Best DIY airlock

[labrewski]

Just about to do a kit this morning when I noticed my air lock is smashed got crushed accidentally I seen people using tubes and jars what other methods are handy to put together

 

[terrym]

Airlocks are useful but not essential, especially since if you have a leak between the lid and the FV itself they are as useful as a chocolate teapot. So until you get chance to get hold of another airlock, tape over the hole in the FV, and just slightly crack the lid to let out the fermentation CO2.

 

[Ghillie]

Just about to do a kit this morning when I noticed my air lock is smashed got crushed accidentally I seen people using tubes and jars what other methods are handy to put together

Blow off tube is about as good as you're going to get.

Terry is right though, shouldn't be an O2 issue if you leave the lid cracked and don't disturb the FV at all. CO2 will sink on top of the beer and not allow O2 to come in contact.

 

[Clint]

There's nothing to beat a full on bubbling blow off bottle!

 

[The Baron]

There's nothing to beat a full on bubbling blow off bottle!

Thought they were illegal Clint

 

[Cwrw666]

Remove airlock remains, shove in a wad of cotton wool. All you need.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

How to make a blow off tube https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-make-a-blow-off-tube.48970/

 

[labrewski]

Sound lads thanks I'll go with Terry I think

 

[Dutto]

I recommend a Blow-Off system because some air-locks just can't cope; and this is what can happen if you don't use a bottle big enough!

I had the tube in a 500ml bottle when it decided to bubble over! The other one, to the right if the photograph, is into a 1 litre bottle and (so far) I've not had any problems with a reservoir this size.

A few tips are:

1. Use at least a 1 litre bottle.
2. Only put a minimum amount of liquid in the bottle - I use about 1.5cm. (Deeper = Greater Back Pressure)
3. Use a non-foaming liquid. (I use a 50:50 Water/Thin Bleach mixture.)
4. To reduce the chances of too lively a start to a brew, start it off at the minimum fermentation temperature for the yeast and then increase it to the desired fermentation temperature over the next two or three days.
5. Use the Blow-Off system to check that fermentation has finished by slowly raising the tube. If fermentation is still active then CO2 gas will bubble from the tube as it is raised.

Finally, as already pointed out above, the FV may leak so much CO2 that you never even see a bubble! I have had many brews that do this and the only indication I have that fermentation is taking place, is when a layer of yeast becomes visible through the side of the FV.

 

[labrewski]

This is a really good kit I have was one of my best if not the best so I'm scared to try anything different if I covered the airlock hole in tape and put some pin holes in it do you think it would be ok I'm worried about trying anything else

 

[terrym]

This is a really good kit I have was one of my best if not the best so I'm scared to try anything different if I covered the airlock hole in tape and put some pin holes in it do you think it would be ok I'm worried about trying anything else

If you can't get an airlock soonest, you either do what I suggested, or @Cwrw666, or try to put together a blow off tube using the airlock if the bit that goes into the lid is serviceable, or your pinhole idea which might be OK
But whatever you do your beer will turn out fine and its not worth getting worried or scared about it.

 

[Richie_asg1]

One I spotted was a tube to a sports bottle - that already has the straw inside it. Just need a bit of water then and leave the lid unscrewed a bit.

The safety bungs I have used on DJ's are nothing more than a few small holes under a flat rubber washer, so I suppose a flat piece of rubber over the airlock hole and a weight on it would do the same thing. -One way flap valve.

 

[An Ankoù]

All good suggestions above. Or just invert a glass over the hole.

 

[labrewski]

Mmmmm ankou simple but maybe very effective Terry judging by the stuff I've read belong to u I reckon u are a master home brewer at this stage and believe everything u say so tomorrow I will make a final decision thanks for all info lads

 

[terrym]

Mmmmm ankou simple but maybe very effective Terry judging by the stuff I've read belong to u I reckon u are a master home brewer at this stage and believe everything u say so tomorrow I will make a final decision thanks for all info lads

There are lots of people on this forum who know as much about brewing as me and many of them much more. But we all bring something different. When you are just starting out you just have to be prepared to try new things which you might feel uneasy about, and you will make mistakes along the way, we all do, but all the time you are gaining experience and making choices which suits you best, and the outcome will be you increasingly gain confidence in what you are doing. Certainly I am still learning and trying new things even though I have been brewing my own beer over a period of 50 years. However nothing in brewing is worth losing any sleep over since there are far more important things in all of our lives which need our attention (believe it or not!)