Broke a Carboy Today.

**homebeerbrewer** · 06-10-2009, 02:00 AM

I've heard of several people braking their carboys, but this it my first time. And I spent the afternoon in the hospital because of it. I was washing it after kegging the batch, and for no apparent reason, the bottom just fell off. I was turning it over to drain, and while my arm was under it, it broke. It cut my wrist, severing a tendon and possibly a nerve. It was half full - or half empty, depending on how you view life - and water splashed everywhere. I noticed that there was a lot of red water too. I didn't know why, until I noticed that I had a new eye on my wrist. It turned out that it wasn't an eye, but a deep cut. Blood was just pouring out. Being home alone, I decide that I'll take an ambulance ride. The doc said I'm going to need surgery to repair the tendon, and I'm not looking forward to that.

So, the moral of the story it to be very careful when cleaning glass carboys.

Rick500 · 06-10-2009, 02:02 AM

Glad you're more or less okay.

**bradsul** · 06-10-2009, 02:02 AM

Wow! Glad to hear you're going to be OK despite the surgery!

Do I get to be the first to say; better bottles FTW?

Seriously though, glad you came through it, could have been much worse.

**Yooper** · 06-10-2009, 02:04 AM

That's almost exactly what happened to one of my friends. She lifted the 6.5 gallon carboy, and it just broke, severing a tendon in her wrist. She didn't think I was home, so she drove herself to the ER. She's got quite a scar now, and several Better Bottles.

**homebeerbrewer** · 06-10-2009, 02:15 AM

Yeah, I'm really thinking of doing something else instead of glass. I'm thinking of a conical fermentor, but I'll have to see what all this is going to cost me.

Damn, it'd hard to type with one hand...

**Yooper** · 06-10-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebeerbrewer

Yeah, I'm really thinking of doing something else instead of glass. I'm thinking of a conical fermentor, but I'll have to see what all this is going to cost me.

Damn, it'd hard to type with one hand...

I always type with one hand. One to type, one to hold the beer. The sad part is you have to drink with only one hand! It will be hard to operate a bottle opener, especially with all those pain killers. Be careful!

Seriously, I'm sorry to hear about this. Get better fast!

flylock_jac · 06-10-2009, 02:21 AM

Sorry to hear about your injury.

**homebeerbrewer** · 06-10-2009, 02:26 AM

Thanks Yoop, unfortunately I'm not drinking tonight. But, the good news is that I don't need a bottle opener since I keg my beer. I just won't have perfect pours until I can use both hands.

It makes it even harder since I'm right handed. Guess which arm is affected.

**wilserbrewer** · 06-10-2009, 02:49 AM

Sorry to hear about the accident. Hopefully others will take notice and steer away from glass.

Ironically, the guy at my LHBS about a year ago insisted that glass is really the best and only way to go...when I mentioned the inherent danger...he just looked at me funny.

I got off easy a few years ago when I fumbled a big glass salad bowl during cleanup of a large party, nice cut on the finger that just wouldn't heal and hurt for a month, a little self surgery removed a sliver of glass and all was good.

Here's to a speedy recovery and wisdom gained.

BeerPressure · 06-10-2009, 02:55 AM

**** carboys