Fermentation bag and weights

I'm going to start using a fermentation bag and I have a few questions. I noticed that they sell them, but as I am tight on money I'm looking for other options. First off there is a thing called a nut milk bag, would that work? What about a hand stitched piece of cheesecloth? A friend suggested that I use a pair of my wife's nylons, would that work(they look to tight of a mesh)? What is the weights about? Can someone provide a link to a primer about using fermentation weights? I imagine it would be better tied to a weight on the bottom of the vessel so the bag is fully surrounded by the must, is it? Any other information is much appreciated, thank you, Bradford

 

Bradford
I use fermentation bags but have never weighted them down. They work fine that way. They will float during fermentation and I squeeze the juice out of them. Maybe someone can say more on weighing them down.
Cheese cloth will work as well the pantyhose.
Never heard of a nut milk bag...?

 

I hate to admit it but I once used a white knee high cotton sock (new of course) as a fruit bag. Kinda hard to stuff all the fruit into but it worked well. Ruined the sock. Had a hard time explaining that to my wife.

 

Old nylon stockings is the cheapest solution. Your wife will enjoy the new pair.

 

Cheapest is plain paint strainer bags. Wash them in sanitizer.
5 gallon size is $5.00 for 2 bags
1 gallon is 2.50 for 2 bags.

 

Paint strainer bags is what I'm currently using with blueberries. I also use them to strain honey when I harvest honeycombs from my hives. They work great and they're reusable.

 

I don't ordinarily weigh down the bag with fruit. But you could use marbles (glass) after washing and sanitizing them. I just made some mint wine and put a bag of mint leaves into the secondary - I weighed it down with some polished stones. I made the "tea bag" from some retired sheer curtains (washed and sanitized, of course.)

 

I use 5 gallon paint straining bags from Lowe's or Home Depot. No weights. Just punch it down and rotate it upside down 2 or 3 times a day to keep the floating side from drying out.