do see some problems with observing where you are with racking off with your proposed set up.
But guess a decent torch will help.

Robert.

Ferment on the floor. I lift it out and onto the bench for racking.

packapoo wrote:
Leccy blankets are cheap enough, now on the outlook for a trash bin with enough clearance to accommodate fermenter with tap.

An 80l bin should do it. I found the cheapest was Wickes £12

However... Do you bottle beer? If so get a 100/110l, it has enough room for 2nd ferment of 40 bottles.

Oh boy! Getting in deeper and deeper....Softly, softly...

Actually found 80l bin today to be just as you said so all good.

Squint wrote:in the shed I always cover the electric blanket with an old thick curtain or two on real cold frosty nights, makes it really cosy for the yeasties,


if fermenting in a unheated house room maybe no need to insulate that set up

Just re-read this. I have done that in the past. In fact i am running my wine like that.

The idea here is slightly different, fermenter wrapped in leccy blanket inside a trashcan. Do you think this would need a blanket outside the trashcan too?

Who said blokes are not touchy feely?

The way that some of you treat your washes, you are coming across as really caring peoples.

Robert.