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How to make your own Fermentation Lock (Not a balloon!)

by ralegg on April 4, 2009

Table of Contents

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: How to make your own Fermentation Lock (Not a balloon!) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3: Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 4: Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Intro: How to make your own Fermentation Lock (Not a balloon!)

Are you thinking about making your own wine or beer? There are lots of quick and simple recipes out there for making wine but many of them suggest you use a balloon
as your airlock. While this is very cheap and practical, I have found that many people claim it can leave a "rubbery" taste in your drink.

Commercial airlocks are not expensive by any means, but if you are like me and don't live close to a home brew store, you are on your own. Ebay sellers want ~$2 plus
whatever gouged shipping charges they feel like putting on top of that. I have a simple solution for you, you can make your own super cheap one for less than $2 and
maybe even free if you have all the stuff lying around!

I list 2 different methods, one is the bare minimum way (~36 cents plus some spare things you probably have lying around) and the other is the recommended way (a
little under $2). I only have pictures for the recommended way but the diagram I use can be altered to work for either method.

step 1: Materials
Bare Minimum way:
- Tape
- Pen
- Plastic tubing
- Jar (clear is best)
- Water
- Something to punch a hole with

Recommended way:
+ Hot glue gun
+ 1 Nylon barb and matching nut (I got this from the hardware store, ~$1.25)
+ Plastic tubing (~ 2 feet, depending on where you will be placing your jar)
+ Jar (clear is still best)
+ Water
+ Drill

Image Notes
1. These are nylon barbs that you will be using with your plastic tubing if you do

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
 the recommended way

Image Notes
1. All you need from the pen is the top part that tapers (if you are using the bare
minimum method)

step 2: Methods
This is my illustration, hopefully it is pretty straight forward. I have some detailed instructions below...

1: Cut a hole in a box

Drill a hole in the lid of your fermentation vessel (or punch a hole in it, however you prefer to make holes). Make sure that it is very close in size to your nylon barb (or pen
top). If you make the hole too big you risk not being able to make the seal airtight.

2: Put your junk in that box

Place your nylon barb into the hole you made in the fermentation vessel's lid (the barb should be on the external surface). I got a nylon barb from the hardware store for
about $1.25. Lock it down by placing some hot glue around the hole and then quickly bolting the barb to your lid with its corresponding nut. If you are not satisfied with the
seal, use more hot glue around the cracks where air may escape.
If you are doing the bare minimum method, put the tapered pen piece in the hole (tapered end facing outward) and tape it down like hell. I am assuming duct tape would
be the tape of choice for this method.

3: Make her open the... I mean hook up your tubing

Hook up your plastic tubing. I bought mine from the hardware store for 18 cents a foot but I am sure there are plenty of places you can get it (Maybe some aquarium
tubing from a pet store? Not pre-used though, that would be unsanitary). Either way, I bought 2 feet of tubing which worked out quite well, you may need more if you are
not using a bucket as a fermentation vessel and have to set the jar somewhere farther away. As explained in the step's title, hook up the tubing to your barb (if using a
pen tip you may want to using something, like tape, again to make sure your seal is still air tight, this problem is not as prominent in the barb method though).

4: Cut many holes in your jar's lid

Cut a main center hole in the jar's lid that is large enough for your plastic tubing to fit in, the size of this one is not that important. I place a little bit of tape around the
rough edges of the hole as to not damage my plastic tubing. Also, poke many smaller holes around the center one to allow CO2 to escape from you airlock jar.

5: Place your tubing below the water level

This is pretty self explanatory, fill your jar about halfway with water and place the tube below the water level so that CO2 can escape from your vessel but will not come
back in (due to the water barrier). I found that the closer the tube is to the water level (while still being below it) the quieter the bubbling noise is.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
 Image Notes
1. Nylon barb hot glued to the lid of the fermentation vessel, please ignore the
wine around the seal, I was lazy and didn't clean it well enough before sealing a
leak (tsk tsk)
2. Plastic tubing

Image Notes
1. Barb nut
2. Nylon barb connected to tubing
3. Purple Drank
4. Main center hole for plastic tubing to fit with many smaller holes around it for
CO2 to escape
5. The tube must sit below the water level to keep an air tight seal. I found that
putting it as close to the water level as you can (while still being below the water
line) it makes the least amount of noise

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
 Image Notes
1. Tubing below the water level, but not by much to keep the noise level down

step 3: Results
There you have it! You now have your own homemade airlock and it cost you less than $2. Be proud of yourself.

Also, I recommend using water or vodka in your airlock, not sanitizer. This is what I found about it on wikipedia.org (the greatest site ever!).

"Many brewers simply fill the liquid chamber with water, which in itself acts as a sufficient barrier to contamination. Others use a sanitizing solution in their airlocks.
However, this is generally a bad idea with a small airlock. Sanitizer does not offer much, if any, additional protection, since airborne bacteria or wild yeasts are unlikely to
be able to pass through any liquid and become airborne again in sufficient quantity to spoil beer. More importantly, under some circumstances, material from the airlock
can be sucked into the fermenter, and even unboiled tap water is better for your wort or must than most sanitizers. As a compromise, some brewers use vodka, which is
sanitary but will not contribute any flavor or character to the finished product other than a small amount of alcohol."

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
 step 4: Discussion
Let me know if you have any improvements, comments, or airlock ideas of your own!
It would be cool if someone did this but had their excess CO2 go to a plant containment vessel to try to boost their plant's growth...just an idea!

Get your drink on.

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Comments
26 comments Add Comment

Darkwerk says: Feb 8, 2010. 7:50 AM REPLY

I like the insctructable. It's a great way to get it done when fermenting. The only thing I noticed was you used water. I brewed beer for two years and I found
that using a cheap vodka (80 proof) works much better. It doesn't allow stuff to grow in it like the water and if you accidentally get some in the beer it won't
harm it like that water will. Especially when it fist starts fermenting it can get a little crazy.

static says: Jan 31, 2010. 12:45 AM REPLY

When dad made his home brew, all he used was a 35 G. crock with a heavy towel covering the top. No fermentation lock that I can recall. Can't recall
anyone complaining about the lack of alcohol content either.

kotpet says: Nov 20, 2009. 1:20 AM REPLY

Very good instruction. I would add that one don't need a lid on the receiving can. Just my 5 cents. Good luck to all!

brb112988 says: Oct 14, 2009. 8:50 PM REPLY

hey guys i just wanted to throw my 2 cents in cuz im very interested inthis and want to learn to make my own wine and beer and stuff but for aone way valve
is there any way that a gasoline sifoner could be used imean if u have one end in the fermenting barrel and the other end justhangind down couldent you just
let it ferment and then pump it a fewtimes a day to let the air and toxins out of the fermenting barrel?

daithiocoinnigh says: Nov 6, 2009. 2:44 PM REPLY

The only thing you are letting out of the fermentation barrel is CO2, the reason you add air locks is to stop stuff getting in like insects, bacteria, bodily
fluids.

So no you should really have an airlock that allows carbon dioxide out but prevents stuff getting in.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
 graeme.t.cooper says: Sep 13, 2009. 4:34 PM REPLY
Re plant containment. I was thinking aquarium

Grady says: Sep 9, 2009. 12:16 PM REPLY

Couldn't one use a rubber gommett in the hole before inserting the tubing for an air-tight seal?

Lupigarth says: Aug 17, 2009. 9:46 AM REPLY

I've used something similar with making mead where a blow-off tube is used that just fits within the 5-gal carboy neck. I'm not sure of the diameter (it seems
like it was about 1-1/4 - 1-1/2" ID) but that was good as it allowed junk to go into (and past) the airlock without getting clogged. I did experience a vacuum
that nearly sucked water back into the carboy. Raising the carboy above the airlock did help with the vacuum, but it was strong enough to still pull a couple of
feet of water.

gregd888 says: Aug 10, 2009. 11:30 PM REPLY

Lmao I made a homemade hookah that looks something like this

unaffiliatedperson says: Aug 11, 2009. 11:56 AM REPLY

lol i know what y mean.

unaffiliatedperson says: May 23, 2009. 4:17 PM REPLY

good job. way easier to understand and construct, use than the little ones that look like a mini film canister. and can handle large volumes

pyromaniac21 says: Jun 11, 2009. 11:11 AM REPLY

I just have to say GO SLEEPY SLEEPY RULES SO DOES BOB BARKER and i guess i'll say AOL

cowboy709 says: May 18, 2009. 9:43 AM REPLY

I have seen a method similar to this but using several fermenting buckets and all the tubes going to one jar of water. very efficient

finfan7 says: Apr 7, 2009. 12:37 AM REPLY

This is interesting but my first question is immediately: did your setup not come with a free airlock?

ralegg says: Apr 7, 2009. 10:53 AM REPLY

finfan7, My whole setup was made from scratch so unfortunately I didn't already have an airlock. The fermentation vessel shown is just a food-grade, 5
gallon bucket that I happened across, which I then made the enhancements as shown above to get my final setup.

finfan7 says: Apr 7, 2009. 2:14 PM REPLY

That's cool. I got mine as a gift. Brewers in my area are kind of lucky. We have a Brew-Your-Own Store right in town. The prices for hops are fairly
reasonable. Do you do wine, beer, or both? I've been wanting to try my hand at wine.

ralegg says: Apr 21, 2009. 11:30 AM REPLY

Currently I have only made wine but I am looking to try making beer next! I hope wine works out for you if you give it a try!

Rs master says: Apr 4, 2009. 9:52 PM REPLY

or! you could pump the co2 back in the wine beer and have a soda for adultz it was well done and i now know how to make a airlock

finfan7 says: Apr 7, 2009. 12:35 AM REPLY

Beer contains CO2 from a later step anyway. (that's what gives it its head) And bubbly wine is what is commonly called champagne. (though most of
what is called champagne is just sparkling wine)

Rs master says: Apr 7, 2009. 12:09 PM REPLY

oh... i didnt know that

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/
 lemonie says: Apr 5, 2009. 1:46 PM REPLY
So this can suck-back into your fermenter, and there's nothing to keep the water sterile? While gas is coming out the lock is really only useful to exclude
insects, but when the fermentation stops, it's a bit different.

ralegg says: Apr 7, 2009. 11:01 AM REPLY

lemonie,
Good point, the suck back could be avoided by placing the airlock jar below the water level of the fermentation vessel (ie. on the floor, but would require
longer hosing). However if something goes horribly wrong and your airlock vessel starts to suck back liquid from your fermenter, you could either:
Overflow your brew all over the place or
Possibly suck back nutrients into your airlock, which would then definitely become a habitat for bacterial growth.

Also, I did post that a compromise between the water/sanitizer debate is that some people use vodka (because if you buy the good stuff it should be
odorless and tasteless) which will not greatly affect the outcome of your brew except make it a little higher in alcohol content.

Thanks for commenting, and thanks to all for the feedback, this was my first Instructable

lemonie says: Apr 7, 2009. 12:07 PM REPLY

One easy design modification would be to fit a 'can' to the end of the tube, so that suck back lowers the level of liquid in the jar so much that it will
suck air under the rim (instead of liquid up the tube). I've made a horrible job of editing your image, but hope you can see what I mean. L

Skip says: Apr 5, 2009. 4:38 AM REPLY

when I was reading this I was listening to my air bubbler in my aquarium making it's usual racket and had a few ideas. With the air pump it has a bit in it that
stops the reversal of air, could use that somewhere in the system (don't know where? maybe if you want to trap the resulting CO2) and could you use an air
stone on the end of the tubing to make the bubbling quiter? Doesn't make things cheaper, unless you can get an air pump tubing kit on the cheap.

ralegg says: Apr 7, 2009. 11:06 AM REPLY

Good idea, I may need to look into buying some sort of a physical "one way valve" but I become concerned with the idea because if it failed I would hate
to see the explosion :( Although, if it had an emergency blow off valve that released pressure if needed, that could be a possibility. Also, I have an air
stone I haven't used yet for my own fish tank, I will have to check it out. Thanks for the ideas, I will look into it and if I figure something out I will post it as
a bit of an 'extra' since as you noted yourself, I was going for minimum $$ spent

Holden_vy_s says: Apr 5, 2009. 12:26 AM REPLY

Gimma sum of dat purple drank. Good instructible, very easy and all materials are easily available. 4 stars Now make an ible on constructing a still so
beginners (like me) could put it to good use!

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Fermentation-Lock-Not-a-ball/