Bottle fillers

[JaymzMF]

I still bottle. I enjoy it. Just bought a stainless steel bottle filler off amazon. This thing is so fat that it leaves way too much headspace. Can’t use it. Anyone have any recommendations for a proper sized ss bottle filler?
This is the one I got. Beer Bottle Filler,ProMaker Stainless Steel Wine Beer Bottling 13.7" Spring Loaded Beer Bottle Filler Home Brewing (Bottle Filler) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6XQMS7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nJhwDbC25K4TM
Appreciate the help!

 

[smata67]

Why the preference for stainless? The polycarbonate ones, I use both the spring and non-springed models depending on what I grab, work well. I'd say if the listing for the filler includes a brush, it is too wide to provide proper head space.

 

[bracconiere]

would bigger bottles fix the problem?

 

[ZuzBrews]

I use this one. works well.
https://labelpeelers.com/equipment/bottling/bottle-filler-wand-3-8-inch/

 

[JaymzMF]

Why the preference for stainless? The polycarbonate ones, I use both the spring and non-springed models depending on what I grab, work well. I'd say if the listing for the filler includes a brush, it is too wide to provide proper head space.

I prefer ss over plastic where I can use it. Plastic has its issues. I just don’t know why they are even made if they don’t provide proper headspace. If the correct size exists, I’d like to get it.

 

[smata67]

The problem appears to be those ss fillers are 1/2" in diameter and displace too much water. The plastic ones with the spring loaded tips I measure as .384, slightly larger than 3/8". The one I have allows the tip to be removed. But the ones that are not spring loaded are fused onto the tube. What you could do is get .375 diameter ss tubing (thinnest wall you can get, would probably fill your bottles faster) from mcmaster and fit it onto the spring loaded plastic tip removed from the plastic one. You will probably need to seal the interface, a 100% food grade silicon would be the right thing to use, though I would just use 100% silicon if on hand. I like the plastic ones because you can see into them and tell if they are clean. But the above approach would work, though would entail a great deal of unnecessary work. Welcome to DIY!

 

[Dog House Brew]

would bigger bottles fix the problem?

This^^^
When I bottled I would just lean it to the side and fill the neck.

 

[bracconiere]

another thought would be just some stainless tubing and something like this, at the top:

https://www.amazon.com/Interstate-P...argid=aud-801738734305:pla-569147389430&psc=1

 

[smata67]

Oddly enough, the bottle size is not a factor. I have some very short bottles (some Asian beer brand), regular short, regular long neck, and 22 oz bottles and all have perfect head space with the plastic filler. The instant the filler is pulled from the bottom and seals, that displaced beer volume taken up by the filler tube is your final head space. Inevitably, a larger diameter filler tube is going to result in more head space.

 

[JaymzMF]

another thought would be just some stainless tubing and something like this, at the top:

https://www.amazon.com/Interstate-P...argid=aud-801738734305:pla-569147389430&psc=1

This is not a bad idea!

Just can't believe that someone out there doesn't offer a stainless version of the plastic one we all have.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

To bad you missed this thread. I made the same mistake

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/brewsssiphon.656887/

 

[JaymzMF]

To bad you missed this thread. I made the same mistake

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/brewsssiphon.656887/

Dangit, missed that. Crazy they even make this thing. Or is it just me? I don't see the application with that size. Any luck ever finding a correct size one?

 

[kh54s10]

Quick search found this one. It says it is 3/8" OD tubing... https://www.amazon.com/OneBom-Bottle-Filler-Stainless-Removable/dp/B07HDY37K6?tag=sportlivema0b-20

 

[smata67]

Dangit, missed that. Crazy they even make this thing. Or is it just me? I don't see the application with that size. Any luck ever finding a correct size one?

It might work well with wine bottles.

 

[bracconiere]

that push button valve, and a 12" `1/4" DIA NPT pipe....?

https://www.hydraulichoses.com/Prod...GY5XVe5KBQhcXbNvxLYwINAKYVBS27xRoC3MkQAvD_BwE

they have 1/8" DIA also....but you'ld need another valve for it...

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

It might work well with wine bottles.

I think it will be worse if you used wine bottles with the dimple in the bottom. The wand is too thick (Thats what she said) to depress the plunger in the small space between the dimple and the wall of the bottle

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

It says it is 3/8" OD tubing

I think this might be referencing the barb only not the diameter of the shaft itself. That is the same one i have and its just too big for bottles

 

[kh54s10]

I think this might be referencing the barb only not the diameter of the shaft itself. That is the same one i have and its just too big for bottles

It is not the same source as linked in the first post. And the first has a picture that shows a diameter of 1/2 inch.

This one does appear to be made with a 3/8" tubing.

There is a picture in the comments that shows a properly filled bottle for the one I linked.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

Different sources can sell the same item.
It also states that it uses 3/8" tubing. 3/8" tubing is ID not OD. The OD is close to 1/2" which is the OD of this SS wand. A standard plastic bottling wand fits inside a 3/8" ID hose so it naturally displaces less beer creating the perfect head space. I own this and the barb itself is 3/8", it take some work to get the hose on the end. The barb is wider than a bottling wand too. Both links state they use the same hose ID of 3/8. and you can tell by the photos that the wand part is wider than 3/8"
Both the OP and I are the ones that have used this and we both had the same experience. I believe that any picture can be thrown up on a site to show results that arent real world results.

Just my .02. I will post photos of mine with measurements.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

So here are the images.
Pic 1 shows the 3/8" SS wand next to a standard bottling wand
Pic 2 shows the 3/8" tubing next to the 3/8" barb
Pic 3 shows that the 3/8" bottling wand actually fits inside the wand part of the SS wand
Pic 4 shows the inner and outer diameter of the wand
Pic 5 shows the diameter of the SS barb
Pic 6 shows 3/8" tubing stretched over the 3/8" barb
Pic 7 shows how much is displaced by the SS bottling wand using a SN bottle

 

[bucketnative]

I have one of these SS fillers as well. It does underfill (no matter the size of the bottle).

Funny thing, the last competition I entered, I used the plastic wand and it delivered what I thought to be the perfect headspace. The judge actually noted on the sheet, "Fill level too high." Perhaps he owns one of these SS wands and loves it?

By the way, the standard 12 oz bottle is 9 in high. You lose about 0.4 fl oz moving from plastic to SS.

 

[kh54s10]

Different sources can sell the same item.
It also states that it uses 3/8" tubing. 3/8" tubing is ID not OD. The OD is close to 1/2" which is the OD of this SS wand. A standard plastic bottling wand fits inside a 3/8" ID hose so it naturally displaces less beer creating the perfect head space. I own this and the barb itself is 3/8", it take some work to get the hose on the end. The barb is wider than a bottling wand too. Both links state they use the same hose ID of 3/8. and you can tell by the photos that the wand part is wider than 3/8"
Both the OP and I are the ones that have used this and we both had the same experience. I believe that any picture can be thrown up on a site to show results that arent real world results.

Just my .02. I will post photos of mine with measurements.

I can only go by what I can read on the two different sites. The one posted by the OP clearly has a picture that shows the dimensions and that the OD of the tubing is 1/2 inch. The one I linked clearly states that the diameter is 3/8" OD.

There are also the reviews that state it fills the bottle perfectly.

My plastic wand works well so I am not a candidate to buy one from my link to see if they are liars.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

@kh54s10 DUDE! All I'm trying to say is that there is an issue with the info they are providing. You don't have to buy this or even consider it. I already own it! Also I was reading some of the reviews and some of them are clearly referring to the counter pressure filler. Here is a screen shot from my Amazon cart from last year's order

 

[Smellyglove]

Off topic. But you could carbonate with wort and thus be able to fill the bottle to the cap if you'd want to. Less oxygen inside is also a bonus.

 

[balrog]

I filled some flip tops to no headspace once.
Thermal expansion popped several bottoms off.
Beeeeg mess.
Suggest against filling to cap.

 

[Smellyglove]

It was just as an example. Always leave some headspace..

 

[Soulshine2]

I still bottle. I enjoy it. Just bought a stainless steel bottle filler off amazon. This thing is so fat that it leaves way too much headspace. Can’t use it. Anyone have any recommendations for a proper sized ss bottle filler?
This is the one I got. Beer Bottle Filler,ProMaker Stainless Steel Wine Beer Bottling 13.7" Spring Loaded Beer Bottle Filler Home Brewing (Bottle Filler) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6XQMS7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nJhwDbC25K4TM
Appreciate the help!

how much headspace is too much ?
I use a clear plastic spring loaded bottling wand. When I fill, I let the beer come up to maybe 1/8" below the top . When I pull it out , its displacement leaves the perfect amount of headspace on a standard 12 ounce long neck , 1 1/2" .

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

I use a clear plastic spring loaded bottling wand. When I fill, I let the beer come up to maybe 1/8" below the top . When I pull it out , its displacement leaves the perfect amount of headspace on a standard 12 ounce long neck , 1 1/2" .

This is how it should be

 

[kh54s10]

@kh54s10 DUDE! All I'm trying to say is that there is an issue with the info they are providing. You don't have to buy this or even consider it. I already own it! Also I was reading some of the reviews and some of them are clearly referring to the counter pressure filler. Here is a screen shot from my Amazon cart from last year's order
View attachment 641022

OK, don't get in a huff. All I was saying is that the original link and the one I linked clearly were different.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

Hey, not in a huff at all. Apologies, I didn't mean to come across that way.