RealFloopyGuy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2013
- Messages
- 301
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I read about corks and corkers for a week before I ordered the corks from Northern Brewer with my order and then another week passed before I ordered the corker from eBay. My wife got tired of watching me read about corkers and corks and suggested I just buy the expensive one and be done with it. I didn't see any point in spending money on something I'd probably never use again but I didn't want to buy something that I couldn't use at all.
I made my first batch of mead that I intended to bottle and wanted to make it look nice. I don't make much wine and for personal use I would just put it in quart beer bottles or 1 gallon carboys. I wanted to put it in bottles and give it out for Christmas to a few people. I don't know that I will ever use this against except for the rare bottle to give to a friend, so I decided to find the cheapest corkers I could buy. I looked at those under $50. I weighed my need and expected usage. I was going to buy a hand corker of the type that run $30 on eBay and figured I'd have a hard time breaking them then I changed my mind and bought a cheaper one.
I finally bought this one on eBay:
It was $7 shipped. I couldn't find any reviews on forums or beer supply places for it. Google search came up with nothing. It is basically a tapered hole in a piece of plastic that fits over a wine bottle. You put the cork in the hole. The top half is a rod the size of the hole that pushes the cork in when you apply pressure. That is all. Nothing else to it. Simple as can be. It came with a bonus of 6 PVC shrink capsules and 3(#7?)corks that wasn't mentioned in the auction.
I already had #8 and #9 corks. I figured that I would try it with both of them and see how it went.
I did it on the counter. I had no problem seating any of the corks. I held the bottle with one hand and pushed with the other. I had to put some pressure on them, but I didn't have to hit it or anything. Just push down. It was easy enough with even the #9 corks that I never had to put it on the ground to push them in. I never strained and my hand wasn't sore. I used the 3 #7's for people who I knew would be drinking it immediately, #9 for a couple I planned to age, and #8s for the rest that won't make it 6 months.
I was pleasantly impressed with this corker and unless it breaks in half, I won't be getting another one. I corked about 15 bottles with it in 5 minutes. It literally only took a few seconds for each one. It seated the corks flat or just a little below the lip depending on how I pushed. It felt solid the entire time.
I'm not a small or weak person but I am also not the Incredible Hulk. I would expect your average person would be able to put this on the floor and push down rather easily with a cork that has been soaked in sanitizer for a few minutes.
Only time will tell as to the longevity of this corker, but with #8 corks you should be able to use it with no problems.
I wouldn't suggest throwing away a floor corker to get one of these. However, for the person who might make 100 bottles mead/wine over a lifetime or who wants to cork that special beer they made and doesn't want to spend money on equipment they might not ever use again, I'd say for $7 shipped, why not?
I made my first batch of mead that I intended to bottle and wanted to make it look nice. I don't make much wine and for personal use I would just put it in quart beer bottles or 1 gallon carboys. I wanted to put it in bottles and give it out for Christmas to a few people. I don't know that I will ever use this against except for the rare bottle to give to a friend, so I decided to find the cheapest corkers I could buy. I looked at those under $50. I weighed my need and expected usage. I was going to buy a hand corker of the type that run $30 on eBay and figured I'd have a hard time breaking them then I changed my mind and bought a cheaper one.
I finally bought this one on eBay:
It was $7 shipped. I couldn't find any reviews on forums or beer supply places for it. Google search came up with nothing. It is basically a tapered hole in a piece of plastic that fits over a wine bottle. You put the cork in the hole. The top half is a rod the size of the hole that pushes the cork in when you apply pressure. That is all. Nothing else to it. Simple as can be. It came with a bonus of 6 PVC shrink capsules and 3(#7?)corks that wasn't mentioned in the auction.
I already had #8 and #9 corks. I figured that I would try it with both of them and see how it went.
I did it on the counter. I had no problem seating any of the corks. I held the bottle with one hand and pushed with the other. I had to put some pressure on them, but I didn't have to hit it or anything. Just push down. It was easy enough with even the #9 corks that I never had to put it on the ground to push them in. I never strained and my hand wasn't sore. I used the 3 #7's for people who I knew would be drinking it immediately, #9 for a couple I planned to age, and #8s for the rest that won't make it 6 months.
I was pleasantly impressed with this corker and unless it breaks in half, I won't be getting another one. I corked about 15 bottles with it in 5 minutes. It literally only took a few seconds for each one. It seated the corks flat or just a little below the lip depending on how I pushed. It felt solid the entire time.
I'm not a small or weak person but I am also not the Incredible Hulk. I would expect your average person would be able to put this on the floor and push down rather easily with a cork that has been soaked in sanitizer for a few minutes.
Only time will tell as to the longevity of this corker, but with #8 corks you should be able to use it with no problems.
I wouldn't suggest throwing away a floor corker to get one of these. However, for the person who might make 100 bottles mead/wine over a lifetime or who wants to cork that special beer they made and doesn't want to spend money on equipment they might not ever use again, I'd say for $7 shipped, why not?
