Two dumb questions...

HoochinHank

1) Does anyone make a CLEAR/TRANSPARENT bucket lid?
I want to peek at my beer without having to remove the lid...​
2) How long should StarSan last in a spray bottle?
I made a batch with 1/4 oz StarSan in 1 gallon tap water, and poured into spray bottle. Was nice and foamy on brew day, but now (6 days later), it doesn't foam up at all when I spray it on anything.​

hottpeper13

#1- not a clue
#2- I use RO water in my bottle and it lasts until gone.
I did notice when my softener went on the fritz and used tap water it turned cloudy and that batch was one and done.

estricklin

1. Donno
2. Could depend on your water ph and hardness. I keep a spray bottle around until it's gone, usually several weeks.

HoochinHank

I keep StarSan around for months and months after mixed, it's not a problem, even if it turns cloudy. There's an entire episode on "Basic Brewing Radio", where they interview the guy that invented it if your curious.

RM-MN

Hmmm, the tap water here is definitely full of minerals. I poured a little out of the spray bottle, not cloudy at all, and when it hit the sink, it started foaming a bit (not as much as when I first mixed it). I'll use RO water next time.

Drewch

1. Buckets are commodity items, lids from one manufacturer seem to fit any other so it is unlikely that a clear lid would be produced as it would take a different type of plastic that probably wouldn't be compatible with their machines.
I'd probably cut a hole in a lid and tape Saran Wrap to the inside and outside of the lid to make a window. It might not last long but bucket lids are not very expensive. Midwest supplies show a lid for a 6.5 gallon bucket at $5.49 plus shipping.

TheCache

1) I've never seen a clear lid for the common food-grade bucket, but you could always just order a FerMonster carboy - clear body with a wide mouth for easy cleaning. They're a little more $$ than a bucket but not exorbitant...
2) As others have said: Use RO or distilled water, and it'll last for ages.

hotbeer

1) If you search "clear 5 gallon buckets" you'll find a lot of options. Unfortunately, most of the lids are not clear, only the buckets and I can't speak to the quality of the plastic - just be sure it is food grade. Also, they are not totally clear, more translucent, but I'm sure you could see the krausen form and fall through the bucket sides.
Another option would be a the plastic fermonsters. That's what I use and i can easily see what is happening inside the bucket. As mentioned above, they are not too expensive and I've had mine for several years now with no problems. I got one with a spigot, makes emptying the beer into a bottling bucket very easy.
2) I use tap, which in my area is not too bad. I usually keep it around for a month or two.
Cheers.

Teufelhunde

Save the money you will spend for a clear lid. Though not much cost wise, you might find that after you've done a few more batches you might want to change to another type of fermenter.
Maybe something like a Fermzilla or Fermonster or even just a PET carboy or other such. Though the lid still won't be clear, the FV body will be.
Or if you go to a conical that isn't clear, you can put a sight glass on the bottom that will give you all the clear you need... once you dump all the trub and yeast.

HoochinHank

And replacing the Saran wrap after each batch would be cheaper still.....

FloppyKnockers

Had an extra bucket lid (they're like $2 at Menard's), so thought I'd give it a try...

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LOL I wasn't very patient about getting wrinkles out...

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Smells great, looks decent, the wrinkles distort things a bit, but still a good view to see how the krausen looks! Not going to test gravity until next Friday, but I'm pretty sure there's still some slow fermentation going on. The bucket lid doesn't have a ring gasket (or whatever that's called), so CO2 should still be able to escape, but now I'm wondering if my saran wrap or tape job will be the weakest link for CO2 to escape out of.
Think I'm just going to put the original lid back on, and stop thinking about how much I want to sample my latest batch!  

Teufelhunde

Not dumb questions at all.
1. Not that I've found, but I did make one out of a spare lid, Lexan, silicone, and some rivets. It was cool, but not needed so I didn't make more. Not as transparent as you think it would be because all the condensate tends to block your view.
2. Until it's gone, I guess. I have a spray bottle that I refill when it's empty. About 3+ or so months between fillings.