First all-grain batch is...RUINED

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

Man that sucks. Definitely try the dental floss method. *Unscented*

 

Damn.

 

I could never get a good seal with floss so I started tying it to a clamp on the pressure relief valve

 

Sorry about your luck. I never suspend the keg hop bag. I also use whole hops, not sure how it would work with pellets.

Just toss it in and forget it.

 

Bummer. You learned the hard way that no metal that's not Stainless Steel should go in your fermenters or kegs. Floss works for me.

 

I have used the hose clamp on some kegs, floss works on some, fro problem kegs you can use Teflon plumbers tape to suspend a hop bag - flat and no leaks on those.

 

That sucks, I've been using these to attach mesh bags for dry hopping (to the PRV valve):

http://www.homebrewing.org/Kwik-Clamp-Plastic-916-OD_p_2921.html

However, I will now be dry hopping with this (will be here tomorrow):

http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/blog/brewing-filter-raffle/dryhopfilter2-5-8d8-5lx300micron/

 

I have one of these too, which makes leaks with floss definitely a non-issue...



http://www.homebrewing.org/New-Corny-Keg-Lid-with-welded-tab-lid-o-ring-included_p_3946.html

OTOH, most of the times I have used floss were with regular lids, against the gasket. No problems.

 

I do what @CurtFromHershey suggested, never had much luck running floss through the lid, even with lots of keg lube, hose clamp just works.

 

FWIW, I haven't used keg lube in years. It doesn't really seal anything on its own...how would a glob of goo stand up against 12 PSI? It does cause gaskets to swell slightly. Water (starsan solution) does the same. But mainly, lube helps prevent tearing (and thus tear-caused leaks).

For the record, I change gaskets/rings between each keg fill, because they are cheap compared to the time and money that goes into a batch of beer. So tearing is a low risk for me.

 

FWIW make sure you use a clamp that is 100% stainless. Had a buddy invite me over for a pint and it had a distinct rusty nail flavor. He didnt believe me, and tasted some for himself. Sure as shit he tasted it, and immediately tore into his keg to find the issue. The clamp had fallen down and the screw was zinc coated. It oxidized quickly and killed akeg full of wooky jack clone that was rather tasty.

 

Sorry for your loss man.

 

I use a bag. I tie a knot in the open end.

 

Man, that sucks. Always use 100% Stainless Steel in your beers, never rusts, and if it does fall in, well, it never rusts.