Ready to start my firstbatch (5 gallons) of wine from concentrate kit. I was told by the homebrew shop owner that I could use a carboy instead of the bucket for primary. Have considered using two 2.5 gallon carboys for lighter lifting to agitate. Eager to hear experienced voices on this subject.
Yes, you CAN use a carboy instead of a bucket for a primary, but... your ferment is more likely to foam over (resulting in a mess and loss of precious wine) in a carboy. Even in a bucket, you need 30-40% headroom, and even then some musts will foam over a bit. If you ferment in a carboy, you need some sort of device to capture (and recycle the overflow), and I'm sure your homebrew shop owner will be happy to sell you one. Also, if you need to stir the must, or you intend to sugar feed (in which case you must stir), it's a lot easier to do in a primary than a (narrow-necked) carboy.
Similarly, since one needs to test SG and acid, and possibly add sugar and other stuff, and stir it well, during the ferment, the less containers you have the better.
You can purchase a 5-gallon WHITE plastic paint bucket at Home Depot or Walmart for about $2, and a lid for another $1. The only advantage of the "primaries" sold in the homebrew shop is they may have an embossed volume gauge (often inaccurate), and a pretty picture on the sides, or perhaps even big letters to tell you it's a primary.
If you want to make a 5-gallon batch, you are going to need a 7-8 gallon carboy, to allow enough headroom for the initial yeast explosion and foaming that goes with it. Check Home Depot for Rubbermaid BRUTE containers which are white, yellow, or gray. [The other containers, and the cheaper Rubbermaid and store brand containers are not food-grade plastic.] If you can't find them their, look for a DISCOUNT restaurant supply.
Standard carboy sizes are 2.8, 3, and 5-gallons. I've never seen a 2.5 (although I wish I could find one). Glass is pretty heavy. A 5-gallon carboy weighs about 10 pounds, a 2.8 weighs about 8, and a plastic bucket weighs about 2. Water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon, so your carboy weighs as much as a gallon of water.
"Dennis M Ready to start my firstbatch (5 gallons) of wine from concentrate kit. I was told by the homebrew shop owner that I could use a carboy instead of the bucket for primary. Have considered using two 2.5 gallon carboys for lighter lifting to agitate. Eager to hear experienced voices on this subject. Yes, you CAN use a carboy instead of a bucket for a primary, but... your ferment is more likely to foam over (resulting in a mess and loss of precious wine) in a carboy. Even in a bucket, you need 30-40% headroom, and even then some musts will foam over a bit. If you ferment in a carboy, you need some sort of device to capture (and recycle the overflow), and I'm sure your homebrew shop owner will be happy to sell you one. Also, if you need to stir the must, or you intend to sugar feed (in which case you must stir), it's a lot easier to do in a primary than a (narrow-necked) carboy.
Similarly, since one needs to test SG and acid, and possibly add sugar and other stuff, and stir it well, during the ferment, the less containers you have the better.
You can purchase a 5-gallon WHITE plastic paint bucket at Home Depot or Walmart for about $2, and a lid for another $1. The only advantage of the "primaries" sold in the homebrew shop is they may have an embossed volume gauge (often inaccurate), and a pretty picture on the sides, or perhaps even big letters to tell you it's a primary.
If you want to make a 5-gallon batch, you are going to need a 7-8 gallon carboy, to allow enough headroom for the initial yeast explosion and foaming that goes with it. Check Home Depot for Rubbermaid BRUTE containers which are white, yellow, or gray. [The other containers, and the cheaper Rubbermaid and store brand containers are not food-grade plastic.] If you can't find them their, look for a DISCOUNT restaurant supply.
Standard carboy sizes are 2.8, 3, and 5-gallons. I've never seen a 2.5 (although I wish I could find one). Glass is pretty heavy. A 5-gallon carboy weighs about 10 pounds, a 2.8 weighs about 8, and a plastic bucket weighs about 2. Water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon, so your carboy weighs as much as a gallon of water.
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