How often do you replace your FV's?

[Baldbrewer]

Hi all,
After listening to a brew network episode about fermenters, they said they change their FV buckets every 5 brews, now I'm still using my originals from last year roughly FV #1=10 brews & FV#2= 5 brews.
I'm fastidious with my cleaning regime but now I've looked FV#1 is looking a little scored.
Should I change it? If I continue to use it am I risking a bug fest?

All comments welcome, have a good brew weekend guys, : :thumb:

 

[calumscott]

Five brews?!?!?

Not bl**dy likely! I've got, erm, lots of them now and I'm pretty sure they've all seen more than five and each brew goes through usually two of them + a dedicated bottling bucket.

I don't see me replacing any of them unless I manage to hole one...

...I can't wait to see Barnsley's opinion on this.

 

[Baldbrewer]

Too true couldn't help thinking " well Jamil you probably get yours free!!!"

 

[Moley]

I'm fastidious with my cleaning regime but now I've looked FV#1 is looking a little scored.

Scored? What do you clean it with?

My 30 litre bucket is starting to look a little stained but it has been used for all sorts, multiple beers and the annual full bodied red wine. I try to avoid any abrasive cleaners unless absolutely essential, and I would say that on average my buckets last 2-3 years.

Regarding screw topped wine fermenters, I don't yet know their life expectancy as I only returned to this hobby in 2009.

 

[Baldbrewer]

I clean my FV's with diluted bleach and a nylon brush, no scourers it's the area where the Krausen sits, kinda like a rough matt finish to the plastic as apposed to a "Deep" scoring.

 

[RobWalker]

if it's damaged, heavily stained, and you're starting to become worried - it's worth buying ones. scratches/holes/staining = bacteria, smells, etc.

but honestly, I've never changed mine. it's nothing a bit of vwp and oxy can't fix. some of the crap that "pro" home brewers come out with really makes me laugh.

 

[hairybiker]

I think my oldest one is about 10, my newest is over 3. Thats YEARS not brews :
I only got the new one as I was in Wilko and they were selling it off for a few quid, never did find anything wrong with it :party:

I use the oldest as a hlt now, so really can't say it is still a FV

 

[PD]

into just over 18 months brewing........I'm on me 3rd set of fv's They are cheap enough and I'm always wanting buckets for cleaning bottle washing grains etc.
The only original one I am still using as a fermenter is the Coopers fermentor

 

[winelight]

oxyclean and cheap bleach and anything in them will be dead, I actually don't think I've ever replaced an FV, only bought new because I've moved, that kind of thing

 

[godfrey]

i guess they are just trying to convince themselves,
that they need to buy a shiny :hmm:

nowt wrong with plastic tub for t'brewing :hat:

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Mine are 5 yrs old..about 40 or so brews

 

[Wezzel]

Don't be a bunch of wusses. Mine are Boots ones. I bought them in 1986.

Never had an infection.

 

[Robbo]

oxyclean and cheap bleach and anything in them will be dead, I actually don't think I've ever replaced an FV, only bought new because I've moved, that kind of thing

Same here, I've had my fermenting tubs for around 5 years and oxyclean is really good for red berry brews, no need to scrub.

 

[hairybiker]

Don't be a bunch of wusses. Mine are Boots ones. I bought them in 1986.

Never had an infection.

I'm still using my Boots Alu barrel :thumb: Just getting cleaned at the moment for the next brew to go in it, just finished the brew in it last week, brew on today a nice Wildcat clone from MO's book. (I don't have the ebook :nah: )
I got an s30 valve fitted to it about 10 years ago and it sill gets used.