eroth

Recipes 

I racked to secondary yesterday, and the stopper on the secondary, over time, always seems to slip up and out.

I had used StarSan to sanitize both the carboy and the stopper, so I'm sure this is the culprit...but does anyone know any tricks for getting them to stay in place properly?

I doubt anythings going to get in through the tiny crack it creates when it pops out, but better safe than sorry...

llazy_llama

Recipes 

I haven't ever had this happen, at least not enough slippage for me to notice. Are you 100% sure you're using the proper size stopper for your carboy? If you could post a pic, maybe that would help, I just can't think of what would cause this other than an improper stopper.

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lapaglia

Recipes 

Sanitize both then dry the bottle inside the lip. Get the top 1.5 inches. The dry the stopper too. It happens to everyone and the options are dry them off or wire it down. Both work. If you are careful drying is easy and safe. You can also through some foil over the BB for a little while until it drys by itself.

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Primary: 3 gallon cider S-04
Secondary: Valentine Apfelwein Clone 1 Gal
Bottled: Halloween Apfelwein Clone 1 Gal
On Deck: 90 Shilling Clone

fishnfever

Recipes 

The same thing happens to me. Don't worry, After a short while the star-san will dry and the stopper seats and seals fine.

eroth

Recipes 

I've let it go overnight, and it's still sliding out, so I'm assuming it's pretty well dried. I've tried both stopper that came with my starter kit (even though they look identical) and they both pop out.

What do you guys use to dry the inside of the carboy (which is glass)? just a fresh paper towel?

Yooper

Recipes 

It happens to me all the time! You can take a clean papertowel and dry off the inside of the carboy neck, and the stopper, or just let them air dry before filling the carboy.

I've used carboy caps, too, and they don't slip off at all. The only issue I had with them is they are not 100% airtight. Not a problem for beer, but I bulked aged some wonderful wine with them, and it oxidized.

So, if the stoppers are a PITA, try the carboy caps. They are also easiest for starting a siphon.

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Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

llazy_llama

Recipes 

Plus they look cool. There's just a professional look about those carboy caps.

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homebrewer_99

Recipes 

I usually take a paper towel and dry off the stopper and the inside neck of the carboy. Works every time.

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HB Bill

MaynardX

Recipes 

Ive used duct tape to keep them buggers on. If you can't get anything else to work, then give that a shot.

ajf

Recipes 

Switch from Starsan to Iodophor. Problem goes away.

-a.