I reuse cleaned beer bottles. I have a bench top capper that looks like this, which I think is the most popular and cheapest unbranded capper (though not from the specific store I linked to). I've used it without problem, but the most recent batch of crown caps I bought is pretty hard to use. (It's the first time I've bought any that didn't claim to be oxygen absorbing, so it's possible all the previous ones I got were made by the same brand.) Previously, capping felt so easy I was afraid it didn't seal*, but now I have to put muscle into it, and I'm often afraid of breaking the bottle.
Is is more likely the caps don't quite fit the bottles, or could it be that the capper doesn't fit the caps? Of course I can replace the caps, but it would be good to know whether modding or upgrading the capper might be another solution.
*I checked, and my old caps did seal, but they sometimes released bubbles when I pasteurized. Adequate, in my opinion.
Is is more likely the caps don't quite fit the bottles, or could it be that the capper doesn't fit the caps? Of course I can replace the caps, but it would be good to know whether modding or upgrading the capper might be another solution.
*I checked, and my old caps did seal, but they sometimes released bubbles when I pasteurized. Adequate, in my opinion.