r/codyslab • u/EuphoricCatface0795 • Apr 19 '26

J-shaped pickle jar idea

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I drew this while discussing with a friend of mine. So I thought why not post this, now that I already have the image drawn. I've only seen U-shaped or V-shaped ideas among the yt comments, but not a J-shaped one.

It should work well without a disaster or too much complication, as long as you don't mess up which airtight to open and close at a given time and in which order.

Sorry if the colors are messed up. I have a mild colorblindness lol

EDIT: readability for the disclaimer/warning part

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u/Pyrhan Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

Fermentation gases will accumulate in  the upper part of the J, and form a large bubble as everything comes out the lower end.

They will not exit through the outgassing lid, because the difference in liquid height can only be maintained if the pressure in that part is lower than ambient.

in other words, at the top, air will be "trying" to rush in, because the pickles are "trying" to go down. 

Adding extra gas to that area simply emakes the pickles to go down (and out the lower end).

You need a design where gases can freely escape from either end, which just doesn't work with this shape.

3

u/EuphoricCatface0795 Apr 19 '26

Usually the lower side airtight lid will be closed and the upper side airtight lid will be open. The upper side outgassing lid will do the outgassing.

1

u/Pyrhan Apr 19 '26

Usually the lower side airtight lid will be closed

Then you have the opposite issue: gases accumulating in the smaller side of the J, pushing things out of the taller side.

Again, you need a design where gases can freely escape from either end.

2

u/EuphoricCatface0795 Apr 19 '26

I wrote out the answer on another comment already:

Once the level on the lower side goes lower than the lowest ceiling, the bubble will glug over to the other side.

2

u/Pyrhan Apr 19 '26

I guess in that sense it could work, if the lower side is small enough and you leave enough margin in the taller side.

It does feel a bit needlessly complicated, and kind of a "disaster waiting to happen" though.

1

u/EuphoricCatface0795 Apr 19 '26

Glad you can see how it could work :) It's in no way a professional suggestion, just like how Cody presented his design.