** Auto Cure Build Update **
Simple to do. Took longer to gather the pieces and setup to do it than it did to actually make a few buckets. (I made 4 for now.)
There are many ways to do this, but here is how I went about it.
Bucket Parts (per bucket):
- 1 bucket (3.5 or 5 gallon)
- 1 gamma seal lid
- 1 paint strainer/mesh bag (the 5gal bucket ones that are like a big mesh bag with elastic)
- 2 air line check valves
- 1 air line "tee" fitting
- 1 air line coupling fitting (join 2 air tubes together)
- air tubing (1/4" OD, 3/16" ID.... which is normal size)
Equipment Parts:
- air pump (size varies depending on number of buckets
- air distribution manifold (depending on pump size, number of buckets, etc)
- air tubing (lengths depend on number of buckets and distance, etc)
- Outlet timer that can be set in at least 1-minute increments
Tool list:
- Drill
- 5/16" or 15/64" drill bit
- 7/64" drill bit (or something small that can punch a hole in air tubing)
- glue/silicone caulk/sealant
Build Steps:
1. Attach the gamma lid to the bucket.
2. Drill 2 holes with the 5/16 or 15/64 drill bit.
The first hole will be in the side, below where the edge of the gamma lid stops.
The second hole will be 1/2"-1" from the bottom of the bucket.
3. Cut a length of air tubing, about 12"-16" or so. Enough to make a circle at the bottom of the bucket. Connect the two ends to the Tee fitting. (See the very first image in this post.)
4. Switch to the 7/64" bit, or grab what you're going to use to punch holes in the air tubing. With the Tee fitting towards you, place 4 holes in the tubing in an "X" type pattern.
BE CAREFUL to ONLY go through the top wall of the tubing, and not all the way through. You want a hole on top, not top and bottom. Go slow, take it easy. Drill slow, punch careful, etc.
5. Cut a short (3/4"-1") piece of air tubing. Connect it to the Tee.
6. Connect the outlet side of the check valve towards Tee.
7. Cut another short length (6" or so) of air tubing, and connect it to the inlet side of the check valve.
8. Run the tubing through the bottom hole, from inside to out, and gently pull through until the check valve gets to the hole. Push the check valve a little to try and plug the hole snugly.
9. Connect the "coupler" to the end of the air tubing on the outside of the bucket.
10. Cut a short (4" or so) length of air tubing, and connect it to the OUTLET side of the second check valve.
11. Pull the tubing through the top hole (from inside to out), and again pull it to where the check valve snugs up into the hole.
12. Once satisfied with the outcome, go ahead and add a little sealant (glue, caulk, flexseal, etc) around the outside of each hole. You could probably add some inside if you really wanted to, but I didn't bother. I may after I see how it runs.
13. Plug air pump into timer, connect manifold (if used), and hook up an airline from there to the BOTTOM line (where the coupler fitting is) of the bucket.
14. Set the timer to run the air pump as needed. Early on it could be twice a day, then on to once a day, then once every 3 or 4, then once a week, etc. From here on out it's like burping jars. Depending on air flow, number of buckets, etc, you'll need to determine the length of time to run the air pump for a decent burp of the bucket.
How it works:
This works by pumping air into the bottom; the check valve keeps it from going back out the bottom. The container (in this case, the bucket) builds a little pressure, which is then released through the top check valve. As this valve is exit only, it keeps air from coming back in from the outside. This shouldn't build much pressure, just enough to bleed out the top check valve.
IF you find it builds too much pressure (like using a higher volume pump than you should, but it was what you had or whatever), add a second outflow valve at the top of the bucket to help speed up depressurization.
Things to consider:
a) With placing the buds in a paint strainer, you
could put different strains in the same bucket.
b) A 3.5gal bucket should be good for about 1.25lb, give or take. A 5gal should be good for up to 2lb. It all depends on the size of flowers. Fill it like you would jars, about 3/4 of the way full or so.
c) Add one of the big Boveda (or Boost) 67g, 62% packs after the first week.
d) A remote hygrometer can come in handy if you're curious about the RH in a bucket. Open bucket, place the sensor inside, and let it sit a few hours to stabilize. If running several buckets of the same harvest and strain, leaving one in a single bucket would probably be good enough. They should all be fairly close to each other. But you can move it around if you want to.
e) You could also use smaller containers (like half-gallon jars, one gallon jars, etc), but
make damn sure it can keep the lid on when air pressurizes the inside during burping. If using glass,
BE CAREFUL AF when drilling the holes in the glass. Get a drill bit the is made to drill glass. If you mess up and hurt yourself, that's on you. I'm not responsible for ya.
f) Enjoy not having to burp dozens and dozens of jars!
I'm really looking forward to this setup. I'm even tempted to move the Mx Airlines from 8 quart jars into a bucket instead. However, as it's already been over a week, the daily burps on that should be winding down by the end of the week. If I had a smaller container (there's only 6oz of it) I'd consider doing it, but will leave it where it's at. But those will be the last jars I burp manually!
Note: I am not responsible for anything you may do, or if you break something, hurt yourself, or whatever. This is simply a write-up of how I made mine, with some additional thoughts if I were to do it with different containers. This build was inspired by Derek Gilman. (Watch video here...)
