- Shape & Sizes.JPG (45.82 KiB) Viewed 855 times
It isn't so much the shorter collared bottles being bad as it is which bottles they are.
I would never try to use a double ringed bottle for anything but some with bench cappers might. The double ringed bottles I've found to be much thinner and more brittle than any of the collared bottles.
Some of the short collared bottles are thin and brittle. I have found that it is the glass itself not the collar that is the problem. It is hard to tell if you don't have a scale to tell the difference between a good bottle for reusing vs. a bad one. Sometimes just the amount of light going through will show you thin they are but, like weighing them you have to have something to compare to.
I have found that, in general the long collared bottles ( both short and tall) for some reason seem to be the strongest of all that I have rotated through the pipeline.
Keep in mind that the bottles aren't made with the intention of being refilled; even the brand new bottles you buy from a supply store state "No Refill" on them.
The tall collared ones are probably stronger/ better because they can fit more automated systems than others but that is just a guess.
I have had bottle bombs and crack/leaking bottles a few times and I would say, if possible stick with the tall collared bottles that are the darkest amber in color to be on the safe side.
If you have some you want to use that you have saved up then
1) make sure they are squeaky clean and sanitized
2) hold them up to a bright light and check them for scratches, cracks or other flaws
3) don't bottle an iffy batch of beer in an iffy case of bottles (bottle bomb detective work)
4) try to bottle each batch in the same bottles and put the bottles in your brew notes
5) if you use a wing capper try and find a plastic case crate to hold the bottles in (see below)
- Case Crate & Wing Capper.JPG (108.75 KiB) Viewed 855 times
were right to a tee in the conclusion they collectively arrived at about bottles, and I think the mystery has been solved.
