'Handy' airlock no vent holes??

[Tetsuo1981]

Hi all

Silly dumb question, about to put my first brew in awhile into my new brew fridge setup, just waiting for it to cool before pitching. Bought from ebay a small 'handy' type airlock as my big bubble ones won't fit in the fridge. The top part clips on but there doesn't seem to be any way for the CO2 to vent once it bubbles out if thst makes sense. I'm sure others of this type have small holes on the flat lid. Will this be OK or do I need to dig my dremel out?

Cheers

 

[terrym]

If you have one of these below, CO2 goes up the central tube , then down, then up then leaves at the top. Look hard and you will work it out. Honest!

 

[Tetsuo1981]

If you have one of these below, CO2 goes up the central tube , then down, then up then leaves at the top. Look hard and you will work it out. Honest!

Cheers for that! Think it's just pre-game jitters. And probably over thinking it!! Just seemed to be nowhere for the gas to go once you click the top part in. But I suppose even the bubbly ones have a click on lid too. Here's what I've got (not filled it yet, waiting for temp to drop for pitching) I'm sure if you say it's all good I'm in safe hands. Thanks mate :thumba:

 

[kelper]

Is yours three part? Can't see from the photo. On mine, the lid clicks on but is not airtight and the lid has very small holes in it. Why don't you test yours by blowing through it?

 

[Tetsuo1981]

Is yours three part? Can't see from the photo. On mine, the lid clicks on but is not airtight and the lid has very small holes in it. Why don't you test yours by blowing through it?

It's a 2 part job, no holes but in fairness I bet its not submarine-airtight. Just paranoid that my first brew in a year is gonna be scuppered by pilot error! I would test it but the brews on in the new fridge and paranoia again, just want it to settle. Cheers for the help though

 

[Tetsuo1981]

Well that was a close call!! Got in from work to discover a very bulging FV and a very pressurised airlock!! Unclicked the lid and its calmed down now. Will definitely be taking a dremel to it once this brew is done or buying a replacement. Schoolboy error not checking thoroughly first!!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Well that was a close call!! Got in from work to discover a very bulging FV and a very pressurised airlock!!

You must have a dodgy one as all mine will still vent air if you hold he top firmly on and blow in the normal direction, to be honest mine do not click shut the top lays flush with the outer tube.

Skip to 56 seconds and you can see the top is flush and its venting.

 

[Tetsuo1981]

You must have a dodgy one as all mine will still vent air if you hold he top firmly on and blow in the normal direction, to be honest mine do not click shut the top lays flush with the outer tube.

Skip to 56 seconds and you can see the top is flush and its venting.

Yeah, I guess that's part of the joy of ebay. But I can't take away from the fact I didn't thoroughly test myself before going ahead. Hopefully the brew is all right and I'll modify it later

 

[foxbat]

When I used to use one of those I just left the top "unclicked". The bubble would lift the plastic bit up slightly in order to let itself out then it would fall back down. To be honest that's how I thought it was supposed to work!

 

[Tetsuo1981]

When I used to use one of those I just left the top "unclicked". The bubble would lift the plastic bit up slightly in order to let itself out then it would fall back down. To be honest that's how I thought it was supposed to work!

That might be the case but I'm not sure. Positive I've seen variants with these with tiny little holes in them. And my bubble ones had clip on lids and never had a problem venting. Still not sure if a dodgy airlock or pilot error. Will be modifying it once fermentation is over

 

[Chippy_Tea]

When I used to use one of those I just left the top "unclicked". The bubble would lift the plastic bit up slightly in order to let itself out then it would fall back down. To be honest that's how I thought it was supposed to work!

That is how I use mine as you say the bubble lifts the lid but never enough to cause problems, I only put enough water in to cover the bottom of the inner tube which keeps the lift to a minimum, I do not use airlocks on my FV I prefer to use a blow off tube.

 

[Tetsuo1981]

That is how I use mine as you say the bubble lifts the lid but never enough to cause problems, I only put enough water in to cover the bottom of the inner tube which keeps the lift to a minimum, I do not use airlocks on my FV I prefer to use a blow off tube.

Funnily enough I'd made a blow off tube from a bottle from poundland. Was only when I saw this one on ebay for a quid or so I thought what the hell. And I quite like the bubbling water when it really gets going! Maybe I'll try this next time. But should I drill vent holes in the lid???

 

[Chippy_Tea]

But should I drill vent holes in the lid???

This is mine the blu-tac stops any bugs getting in, i don't try to make it airtight so i have no problem with CO2 not getting out.

 

[Tetsuo1981]

This is mine the blu-tac stops any bugs getting in, i don't try to make it airtight so i have no problem with CO2 not getting out.

That looks good. But again paranoia (my old friend!) make me think I can't trust the 'not 100% airtightness' of my contraption (which is where I fell down with my ebay airlock) so I might stick a teeny hole in my lid just to be on the safe side!!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I can't trust the 'not 100% airtightness' of my contraption

You cannot make it 100% airtight or the CO2 would not be able to escape, as long as there is enough of a gap to allow CO2 out it'll be fine i don't mean leave a gaping holes all you need is a very small gap.

 

[Drunkula]

Twist a rubber band around the stem and loop it over the top with the handy airlocks. I've had the top bit blow out loads of times and you've then just got a pipe to the sky.

 

[Banbeer]

I have 3 of these in use and they cause me no problems at all, I put the Videne mixture in it and put the lid on, never had one blow the lid off or not bubble, easy way to see if it's working press the lid of the FV and it should bubble

 

[Chippy_Tea]

If you are having issues with the top blowig off try only putting enough fluid in to just cover the end of the inner tube.

 

[DavidDetroit]

That is an interesting two-piece airlock. First time I've seen one. If the lid is snapped tight (not left loose as some have mentioned), the CO2 will still escape by seeping through said lid?
The three-piece which does have holes in the lid and a floating "bell" seems a little easier to work with.

 

[DavidDetroit]

press the lid of the FV

Since you push CO2 out when checking, when the lid returns to its original shape, won't it be air that is pulled in to replace the CO2 just pressed out?