Bottling Bucket PITA

[maltMonkey]

I love using my bottling bucket, but while filling the last 6-7 beers the level of beer in the bucket is below the spigot, so I end up doing an awkward maneuver where I lean the bucket off the counter against my shoulder and fill.

PITA.

I was thinking about building some sort of false bottom or something into it to make the bottom only about 1/4" below the spigot.

Any tips/tricks or ideas?

 

[Yooper]

Tilt the bucket by putting a doorstop wedge (or a book) on one side?

 

[maltMonkey]

I have to tilt it about 45°+ to get the last 2 or 3 beers out of it....

 

[Bytor1100]

yeah mine is like that also. I've found the best method is to have a helper If you could adapt a tube going down from the inside of the spigot, to the bottom of the bucket, this would make it easier until the last beer.

 

[TrojanMan]

Does your bucket have a handle?

Hang the bucket by the handle and use a piece of line to pul the bottom end so that it's at the proper angle.



Or get a helper.

 

[Revvy]

I have usually used a paperback book to tilt mine, last time I bottled I used the stopper from the airlock of my secondary since it was sitting on the table next to my bucket...It worked great because the bucket didn't slide since the stopper was rubber....

 

[SeaMonster]

My god...

I remember bottling my first batch of beer and trying to tip the bucket on my shoulder while filling the last couple of bottles. Damn thing fell over right on top of my head and all over me.

I vote for using a book to tilt it up a little.

 

[Blender]

I don't think a wedge or book will tilt it enough so I see where that may not work. I always drank the last bit anyway.
I remember (kegging now ) doing it when I bottled but it didn't seem that awkward when using the bottle filler. I just tilted the bucket and filled the last 2-3 bottles. I used to bottle above the dishwasher and the bottles were almost on the floor. You do use a bottle filler don't you?

 

[MikeInCtown]

I tip the bucket with one hand while holding the beer bottle with the other hand.

Is the OP missing an appendage?

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Here is my super cheap and effective solution....

I took a wine cork and drilled a 3/8 hole through the longitudinal center. Then I took an old racking cane and cut the curved portion off. I filed a slight angle in one end of the racking can to a length that would reach the very bottom of my bottling bucket from the center of the spigot hole. Then I jammed the cane into the cork and the cork into the spigot bulkhead. Viola! A free dip tube, NO MORE TIPPING!!! :rockin:

 

[maltMonkey]

Thanks for the ideas everyone--A wedge doesn't quite work because it doesn't provide a steep enough angle to get the last few beers worth. I can't count on having a helper around and I would prefer not to. I like the hanging bucket solution, but the wife might not like me installing anything in the kitchen (where I bottle) that would allow me to do this. I do use a racking cane and I'm not one-armed I'm just clumsy and I tend to knock over bottles while filling them if I'm not holding them, so that leaves no free hands.

@Boerderij Kabouter--That seems like a great & simple solution--I will have to give that a try!

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Why not use your siphon and racking cane?

 

[maltMonkey]

Why not use your siphon and racking cane?

Kinda defeats the purpose of the bottling bucket

 

[zacster]

That's what kids are for, although they tend to not be very steady and start stirring up the sludge.

 

[Big "A"]

Good luck I think I will try that dip tube idea myself. You LHBS probably has some drilled stoppers that will fit into the hole also

 

[BierMuncher]

Prop a piece of 2x4.

 

[maltMonkey]

I just wanted to update this thread and say that Boerderij Kabouter's solution works PERFECT. I got every last drop out of the bucket with no stinkin' tipping !

Here's what I made:

The stopper was the smallest one my LHBS carries (don't know the size #) and the tubing was just some extra I had laying around (don't know the size either but it fits perfectly into the stopper).

The tubing came in a coil so it was already curved--I just cut the end off at 45°.

The only downside is that requires access to a pair of scissors and it costs like a whole dollar to make.

 

[mot]

2x4
book
towel folded up
just about anything will work

 

[keiths]

Why has the spigot been placed so high. Get a different bucket and drill the hole closer to the bottom. That is how mine is set up and I only have to tip for the very last bit.

 

[CBBaron]

Brilliant!!
I think I have everything I need at home already. Too bad I bottled without that help last night.

My bucket is drilled just about as close to the bottom as possible and still be able to screw the spigot on. I have to tilt to get the last 3-4 beers into bottles. I think however my tilting days are over.

Craig

I just wanted to update this thread and say that Boerderij Kabouter's solution works PERFECT. I got every last drop out of the bucket with no stinkin' tipping !

Here's what I made:

The stopper was the smallest one my LHBS carries (don't know the size #) and the tubing was just some extra I had laying around (don't know the size either but it fits perfectly into the stopper).

The tubing came in a coil so it was already curved--I just cut the end off at 45°.

The only downside is that requires access to a pair of scissors and it costs like a whole dollar to make.

 

[maltMonkey]

Why has the spigot been placed so high. Get a different bucket and drill the hole closer to the bottom. That is how mine is set up and I only have to tip for the very last bit.

That's how my bucket came (it was predrilled). I assume it's so that the bucket can sit on a flat surface without the nozzle interfering.

 

[millstone]

I installed a 90* PVC ell with female thread on one side – smooth on the other side, and screwed it on the inside of the bottling bucket spigot facing down. No tilting, and I leave only 50ml behind (that I drink). Works like a champ. Cost, about .39, and easy removal and cleanup.

tom

 

[bwitt]

I use a phone book to prop up my bucket. It's wide enough to keep the bucket stable and thick enough to get almost a 45 degree angle.

 

[maltMonkey]

Every time I tried propping the bucket (as has been suggested multiple times in this thread) I ran into 2 problems:

1) the bucket would slide off the counter. The bucket has to sit with it's outermost edge hanging over the counter and in my experience it's just begging for a spilled batch.

2) There was no way to prop it high enough to get the last few beers worth anyway.

I don't know if everyone who has suggested propping has a different bucket design than what I have, but in any case do what works!

 

[Brewin_Bob]

I made a bottling bucket with a ball valve and hose barb on the bottom of the bucket. That way it can sit on the counter without the need to tip. Forgive the lack of accurate drawing, but it's kinda like below.

edit: Forget the ascii drawing. I'll take a pic tonight and post.

 

[sdhucks7]

My 2cents use a short piece of tubing (like 2-3inches) to attach your bottling wand to the spigot on the bottling bucket. This allows you to bottle with one hand and use the other hand to adjust the tilt of your bucket and maintain a firm hold so that it does not slip. I have been doing my bottling this way for a while now and have not had a problem getting all but the last little bit of beer out of the bucket.



SD