Question about bottling bucket...

Junebug · 05-30-2007, 01:56 PM

Hi folks...
In a week, I'll be bottling my first brew (amber ale). I have a bottling bucket and in the "How To Brew" guide, it appears that there is a length of tubing that hangs from the spigot of the bucket. I don't have a short piece of tubing like that. Should I just trim a length of tubing from my siphoning tubing? How long should the piece of tubing be? I'm getting very excited...

BrewDey · 05-30-2007, 02:02 PM

I just use my siphoning tube and stick one end on the spigot and the other end on a bottling wand.

**mozicodo** · 05-30-2007, 02:06 PM

I picked up a decent length of 3/8" ID tubing from a Home Depot, and trimmed that to the sizes I need, but before then I also just used my siphoning tube.

**Melana** · 05-30-2007, 02:07 PM

We trimmed a piece from our siphoning tube, about 1" long to attach wand to spigot. Works pretty well...

brewt00l · 05-30-2007, 02:31 PM

make sure that along with your tubing, you have a plan on how to stop the flow between bottles (and I don't suggest attempting to open and close the spigot each time). I like to use a bottling wand....cheap and easy, the way I like it

homebrewer_99 · 05-30-2007, 03:01 PM

I use a spring loaded bottling wand attached to 5' of tubing.

I put my bucket on the counter (or another bucket) and fill either on the counter or floor.

BruDaddy · 05-30-2007, 03:49 PM

Some bottling tips I've read on this forum before, assuming you have a dishwasher in your kitchen:

- put the bottling bucket on the kitchen counter above dishwasher
- sanitized bottles in the dishwasher racks...I use the dishwasher as my drying rack. To satisfy my sanitation paranoia, I put no-rinse sanitizer in a spray bottle and spray liberally on the dish racks prior to putting the bottles on.
- the door of the dishwasher serves as the 'platform' for bottling. Set a few bottles on the door and fill. Once filled move them to your capping area. In our house, SWMBO does the bottling while I cap, but I have done the whole thing solo. If you do bottle by yourself, get something to help in tipping the bucket as you get to the bottom. The spigot on my bucket is an inch or two above the bottom, so there are a couple of bottles of beer that require tipping in order to get bottled properly. I usually use a phone book, which allows me to be down by the bottles while steadying the bucket.
- Definitely use a bottling wand.
- Once your done, most of the mess will be contained on the dishwasher door. Cleanup by closing the door, spilled beer will drop into the dishwasher.

I use the upper dishwasher rack to 'control' my excess tubing, but a shorter length may work better (I'm just too cheap/lazy to have separate pieces of tubing for my various chores.

Beerrific · 05-30-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewDey

I just use my siphoning tube and stick one end on the spigot and the other end on a bottling wand.

Me too.

If you want to get another piece it is incredibly cheap at Home Depot. Take the spigot with you that way you know it will fit.

Junebug · 05-30-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewt00l

make sure that along with your tubing, you have a plan on how to stop the flow between bottles (and I don't suggest attempting to open and close the spigot each time). I like to use a bottling wand....cheap and easy, the way I like it

I never even thought about that...hmm. I'd better hop down to the hop shop and grab one. I don't want to waste even one precious drop!

Junebug · 05-30-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruDaddy

Some bottling tips I've read on this forum before, assuming you have a dishwasher in your kitchen:

- put the bottling bucket on the kitchen counter above dishwasher
- sanitized bottles in the dishwasher racks...I use the dishwasher as my drying rack. To satisfy my sanitation paranoia, I put no-rinse sanitizer in a spray bottle and spray liberally on the dish racks prior to putting the bottles on.
- the door of the dishwasher serves as the 'platform' for bottling. Set a few bottles on the door and fill. Once filled move them to your capping area. In our house, SWMBO does the bottling while I cap, but I have done the whole thing solo. If you do bottle by yourself, get something to help in tipping the bucket as you get to the bottom. The spigot on my bucket is an inch or two above the bottom, so there are a couple of bottles of beer that require tipping in order to get bottled properly. I usually use a phone book, which allows me to be down by the bottles while steadying the bucket.
- Definitely use a bottling wand.
- Once your done, most of the mess will be contained on the dishwasher door. Cleanup by closing the door, spilled beer will drop into the dishwasher.

I use the upper dishwasher rack to 'control' my excess tubing, but a shorter length may work better (I'm just too cheap/lazy to have separate pieces of tubing for my various chores.

Whoa...you have this down to an art form! This technique sounds like a winner. Thanks!