Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I have just done a TFFV in a 60L plastic drum...
Have had it covered with tea towel for first 24 hours and now putting put lid on with air locks, locking ring and discovered it is not sealing....air locks are not bubbling. There is nothing wrong with the ferment as it is bubbling away nicely. The lid doesn't have an o-ring, just a plastic strip, similar to the inside of glass jar lids. Any ideas on how to seal properly?

I wouldn't worry about sealing it mate, it'll be fine as is. I just sit the lid on top of my 250 litre fermentegg and stick my ear up to the side to listen for activity rather than relying on an airlock. I take samples to check the SG every few days and when I get the same value on consecutive readings, it's done.

You might be able to find a catering roll of cling wrap that's wide enough if you're worried, my last infection was most likely from bugs crawling in

Couple times around with some duct tape under the clamp may work too

I have the same drums man, mine never sealed properly from day 1. I didn't worry about it though as the lid is just there to keep dust and bugs out really. In my case dog hair as well.

I ahd the same drums at one stage and they didnt seal.
I ran a couple of layers of electrical tape around the "join" and that sealed it we enough to start the airlock bubbling :handgestures-thumbupleft:

thanks all...

Put a plastic bag over the top to keep the ants out.

Packaging cling wrap. Cheap as chips and will provide a better seal than anything else. Has an added bonus of providing a nice big window to see how active your fermente is over time. It is all I have ever used.

ThePaterPiper wrote:Packaging cling wrap. Cheap as chips and will provide a better seal than anything else. Has an added bonus of providing a nice big window to see how active your fermente is over time. It is all I have ever used.

how does it vent? Do you put pin holes in the wrap?

Spot on! Just a couple of pinholes is plenty and nothing will crawl in against the pressure of the escaping co2

No need for cling wrap just put a plastic bag over the closed drum and tie to the drum or use elastic .

I prefer to not have bugs mice rats lizard possums or the neighbours kids end up in my fermenter and like to use an air lock. If you wanted to make a gasket its fairly easy. Buy some 100% silicone from bunnings (it should either say food grade or 100% silicone on the tube. My bunnings has it.) If you want you could put couple narrow notchs around the rim for relocating the gasket after it has been removed.

Then apply a very thin layer of vaseline(you could also use mould release wax/bee's or canubra wax). to both the mating surfaces ( this acts as a release agent and stops the silicone sticking to the plastic). Then a good thick strip of the silicone. Apply a little weight so it bulges the silicone a little but you dont want to squeeze all the silicone out from between the parts so once dry you are left with a nice thick gasket with a mark you can line up each time you need to remove then replace it..

I would leave it 4 full days to make sure the silicone is properly cured before separating the parts.
This should leave you with a moderately tough gasket that seals well. I would prob aim for 3-5mm thick but this will depend on the locking mechanism on your drum..