I have a 6 gallon bucket fermenter that for scratched. so I can reach in to polish it no problem. I suppose I should just sand it down evenly and buff it smooth. but just looking for tips from anyone whose already been there before I get started. thanks
I've never heard of anyone taking the time/effort to repair a scratch in a bucket. The way I see it, you have 3 options: 1. Do nothing and continue to use the bucket as-is until it's proven that the scratch actually harbors enough bugs (even with regular cleaning and sanitizing) to spoil a batch. If it's just a small/shallow scratch, it might be fine for a long time. If it's a serious gouge? Skip to #2 or #3. 2. Try to fix it. In my mind, I imagine attempting to sand and 'polish' HDPE causing more problems than it solves (not to mention taking a fair amount of time and effort). 3. Do what I've always done if/when a bucket becomes suspect: retire it and buy a new one. The old bucket(s) are still useful for cleaning/soaking/hauling stuff in (and a million other household purposes) and... for $12? You save some time and effort and gain peace of mind. Seems like a no-brainer to me, but ymmv.
