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I have been using a standard fermenter for about 3 years, replaced the main rubber ring seal once & I read on this forum that for a nice tight seal smear on a little vaseline. Beautie, it worked! When it was time to bottle, I discovered that the lid was sealed so tight that all manner of grunting & straining wouldn't shift it. I have resorted to a hammer & screwdriver and managed to smashed off a couple of plastic lugs on the lids without shifting the lid itself at all.
Is it time for a new frementer? Any suggestions welcome, especially from vaseline man.
TIA
Al

If you still have two lugs left, that are opposite each other try this. Get a 1/2 metre length of 20 mm square metal tube, or maybe timber. Place it across the lid so you engage both lugs at the same time, and twist off. Applying pressure on both sides of the lid should have more success. (Assuming you have the same 30 litre fermenter as me, where 4 lugs protrude from the top)

If you don't have two lugs opposite, you could drive some screws into the wood to engage the lugs that sit below the surface of the lid.

Apart from that, you could try getting a tea towel really hot in boiling water, place on the lid, and hopefully the heat will expand the lid (melt the vaseline?) and you can twist off. Good Luck.

yeah!! upside down in laundry tub of hot water worked almost instantly. thanks heaps
Al

Mine gets stuck sometimes as well. I use a bit of boiling water in the lid. Let stand for a few minutes then soak it out and the lid slides right off.

Turning a fully fermented brew upside down sounds dangerous! Pour those bottles nice and slow

I didn't realise you already had the beer out. Anyway, glad you have the lid off

Good thing too, imagine the mess!

clingwrap.

The whole thread summed up in one word.

Respect, Ryan

I couldnt agree more.....

Clingwrap.

Pail.

Maybe it's a silly question, but how exactly does the CO2 get out when using cling wrap?

Pin hole.

Cheers,
Greg

The Carbonator wrote:The whole thread summed up in one word.

Respect, Ryan

I couldnt agree more.....

Clingwrap.

I`m still looking for the xtra wide wrap you told me was at Coles

yardglass wrote:Pail.

I was goin to say that Yardy but didn't want to start the whole debate again

I bet Lethal just itching to put in his 2c

Pails are by far better. I`ve got four and only use the clingwrap on my 15l. I have to say the clingwrap is a great idea tho

Heals wrote:Maybe it's a silly question, but how exactly does the CO2 get out when using cling wrap?

with or without a pinhole, it will leak out. it's not like you've got an air compressor behind it after all, it's just slow CO2 production by the yeast.

the positive pressure from it also prevents air from backfeeding into it.

unless fermentation is VERY finished and it gets a severe temperature drop, it shouldn't suck air back in.

Yeah, no pin hole here and it works no worries.

Rysa wrote:Yeah, no pin hole here and it works no worries.

I enjoy the comfort of the blup blup of my airlocks, plus it is much easier to bottle through the airlock without letting nasties fall into the fermentor (unless you have the old S shaped airlocks, then I suggest getting the good ones or using clingwrap.

Kevnlis wrote:I enjoy the comfort of the blup blup of my airlocks, plus it is much easier to bottle through the airlock without letting nasties fall into the fermentor (unless you have the old S shaped airlocks, then I suggest getting the good ones or using clingwrap.

What do you mean by bottle through the airlock?
What other type of airlock is there other than the S bend airlock?

Ive always taken my air lock out when im bottling so the water doesnt get sucked in the brew. I just put a clean cap of a jar of some sought over it

I have to give the cling wrap ago. Busted a lid a couple weeks ago

Kevnlis wrote:

Rysa wrote:Yeah, no pin hole here and it works no worries.

I enjoy the comfort of the blup blup of my airlocks, plus it is much easier to bottle through the airlock without letting nasties fall into the fermentor (unless you have the old S shaped airlocks, then I suggest getting the good ones or using clingwrap.

or you can take the airlock out before bottling