Never used an airlock

[Bernie R]

I've made a lot of cider and wine over the years and I never use an air lock - I just us a plastic bag and a rubber band around the top of the container. I've never had a problem with this method., it keeps any infection out and allows the CO2 to escape easily.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Many members use cling film or put the lid on but don't snap it shut, as you say it's all about allowing CO2 out but nothing in, my stainless steel fermenter is 100% airtight so an airlock works fine (unlike on some cheap leaky FV's) but it's obviously not see through so I like to see bubbles in the airlock which tells me when it's slowing down or stopped.

 

[hoppyscotty]

Always good to utilise that co2 off gassing by purging corny kegs filled with starsan if you can.

 

[An Ankoù]

I've made a lot of cider and wine over the years and I never use an air lock - I just us a plastic bag and a rubber band around the top of the container. I've never had a problem with this method., it keeps any infection out and allows the CO2 to escape easily.

That's my preferred method. too, for demijohns. I use an airlock on plastic fermenting buckets and invert a pint glass over the airlock to keep the fruit flies out, otherwise I'll find two or three floating around. Even though I use 40% abv ethanol in my airlocks, I don't fancy the little blighters getting sucked into my beer.

 

[MashBag]

I use shower curtains, on my wine fermenters. And lid on my beer.