BonzoAPD

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I have never bottled in glass bottles but am going to start now that I have my 5 gallon kit. It came with a black beauty capper but I was thinking of getting a bench capper. What are your thoughts on bench cappers? Are they worth it? Does it save a lot of time and effort or not so much? I am on the fence about getting one but am buying some stuff tomorrow at Midwest and can include that in the flat shipping so now would be a good time to get it if I got one. Just don't know if I really need it.

What are your thoughts?

freisste

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I haven't had a single issue with my two-lever style. I think a bench capper would probably be easier (and maybe marginally faster), but personally it is not worth any more money. If my capper breaks, I may try that next, but I can't justify getting rid of something that has never caused me a problem.

msa8967

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I really like my bench capper. I have a system where the bottling bucket sits of the counter over the dishwasher door to catch the spills. I mounted the bench capper to a piece of wood to keep it very stable. Glad I bought it. Which one where you considering buying?

__________________
Mick Arnett
North Liberty, Iowa
"Beer will change the world. I don't know how, but it will."

BonzoAPD

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I am thinking of getting this one: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/bench-bottle-capper.html

Which one do you have?

Francus

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Save your money and use the two lever capper. Then spring for kegging and save yourself the time.

msa8967

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I spent the extra $5 to get this one: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/super-agata-bench-capper.html

I like it better since I use different sizes of bottles (especially tall ones) and this is easy to adjust. My reason for going with the bench capper was to limit how ofen I would get up and then crouch again during the brewing process. I have a bad knee so being able to do most everything from one seated position made bottling easier to do. I keg now but I also bottle much of my beer to give away to friends. I justified the expense by learning to wash and reuse my yeast. this saved me $6-7 per batch.

__________________
Mick Arnett
North Liberty, Iowa
"Beer will change the world. I don't know how, but it will."

OHIOSTEVE

Recipes 

If you re going to continue to bottle...yes a bench capper is worth the investment IMO. I bought one.. then the wife got me a floor corker with a capper attachment( VERY nice) Then I started kegging.

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BALDGUT BREWS

BonzoAPD

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Yeah I really can't see myself kegging anytime soon if ever at all.

jestmaty

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Me either, after a year and a half of brewing....

I vote for the super agata. It is very easy to adjust on the fly for different height bottles. My normal routine is to cap about 23-24 bottles for a normal 5 gallon batch.

About 12 or so quarts, about 6 bombers, and the rest 12oz bottles. That way, I can try the 12 oz bottles when deciding if it's conditioned and carbed up. Don't have to waste a full 32 oz's of beer if it's still green.

And... who really ever drinks just one beer? Anytime I crack open a beer, it's usually at least a couple o' pints = 1 quart. Get it?

BrewerBear

Recipes 

I have the colona bottle capper/corker.Been pretty happy with it.