Suitability of Hop and Grape 60L Buckets As Boilers

[Aleman]

Just been passed this information regarding Hop and Grape 60L Buckets

Thanks for your enquiry.

Around the middle of last year we were told that HK Plastics had changed the design of their 60litre buckets to give a stronger, more rigid top. We asked for and received some samples. The first thing I noticed, apart from the re-designed top was how light the buckets felt.

I drilled one to take an element and tap and found that the thickness of the body was reduced, from 3mm down to 2mm. I filled one and set it heating. When boiling it was a lot softer and the tap, when pushed from side-to-side, distorted the bucket and felt that it might pull through the plastic very easily. Patsy and I were considerably disturbed by this and as responsible retailers felt that we could not use these as boilers.

We bought up all the original stock we could find and continued to make boilers whilst informing people that the new design was, in our opinion, not suitable.

A few days ago I had some stainless reinforcing plates made to strengthen the tap hole, which worked but the body of the bucket still felt very soft and dangerous.

The situation now is that after I make the current orders, we will not be able to supply our 10gallon boilers unless I can find a suitable substitute. I have tried and better tried to find a suitable alternative, but with no success, although we will continue looking.

I am sure you can imagine that we have not taken this decision lightly but as responsible retailers we have no choice. Anyone converting these new-style buckets into boilers do so at their own risk, we strongly do not recommend this and will not accept any responsibility in this regard.

I hope that this makes everything clear and you may forward this to Jim's forum if you wish,

Kind Regards,

John

 

[prolix]

to the buckets

and :thumb: responsible attitude from John and Patsy

 

[Wez]

Yep, very responsible shop keeping!

 

[jamesb]

I have to agree and am glad John and Patsy are doing that they are.

Problem is that the more flex in a system is that things can become loose especially with plastic fatigue and thinner plastics. You might be fine for x brews but if something goes on x+1 you could be in trouble. I hope an alternative supplier of suitable buckets can be found soon. The boilers made with these buckets by various homebrew shops are fantastic value and i don't want people to become discouraged by the price of any alternatives, or worse - end up injured.

I do see an alternative with the blue barrels though if someone stumps up for tooling for an HDPE piece to combat the curve in them.

Done on my mobile, apologier for breviety and spellink.

 

[Aleman]

Having first hand (literally!) experience of what happens when a tap does come out of a HK 60L bucket with 30L of boiling wort in it . . . I thought it was worth reposting that in its entirety from 'another' forum

 

[ilikerossi]

phew!, just ordered mine in time then

 

[rickthebrew]

I`ve just ordered and recieved one from here - http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... ckets.html how would i know if it was suitable for conversion?