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G'day.
I think that I've accidentaly stripped the thread on my coopers fermenter where the tap attaches. This has lead to a compromise of the seal and leaking of beer.
Is there any way I can permanently fuse the tap to the fermenter in such a way that will minimise the possibility of infection? Or, if that's not viable, does anyonw know of any way to solve my problem?
My tap still screws in but it will spontaneously loosen. So far I have had a bit of temporary success with wrapping the thead on the tap in teflon/plumbers tape (testing it out with water).

I already have a second fermenter (to bulk prime/rack to secondry) but this is essentially putting me back to a single fermenter

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Simon.

I think I did this the other day (overtightening the tap so it was the right way up), couple of drops have fallen out of my lager but seems to be holding ok for the time being :/

Look at it as a blessing in disguise and lash out and buy a pail fermenter

I think its a bit of a lost cause, since even if you were able to silicon it in from both sides with perfect seals, it would still be very difficult to clean inside past the sediment reducer (if you have one).

Fear not though, for you can get a 30L replacement with tap, lid, airlock etc from Brewcraft stores for around $45. You can here in SA at least, dont know if that particular deal is being offered nation-wide. They did have it on sale for $30 a couple months back with a free Tooheys tin (which is when i bought it) but not anymore. You can buy just the fermenter with no bits for $33.

Forget Brewcraft for price, it should only set you back $35 with all the fittings for a pail, tap, lid.
Try e-bay for a cheap pail they go all the time for $20 or less.
I picked up 2 pails (1 new) plus capper,books,bag of crowns, all the trimmings for $47.

I think you old one is stuffed.
If you didn't over do it you might try plumbers thread tape.

i too thought i had stripped the thread on my fermentor awhile back. but it turned out to be the thread on the tap that i had damaged.. $1.50 (bunnings) later & all was good

Bunnings may be worth a look for a new fermenter. In the Lifestyle/Camping/outdoor section they have 25L water containers that look alot like a carboy.

Cheers,
Greg.

gregb wrote:Bunnings may be worth a look for a new fermenter. In the Lifestyle/Camping/outdoor section they have 25L water containers that look alot like a carboy.

Cheers,
Greg.

i have 2 of them $16 each & they work fine

love your work db !

Let me second the Bunnings idea. All my fermenters are from either Bunnings or Kmart.

Practise has taught me that a 13mm drill bit will get you a hole just big enough for a standard airlock and grommet.

I've a new pail with no airlock so I'll drill that one 13mm.
The tap hole is there with the thread but is blocked by the inside plastic wall. IYKWIM.
I guess this is how the HB shop gets them before they punch the hole out.
Anyone know the best/proper way to do this?

drilling it should be fine, if you want to do a really good job of it:
get an old tap, or lash out and buy a new one, then cut the "tap" end off, leaving what is basically a piece of tube with a thread on the end of it. Screw this into the fermentor, then drill thru the tube with a bit that is a nice close fit in the tube. Remove the tube and discard. remove the plastic swarf with a larger drill bit (by hand only) from the inside and outside.
This should give you the largest hole possible, for good flow, without damaging the female thread.

Cheers for the guide John boy

Silk

thanks for the help guys.
John, how do you initially screw the tap into the plastic of the fermenter?

cheers.

Simo,
Silkworm said "the tap hole is there with the thread..." if you only have a fermentor with a blank hole near the bottom, then thats a different story. You may need to cut the female thread with a special tool, called a "tap"...sorry if that sounds confusing, but the tool is really called a tap. Maybe you mean something else...

Simo,

One of my fermenters leaks very slightly if the tap is facing downward in the correct position (I'm talking only a few drops per brew).

What I do is tighten it a bit further while fermentation is taking place, then turn it to the correct position when I bottle.

This might solve all your problems, unless you really have stuffed it!

Oliver

Tipsy wrote:Look at it as a blessing in disguise and lash out and buy a pail fermenter

Simo,

is it really worth all the drama? I'd put it down, say a few nice words and move on.

2 bobs worth
yardy