Antique capper issues

RIBeer · Jan 1, 2010

Hi folks - here's my latest problem. I picked up an Everready antique capper via ebay. I tried it out for the first time the other day, and was not pleased with the results. It seems to crimp the caps just fine, but it won't let go of the capped bottles. I have to apply enough twisting force that I'm afraid that I'm going to break the bottle. Any ideas on how to fix this?

mordantly · Jan 1, 2010

mine is from 1910. same thing. how clean is the cup? mine has this rotted rubber washer that kept the cap from going to deep. i found rust to be the biggest issue why it wouldn't let go.

RIBeer · Jan 2, 2010

Ahh - no sign of a rubber washer in mine - perhaps that's the issue?

mordantly · Jan 2, 2010

if it's clean in there.. steel wool will do the job nicely, then it's a over-penetration condition.

RIBeer · Jan 2, 2010

The whole unit is pretty clean and appears to be in almost perfect condition no rust at all. Must be a penetration problem. Any ideas on how thick the washer should be?

mordantly · Jan 2, 2010

i hit mine with a caliper. just under 3/8"

RIBeer · Jan 2, 2010

I'm guessing that it should be a fairly hard rubber washer that won't give too much?

mordantly · Jan 2, 2010

yes. it appears garden hose gaskets may fit.. so 5 of them or so would do it.

RIBeer · Jan 2, 2010

That seems really thick, but you did say 3/8. correct?

mordantly · Jan 2, 2010

it measures between 5/16 and 3/8. so i figure it's shrinkage from 100 years.

RIBeer · Jan 2, 2010

Thanks for the measurements on the fly! I'lll give it a shot tomorrow- there's a real hardware store in town that will have what I need. Cheers!

Heckle · Jan 2, 2010

Mine doe snot have a washer in it. I got it from a guy who got it from a yard sale. I cleaned it up and oiled it down with some WD40. Sometime a cap will stick a bit but if I move it side to side it comes out nicely. I will try a rubber washer though.

RIBeer · Jan 2, 2010

Where in Ct are you Heckle?

Heckle · Jan 2, 2010

RIBeer said:
Where in Ct are you Heckle?

Just outside of Hartford in Rockville.

RIBeer · Jan 29, 2010

Finally had a chance to pick up some hose gaskets - two of the stacked seem to do the job. Thanks for the great tip. Can't wait to see how much faster this will make bottling 10gal batches....

Antique capper issues

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