Strainer Bags are cool
The LD Carlson small size bags are 6"x18" and have a medium weave, and are top quality. The last ones I bought were four of five dollars each. When you fill them and tie the top they won't sit flat in even a 32 gallon "fermenter." That's not a negative, just an observation. They're long. They have about the same weave as a paint strainer bag.
I was reluctant at first but found no problem using paint strainer bags. I give them a quick rinse then dump them into the sanitizer bucket. They're strong and will last at least two or three uses. As I remember they're cost effective. I think I get them at around a dollar or a dolly fiddy per bag at my local Home Depot. I reuse them even though it might be more of a hassle than they are worth: a hand wash dishwasher wash/sanitize, inspection ,repeat if necessary, air dry, then store in a reclaimed/reused plastic peanut butter container.
I was looking for larger bags to use in my press (the 5 gallon ones are too small for my hoppers, eventually they snap off the basket and sling whatever all around the room. How did I know that?...
I once thought I found 15 gallon strainer bags. The online store selling them listed them as "15 gallon paint strainer bags" I was excited that I found bags that were only about double the cost of the five gallon bags! When the package arrived I found five one gallon bags in each of the five packages I bought. I called the store and complained and they refunded my shipping -woohoo... never did check back to see if they fixed the title.. probably not...
But there is light at the end of the funnel er tunnel as I have found a use for these one gallon bags...
When you're racking out of your primary and into a secondary you can use a large 8" funnel at the end of your siphon . This size funnel comes with a screen, but if you rely on that screen you'll quickly find that it will clog long before you have everything out of the primary.
Enter the one gallon straining bags.
They'll catch the heavy stuff at the end of your siphon, and you can move them around in the funnel without any mess. If one gets too full you can throw it in a trash bucket or a sanitized bucket if you want to try to get every drop. Last time I did that kind of procedure I just threw them into the press hopper with the rest of the juicy solids from the bottom of the fermenter and gave them a little squeeze.
I know some people are going to cringe at this next rec, but it works fine for me.
I throw some zip ties into sanitizer and use them as closure. I used to use sanitized nylon string but even with a keen background in knots, it's much easier for me to use the zip ties to close up the bags. Not always easy to get them off without ruining the bag, but well worth the convenience on starting day. Less handling too. -always a plus.
