Can I cap bottles that previously had a screw top?

huggablejunk · 12-26-2009, 07:41 PM

Hi Guys,

Here is a complete newbie question:
Can I cap bottles that previously had a screw top?

I have some old 8oz, Michelob Ultra beer bottles that I wanted to reuse. However, I don't have a capper or caps so I was wondering if I should just order bottles as well or try to reuse the old ones?

~hj

shunt1317 · 12-26-2009, 07:51 PM

Nope won't work

bohdan987 · 12-26-2009, 07:52 PM

yes you can reuse ckrew top bottles BUT I DON'T RECOMEND IT!
its very hard to get a good seal on them, just get a 0.5L brown bottles.
you gona need a 54-12oz bottles for a 5g of beer, 24-0.5L so its easyer and faster if you go for biger bottles.

PatMac · 12-26-2009, 09:04 PM

It's well worth your time and money to get pop-top bottles. You will thank yourself in the long run.

**Revvy** · 12-26-2009, 09:14 PM

Actually if you are using a bench capper, you can, but not with the standard wing capper that most of us have.

It seems at first that accumulating bottles is difficult but if you drink micros you will accumulate them really quickly. Also if you mention around to people that you brew and need crown bottles they will start showing up. There's also craigslist, and freecycle.org, hooking up with other homebrewers, recycling centers. Asking at beerstores that have a good selection of beer for their returnables.

It seems daunting but you'll get plenty really fast.

The cheapest usuable bottles I have seen is the bud american ale bottles, last I checked they were still crown cap bottles. They have an interesting shape, and the beer is not that terrible to drink.

lady_brewer · 12-26-2009, 09:34 PM

I second the bench capper... I deliberated between the crown and bench capper when I started, but since there was only $20 in the difference and there are very few micro-brews around here it was worth it to me. Definitely would have cost me more for crown type bottles.

If you don't yet have a capper and hope to be able to use the twist offs...

jcobbs · 12-26-2009, 09:48 PM

I got one of these recently. You won't find a cheaper way to cap and it caps twist-offs just fine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stainless-Steel-Bottle-Capper-For-Use-With-Drill-Press_W0QQitemZ190360307726QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item2c525bc80e#ht_509wt_958

See this thread for a discussion of it.

And I am going to have to swear off this website until Revvy gets another avatar before I go blind

huggablejunk · 12-27-2009, 12:46 AM

Haha,

Thanks guys! So many responses!

I think I'm going to acquire some non twist bottles through various friends, co-workers, etc and stick with the wing capper for now. Its funny how many pop top bottles I've gone through just in the past few months. Then all of a sudden I got a home brewing kit as a gift and now I need the damn bottles!

I can see this turning into an obsessive hobby sooner than later.
~HJ

Ragutis · 12-27-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huggablejunk

Haha,

Thanks guys! So many responses!

I think I'm going to acquire some non twist bottles through various friends, co-workers, etc and stick with the wing capper for now. Its funny how many pop top bottles I've gone through just in the past few months. Then all of a sudden I got a home brewing kit as a gift and now I need the damn bottles!

I can see this turning into an obsessive hobby sooner than later.
~HJ

I think American champagne bottles work too and with New Year's Eve coming, it might be worth a trip to the local bar's dumpsters on Jan 1.

huggablejunk · 12-27-2009, 01:26 AM

haha, nevermind all the slobber and hepatitis covering them!