Bottling and Capping

[BrownstotheBone]

Thank you my adoring public. Wait, is ONE referred to as public? Or does that default to "fan". And, if only one, does that make you a stalker?

Holly c3gp, I've got a stalker!

Stalker? Naw... fan of dry humor and great brewing advice? Yes. No worries Meeechigan fan!

[D34THSPAWN]

just wanted to update, I finally got to try out the spring tip filler, SO MUCH BETTER. no leaks other than a couple drips. And I discovered with better bottles the capper works just fine too, I bought two cases of bottles from my paltry LHBS and they are super nice compared to salvaged ones, they weighed at least half again as much very thick, happy about that.

[John Sand]

I think that's great!

[Inkleg]

Sometimes it's just the simple things that help make this hobby easier. Glad your last bottling day went better.

[berryman]

Ok every time we talk capping, I have to show the antique I use but I love it. I have 2 wing cappers and another bench capper also. This thing here is my bottling friend and I've pulled the handle many times and it has never let me down. Unlike pulling the handle on a Vegas slot machine that will let you down most every time. FD will now have to respond and tell you all where I might have acquired it.

[GOF]

I use the Agata bench capper. I noticed I was having an issue with it properly returning after each bottle. I carefully checked all the screws and tightened as needed. Still sticking. I then pushed the plunger down and checked the bell. It was slightly loose. I very carefully took it apart and checked the threads. Finding no problem I reassembled everything and tried again. Still sticking. 'When in doubt lubricate.' So I depressed the lever and wiped a dab of dawn on the plastic plunger where it attaches to the metal bell. Right where it slides through the body. Problem solved. Now each time I get ready to start bottling I check that the bell is tight and I apply a dab of dish soap. No more problems.

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

Excellent feedback as always. I love this place.

My SA has been ordered and will arrive in 5 to 8 days!

Whoooooooooooooooooooooo!!

UPDATE: I bottled my last batch in 12 ouncers and capped them with the Super Agata. After reading all the tips in here, it went off without a hitch. I love that damn capper! I wish I would have bought one a year ago! I mounted it to a hardwood shelf that came out of an armoire a few years ago when we put a flat screen in it and had to remove the shelf to make room. Now it's solid, yet portable so I can bottle upstairs or downstairs.

The best advice I got on here was to set the height of the capper just above the bottle lip so that the bell can travel as far down as it needs to and set the cap. I think that part would have confused me had I not known about it from reading in here.

I'm a glass bottler for life now although I did use one 16 ounce PET as my "carb tester" for squeeze tests over the 4 weeks the beer is conditioning.