Heavy lifting.

[Timberwolf]

Hi, I am beginning to struggle when lifting a full 5 gallon fermenter or bucket off the floor onto the counter top. I wondered how other people lift their full containers. I have been looking to see if there is some kind of mobile lift or hoist that could lift a bucket or fermenter about three feet high, like a large car or lorry jack or small hoist.

 

[dad_of_jon]

I have the same problem so I'm brewing 21 litres max now. I put my FV in a large trug and drag it across the floor using a leather belt. So I only have to do a short distance lift. but in future I may have to split a brew into 2 fv's as i'd have nowhere to store a mobile hoist.

Manual 150KG Scissor Lift Table

 

[Galena]

If you have a solid point on the ceiling to attach to then a simple rope block and tackle might surfice

 

[MickDundee]

Mass lifts mass so I suggest you gain a couple of stone by drinking plenty of Homebrew.

 

[Buffers brewery]

As I brew in the back garden and about 10 metres from my brew fridge, I’ve mounted my FV on a trolley so I can push it to the shed, 10” lift into the shed then push to the brew fridge.

I still have to lift/struggle with the FV onto my brew fridge chute.

This thread has got me thinking. So, as I have 2 FVs, I’m going to sanitise both on brew day. Put one on my fridge chute and the other in the garden with my brew kit. Transfer wort into FV1 and move to shed. Using my circulating pump and hose from brew kit (already sanitised) I can transfer the wort from FV1 to FV2. Add yeast to wort in FV2 and slide into fridge. No lifting!

 

[terrym]

Unless you are doing full volume kits why not just brew less? 15 litres is still a worthwhile volume to brew for extract and AG. And even with kits there's always the option of splitting a two can Woodefords kit option to brew 11 litres, or brewing a 1.5kg can with only 500g extras and brewing to a 15 litres or thereabouts. Whatsmore you can still use your 25litre FVs.

 

[An Ankoù]

Unless you are doing full volume kits why not just brew less? 15 litres is still a worthwhile volume to brew for extract and AG. And even with kits there's always the option of splitting a two can Woodefords kit option to brew 11 litres, or brewing a 1.5kg can with only 500g extras and brewing to a 15 litres or thereabouts. Whatsmore you can still use your 25litre FVs.

Quite so. Most of my brews, now are 12 litres as I tend to brew more than I can drink, even with my best efforts. When I do brew a full batch I have to lift the fermenter onto the "racking bench" which is kitchen work-surface height. Hope to be able to manage it for a few more years yet, but there was a time when dodgy knees made it very difficult.
But look at it this way: if you're brewing full 5 gallon batches, then you must be sharing some of it. If your mates can't pop round to give you a hand with the lifting, now and then, they deserve to go thirsty. Don't know how @Clint manages, though. I sometimes get the impression he's a bit averse to sharing.

 

[Banbeer]

Can you not place the FV on the work top and then using a two step step ladder or similar fill it and leave it?

 

[An Ankoù]

Can you not place the FV on the work top and then using a two step step ladder or similar fill it and leave it?

Nice thought, but no. I brew outside and then bring the full FV indoors. I'm not struggling too much yet, perhaps in another 10 years or so, I might have to rethink. In any case, I'd still have to lift the secondary FV after racking so I could bottle. Everythings gravity-fed here and gravity sucks!

 

[Banbeer]

Nice thought, but no. I brew outside and then bring the full FV indoors.

It was a suggestion for @Timberwolf

 

[foxbat]

I use a wheeled scissor lift (ebay/amazon) and a piece of aluminium checker-plate that's about twice the size of the top of the lift. I can use it to bridge gaps and just slide my fermenter in and out of the brew fridge and on and off table tops.

 

[Andy_K]

If you have a solid point on the ceiling to attach to then a simple rope block and tackle might surfice

I’ve used the same method as you.

Not much use if you brew outside or in a nice kitchen but if you‘re a shed or garage brewer, it’s perfect. I have a chest freezer for my brew fridge, so a lot of heavy lifting for a 25l batch.

I bought a Mannesman block & tackle for about £10 and fixed it to the garage ceiling with an offcut of 4 x 2 with 4 long screws into 3 of the ceiling joists. I then attached an old length of sliding door track. It’s rock solid and works like a dream. I can lift a full FV easily out of the chest freezer and then slide it across to drop it down to either the floor or my table. The only modification was to replace the nylon rope that originally came with the block & tackle with some decent cord. (The nylon kept twisting and was rubbish).