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Date: 22 Nov 2006 21:55:01
From: Tony M
Subject: light bulb idea!?!?
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I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot about
skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is white it
pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a little
concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to keep the
light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day. Right now I
have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint the outside of
the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount of light that
passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even worth the
effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made from black
plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of surface prep and
paint is needed so that the paint would permanently stick to the plastic
without peeling or chipping.
Tony
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 06:23:30
From: Steve/Aus
Subject: Re: light bulb idea!?!?
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"Tony M" <fakeemail@null.com > wrote in message
news:8aednbzU6eE7qvjYnZ2dnUVZ_oqdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot about
>skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is white
>it pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a little
>concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to keep the
>light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day. Right now I
>have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint the outside of
>the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount of light that
>passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even worth the
>effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made from black
>plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of surface prep and
>paint is needed so that the paint would permanently stick to the plastic
>without peeling or chipping.
> Tony
I wouldn't paint plastic. There is a chance of solvent migration from the
paint through the plastic.
I have a suitable size cardboard box from a household appliance that I put
over the fermenter. It's low-tech and it works and it's super cheap.
Steve W (in Aus)
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 00:15:07
From: Wayne
Subject: Re: light bulb idea!?!?
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Tony M wrote:
> I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot about
> skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is white it
> pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a little
> concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to keep the
> light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day. Right now I
> have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint the outside of
> the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount of light that
> passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even worth the
> effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made from black
> plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of surface prep and
> paint is needed so that the paint would permanently stick to the plastic
> without peeling or chipping.
> Tony
>
>
Sounds like you are getting unnecessarily paranoid about the light and
skunking issue. The skunking is due to the interaction of the hops and
certain values of ultraviolet light. The primary source of this is
direct sunlight and, to a much lesser extent, fluorescent lights. If
you keep the bucket out of the sun and a couple of feet away from strong
fluorescent lights, you won't have any problem. If you want extra
insurance just stick a paper grocery bag over your fermenter. Cut a
small hole in the middle of the bottom for the airlock to stick through.
Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 17:00:25
From: Tony M
Subject: Re: light bulb idea!?!?
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Yea, I guess you're right about being paranoid. I'll just keep it covered
with a towel or something. Thanks, Tony
"Wayne" <bugeaterbrewing@charter.net > wrote in message
news:G1b9h.383$b32.29@newsfe02.lga...
> Tony M wrote:
>> I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot
>> about skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is
>> white it pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a
>> little concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to
>> keep the light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day.
>> Right now I have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint
>> the outside of the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount
>> of light that passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even
>> worth the effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made
>> from black plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of
>> surface prep and paint is needed so that the paint would permanently
>> stick to the plastic without peeling or chipping.
>> Tony
> Sounds like you are getting unnecessarily paranoid about the light and
> skunking issue. The skunking is due to the interaction of the hops and
> certain values of ultraviolet light. The primary source of this is direct
> sunlight and, to a much lesser extent, fluorescent lights. If you keep
> the bucket out of the sun and a couple of feet away from strong
> fluorescent lights, you won't have any problem. If you want extra
> insurance just stick a paper grocery bag over your fermenter. Cut a small
> hole in the middle of the bottom for the airlock to stick through.
>
> Wayne
> Bugeater Brewing Company
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Date: 24 Nov 2006 05:08:48
From:
Subject: Re: light bulb idea!?!?
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Tony M wrote:
> I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot about
> skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is white it
> pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a little
> concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to keep the
> light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day. Right now I
> have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint the outside of
> the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount of light that
> passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even worth the
> effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made from black
> plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of surface prep and
> paint is needed so that the paint would permanently stick to the plastic
> without peeling or chipping.
> Tony
It is UV light that skunks beer. You generally get that from the sun
or from flourescent bulbs. The old fashion incandescent bulbs do not
give off UV light.
Don't paint your buckets. Nothing good will come of it.
Phil
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Date: 27 Nov 2006 21:23:45
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: light bulb idea!?!?
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On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:55:01 -0800, <fakeemail@null.com > wrote:
> I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot about
> skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is white it
> pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a little
> concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to keep the
> light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day. Right now I
> have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint the outside of
> the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount of light that
> passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even worth the
> effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made from black
> plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of surface prep and
> paint is needed so that the paint would permanently stick to the plastic
> without peeling or chipping.
It's only certain wavelengths of light that will skunk beer (specifically
certain UV light). Sunlight and flourescent lights will do it, but regular
light bulbs (incandescent) will not hurt the beer any. If you've got regular
light bulbs in the garage, then you have nothing to worry about. Regarding
the bucket, I don't know for sure, but I expect that it will protect the
beer fine on it's own. I don't think the right kind of light will pass
through it. IMO, it's probably unnecessary to paint it.
John.
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Date: 28 Nov 2006 13:29:41
From: brian@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: light bulb idea!?!?
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On Nov 27, 4:23 pm, John 'Shaggy' Kolesar <s...@shagg.net > wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:55:01 -0800, <fakeem...@null.com> wrote:
> > I just had an idea about fermenting buckets and light. I've read alot about
> > skunk beer when exposed to light ,and since my fermenting bucket is white it
> > pretty much allows alot of light through to the beer so I'm a little
> > concerned. I keep my bucket in the garage and even though I try to keep the
> > light off it still gets turned on and off throughout the day. Right now I
> > have it covered with a dark towel. My idea is to spraypaint the outside of
> > the bucket black (when it's empty), to reduce the amount of light that
> > passes through it. Has anyone ever tried this or is it even worth the
> > effort? Is there a place that sells fermenting buckets made from black
> > plastic? I'm no paint expert so I'm not sure what kind of surface prep and
> > paint is needed so that the paint would permanently stick to the plastic
> > without peeling or chipping.It's only certain wavelengths of light that will skunk beer (specifically
> certain UV light). Sunlight and flourescent lights will do it, but regular
> light bulbs (incandescent) will not hurt the beer any. If you've got regular
> light bulbs in the garage, then you have nothing to worry about. Regarding
> the bucket, I don't know for sure, but I expect that it will protect the
> beer fine on it's own. I don't think the right kind of light will pass
> through it. IMO, it's probably unnecessary to paint it.
>
> John.
You could always rub down the fermenter with SPF 50 each day....
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