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Hello Im just new here too,

I have been using Wander fermentators and this is the second one that has split around the handle, they have such a short life span probably 5 years or 40 brews

I have put on lay by at K mart a cOopers kit for $54 does anyone else use them?? If so what is the quality of the plastic like? Hopefully I will pick it up Thursday and get a brew down for xmas, under no circumstances I will be drinking the relatives Hahn Ice(now thats cheap) this Xmas.

My friend had a beer makers fermantator which was better quality but his wife threw it out, bugger it

I'm using a Coopers and a Beermaster fermenter, both doing really well, good quality finish etc.

Just a comment though goatsby, only 40 brews in 5 years, you don't drink much do you! I'm flatout brewing at the moment do get a nice stockpile up, probably done 15 -20 brews in last three months.

in fact on the way out now to bottle my Ginger/apple brew, should be a winner, looks like being around 5%.

i have one from tooheys ( they look like the coopers one) and one from coopers.. all been doing well.. a mate of mine has been using wanders for a long long time.. and i never heard of him having a problem wiht it

goatsby,

I trust your friend is no longer married after that act of evil by his wife?

I've got two fermenters, a no-name one that was my first fermenter way back in 1997, and a Cooper's fermenter.

The no-name is still going strong, but the Cooper's fermenter is my favourite, a real beauty. Solid as a rock, with well-designed handles (kind of sloped upwards so your hands don't slip out) and marks in the plastic in one-litre increments that make brewing a beer less than 23 litres a breeze.

For $54 bucks for the entire kit you can't go wrong. A great fermenter, 30 plastic bottles (although the merits of these are debatable), hydrometer, pack of carbonation drops, can of lager concentrate and brew booster (and probably some other stuff that I've forgotten). See our review of the kit at http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/productreviews.html.

Two things about prolonging the life of your fermenter: Firstly, don't use a scourer or anything that could scratch it. Scratches provide places from which microbes can breed and launch an attack on your sweet wort. I use a Selleys Wash-Up Wiz. See http://www.selleys.com.au/itemDisplay.aspx?ItemID=90

Also, be careful not to cross-thread the lid. It's easy to do with the Cooper's fermenter.

Cheers,

Oliver

or cross thread the tap thread.. i started a brew on saturday & popped the b@$tard on my tooheys fermenter (its only done around 20 brews). the bugger of a thing is spinning around freely (still yet to check if its the thread on the ferm or the tap itself).. it's not leaking but its gonna make bottling fun

i picked up a 2nd fermenter at bunnings for $16. + $3 (i think) for a tap.. i find its just as good as the tooheys 1.. just lacks the litre markers.

db,

don;t throw out the fermenter if you ruined the thread. the thread area can be drilled out and a two piece tap can be inserted. this is basically a tap with a longer thread which has a nut on the inside of the fermentor.

My local HBS - in Greensborough and Heidelberg have them.

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Still love the Coopers fermenter but have just been given another three.
2 pail type and one carboy.
The non Coopers carboy has a solid black lid so I have earmarked this for cider production.
can only fit three units on my brewbench so I have a reserve.
As I said in an earlier post the bucket type are bloody easier to clean.
My daughters boyfriend also brews so the extras come in very handy.
Was given a u beaut capper yesterday(Italian job) which knocks the shite out of my homemade one.
I reckon there must be loads of blokes out there that bought all the gear then did one brew that might have been a bit ordinary and gave the game away.I love the Freebies!!!!!!!
If we wait long enough I think we will pick up a bottle tree and rinser.
Just started a Coopers Pale Ale and bunged in a brew enhancer so will be interested in result.

I'm curious about the capper your mentioned

I've just got a little hammering capper which cost me 5 bucks.

Is there a reason why people go to those bench cappers? Are they really that much better, or is there a danger of having bottles smash in your hands with the hammer or something

Back on topic, i've got a coopers kit fermentor, only used it once so I really don't have a comparison, but i wanted to stay on topic, it seems good from what i've seen

Kozzi go to the main site http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/

then equip. the subheading capper. click on the link for bench capper, which has a picture.

I made one at home using the cup from a hand capper, similar to the picture and it works a treat. beats smashing at glass bottles with a hammer.

Hand cappers have the risk of smashing bottles, particulariy if you don't hold it straight.

Safety tips - undo the screw holding the cup onto the hanlde. get a jam jar lid, put a hole in the middle and use it as an oversize washer bwteen the handle and cup and wear a glove on the hand holding the capper

Here's the link to the capper.

http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/pics/superautomatica.gif

It's a Superautomatica, made in Italy. They cost about $A60-$A70, but are worth every cent.

It's superb. I'd actually put it down as one of the best bits of equipment you can upgrade to.

Cheers,

Oliver

Well I finally have the Coopers kit in my paws now, and I must say it is a ripper.

I,m no expert in plastics but the finish and strenght looks twice as good as Wander fermentator. Probably the best piece of capital equipment for the homebrewer>

As for plastic bottles, yes I am going to bottle a few. These will be very handy for Australian football League matches (well you drink out of plastic there anyways and spill half of it) I intend to put a Bunderberg Ginger Beer label on the plastic bottles and if questioned (which they dont at Geelong as most of the gatekeepers are supplementing the pension) I just say its ginger beer!, so that will save a lot from the outrageous beer prices at the footy, If beer prices at the footy where linked to the CPI Australia would have a inflation rate comparable to a South American country.

Also a nice review Oliver, it had everything I needed to know and yes I would reccomend the Coopers Kit to newbies too. I havnt tried the carbonation drops before, but they seem easy. I think you may have been a bit harsh on Lisa, the girl on the Coopers video, but at least she permits homebrewing at her place < which is nmore than i can say for my mates wife who GAVE AWAY his Beer Makers fermentator and can't remeber WHO TO!, which necisstated this capital equipment purchase.

BPJ, Is the Greensborough HBS still open? I've tried calling it several times over the last week and it rings out.

Hello, All.
A newbie from Canada here.
Has anyone had any problems with the plastic Coopers fermenters.
Originally I thought I had a problem with the O ring. Now it seems the threads are screwed ( Canadian humor )
Any help greatly appreciated.

Nathan
I went past Greensborough HBS today, turns out it is closed on Monday. Otherwise appears to still be operating. Normally open tues - Friday and Sat morning. Phone 94320283.

Has a fair supply of Keg equip and grains for those interested.

Gray Creek,

Where did you find a Coopers Fermenter North of 40? I can't find one

Dogger

Costco

graycreek,

Contact Cooper's (see http://www.coopers.com.au for contact details). From what I understand they'll replace it. Alternatively, there are details on the site about the Canadian distributor.

Cheers,

Oliver

GrayCreek,

Thanks Man, Never seen one at mine but then, never looked either. I use a two stage set up. Would like to see a Coopers though.

Thanks
Dogger

I'm sorry but for all of you using the Coppers or other brand carboy style fermentors I have one word CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only type of fermentor worth contemplating is a pale style fermentor for the following reasons:


1. Cleaning you are all talking about how good the handles on the coppers carboy fermentors are however they are a bitch to clean. Also as the opening is smaller than the body of the fermetor the curved sides are hard to clean also.

With a Pale style fermentor the sides are straight all the way to the lid making cleaning easy. The handle is like a bucket handle.

2. Sealing, with all carboy style fermentors the lid is screwed on with an O ring in it that makes the seal. If the lid is not screwed on properly or the o ring is not seated or old the fermentor will not seal.

With pale style fermentors the lid clips on with no need for an O ring or screwing on the lid. Care does have to be taken when removing the lid not to damage it.

I have used both styles and have several pale style fermentors and I am still using the very first one a purchased in 1998. I got rid of my carboy style.

For all of you using carboy style fermentors they may make a good pot for a pot plaint. Do yourselves a big favour and get a pale style fermentor. If your Home Brew shop does not stock them (a lot do not) make them get them in. Once you have used a pale style one you will not go back.

Shaun

If you are in Melb. I went to Aust Home Brew, Heidelberg. they had a special offer and I picked up a 2nd fermentor, airlock, tap, thermometer and 2 cans Malt Shovel for $50. roughly $16 for a fermentor, not bad value. Made the wheat beer and is tasting pretty good after a few weeks.

They also had a offfer of buy 2 cans malt shovel and get a free book "Brewing Crafts" by Mike Rodgers-Wilson. got that on my second trip back. Not a very good book. Must be written by teh shop as it only mentions produts they sell Coopers don't rate a mention. has a good list of recipes for commercial styles, but most use their "enhancers" he did have an earlier book called "Home Brewing" which wasn't bad. that reminds me I lent taht to the brother-in-law and haven't seen it since. But still learing a hell of a lot more through this forum and others.