Grain storage

RobD · Post by **RobD** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:29 pm

Hey Folks,

I see that Canadian Tire will be having air/water tight totes going on sale. Looks like $8.39 for the 19L tote.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/produ ... 5555006616

I'm expecting to get a few bags of grain whenever the group order goes through. Does anyone have a good estimate as to how much volume a full bag takes?

My basements gets some water whenever it rains hard, so it leaves me with very little space to store grain. These could be the perfect solution!

Post by **chalmers** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:36 pm

I would estimate the volume of a bag at ~35L. It would be a tight fit in that tote.

I bought a 114L tote, and stored 3 bags in them. I think, unless my numbers are way out-of-whack. LD, can you confirm that?

Similar tote at Cdn Tire

So, those are not waterproof. Are you worried about actual water on/in the grain, or humidity?

LiverDance · Post by **LiverDance** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:55 pm

Confirmed

RobD · Post by **RobD** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:03 am

Thank you gents!

My concern is with humidity and insects. I figured air/water tight would keep 'em both out.

In reading online, I've found 3 popular methods of storage so far:

- Using pet food storage containers.
- Put the grain bag in a garbage bag, and then in a clean garbage can w/lid
- Use 5g pails and lids with gaskets.

You do anything with the grain bag before storing it in the Rubbermaid tote?

Post by **chalmers** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:29 am

We don't do anything to the bags before putting them in the tote. Opened bags get tightly rolled up, duct taped to keep from unrolling.

In other words, probably not enough to keep insects out, and definitely not enough for humidity.

BBrian, how have the totes you bought been working out for you?

BBrianBoogie · Post by **BBrianBoogie** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:56 am

Working out well for me, no complaints so far. Definitely expensive, but I can't see ever having to replace them either.

derek · Post by **derek** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:07 am

Ron_Burgandy wrote:My concern is with humidity and insects. I figured air/water tight would keep 'em both out.

...and probably mice. While a Rubbermaid won't keep determined mice out, if it's airtight they can't smell it.

Post by **mr x** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:40 pm

PA had some nice big totes a couple weeks ago. Barrel style with big solid lids. They looked like a solid deal to me, but I can't remember the price.

RobD · Post by **RobD** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:43 am

A lot of reading I did pointed to pet food storage containers.

Teambuy today has a deal for http://www.mypetfoodnetwork.ca, $15 for $35 credit.

On the site, they have air/water tight pet food storage containers:
http://www.mypetfoodnetwork.ca/productv ... iners.html

10 lb - $17.99, capacity - 9 " x 10 .5" x 12"
25 lb - $25.99, capacity - 14" x 14" x 16"
50 lb - $39.99, capacity - 16" x 18" x 20 1/2"

Shipping is free within HRM. http://www.mypetfoodnetwork.ca/page/9/shipping.html

They should work just fine!

NASH · Post by **NASH** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:11 pm

FYI malted barley weighs about 34 lbs / cubic foot.

sent from the hop-phone.

Post by **chalmers** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:23 pm

Ron_Burgandy wrote:A lot of reading I did pointed to pet food storage containers.

Teambuy today has a deal for http://www.mypetfoodnetwork.ca, $15 for $35 credit.

On the site, they have air/water tight pet food storage containers:
http://www.mypetfoodnetwork.ca/productv ... iners.html

10 lb - $17.99, capacity - 9 " x 10 .5" x 12"
25 lb - $25.99, capacity - 14" x 14" x 16"
50 lb - $39.99, capacity - 16" x 18" x 20 1/2"

Shipping is free within HRM. http://www.mypetfoodnetwork.ca/page/9/shipping.html

They should work just fine!

FYI: the 50lb container is ~3.4 cubic feet (97 litres), which is ~100lbs of grain (not counting the bag), so the largest container could hold around 2 bags of grain. That sounds right, as we're storing 3 bags in 131litre containers now.

RobD · Post by **RobD** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:51 pm

It can fit 100lb, but I'm not sure it could actually maintain it's shape under the pressure of 100lbs of weight. Trying to find that out now.

moxie · Post by **moxie** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:57 pm

I have been thinking about keeping bulk base malt on hand since a lot of the recipes I have been doing lately involve single malts for smash recipes... Something stackable would be best since I don't have too much room. Ale pales might work okay... Maybe one bucket for 2-row, one for MO or something like that. Air tight seal... Pretty small capacity, though.

Something like this would be convenient, but looks expensive and relatively small capacity:

KMcK · Post by **KMcK** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:26 am

I found an excellent, free storage container:

P1030433.jpg

These buckets are hard, food grade plastic, and have air tight seals and handles for lifting. Two or so buckets hold 25 kg of malt. I get them from grocery stores for free by going to the bakery and asking for their empty cooking oil/butter/icing sugar buckets. Every place I've gone to has been happy to give them to me because they just get thrown out otherwise. They have to be cleaned but that's nothing compared to what you're paying for something new and you're reusing something that would otherwise be recycled or landfilled.

erslar00 · Post by **erslar00** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:41 am

KMcK wrote:I found an excellent, free storage container:
P1030433.jpg
These buckets are hard, food grade plastic, and have air tight seals and handles for lifting. Two or so buckets hold 25 kg of malt. I get them from grocery stores for free by going to the bakery and asking for their empty cooking oil/butter/icing sugar buckets. Every place I've gone to has been happy to give them to me because they just get thrown out otherwise. They have to be cleaned but that's nothing compared to what you're paying for something new and you're reusing something that would otherwise be recycled or landfilled.

solid idea... will check out the stores in my area. Thx

Post by **GillettBreweryCnslt** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:25 am

erslar00 wrote:
KMcK wrote:I found an excellent, free storage container:
P1030433.jpg
These buckets are hard, food grade plastic, and have air tight seals and handles for lifting. Two or so buckets hold 25 kg of malt. I get them from grocery stores for free by going to the bakery and asking for their empty cooking oil/butter/icing sugar buckets. Every place I've gone to has been happy to give them to me because they just get thrown out otherwise. They have to be cleaned but that's nothing compared to what you're paying for something new and you're reusing something that would otherwise be recycled or landfilled.
solid idea... will check out the stores in my area. Thx

I do this as well. I go to all of the SuperStores ans ask for the Buttercream Icing Buckets (they are not 5 gallon though, about 3 gallon). However, the store in Bayers Lake told me on Tuesday that they instituted a new policy that they can no longer give used packaging materials to customers due to the fact that these customers were then discarding (littering) the packaging on store property. I argued, but to no avail.

However, what I did the first time I gathered these buckets was to walk into a store and ask the manager to save all of the empties for a few days for me. They happily agreed and I got about a dozen buckets at once.

Good Luck.

CorneliusAlphonse · Post by **CorneliusAlphonse** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:31 pm

i bought some empty 11litre ice cream buckets from an ice cream barn for 25¢ each. seemed a resonable price to me

benwedge · Post by **benwedge** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:43 am

Fishdisease wrote: I do this as well. I go to all of the SuperStores ans ask for the Buttercream Icing Buckets (they are not 5 gallon though, about 3 gallon). However, the store in Bayers Lake told me on Tuesday that they instituted a new policy that they can no longer give used packaging materials to customers due to the fact that these customers were then discarding (littering) the packaging on store property. I argued, but to no avail.

That's really crappy. Did you try asking the manager to stock up for you again when this happened? I've had good luck at Sobey's on Queen St, but I use mine to make planters for my balcony garden. I'll be getting more for grains soon.

Post by **GillettBreweryCnslt** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:59 am

benwedge wrote:
Fishdisease wrote: I do this as well. I go to all of the SuperStores ans ask for the Buttercream Icing Buckets (they are not 5 gallon though, about 3 gallon). However, the store in Bayers Lake told me on Tuesday that they instituted a new policy that they can no longer give used packaging materials to customers due to the fact that these customers were then discarding (littering) the packaging on store property. I argued, but to no avail.
That's really crappy. Did you try asking the manager to stock up for you again when this happened? I've had good luck at Sobey's on Queen St, but I use mine to make planters for my balcony garden. I'll be getting more for grains soon.

No, the manager wasn't around. Plus I work in the city and so when I do a dedicated bucket run I'll check Barrington, Young St, Joseph Howe and then the Tantallon Superstore on my way home. I've got lots of locations to choose from. Also, I always ask when I go grocery shopping and grab 2 or 3 here and there. I did the 4 store run last week and managed to get 9 more. I think I'm good for a while!

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