Broken Carboy Blues

[bknifefight]

This morning I got up with a sense of purpose. I had breakfast and started up a batch of beer. I had it boiling and started sanitizing everything and ended up dropping my carboy in the bath tub and it shattered into 1000 pieces. Luckily I only ended up with a small cut on my hand because it was VERY sharp. I was sad to see it go but I just inherited two more carboys from my grandpa!

 

[mrmcdowe]

It sure could of been worse though... At least you brewed today.

 

[bknifefight]

I was just happy that I had two other carboys so I wasn't scrambling to find something to ferment in!

 

[mrmcdowe]

I am using for the first time a better bottle. I am really happy and will probably start only buying them for reasons I read about on this forum.

 

[TheImmaculateBrew]

Been there. And after I brokr my carboy, I got 2 extra from my Grandpa as well
...weird

 

[bknifefight]

Both sets of my grandparents made wine so all of my carboys came from them or my parents. I am quite certain that all of them that I have had are older than I am.

 

[FishinDave07]

You're lucky the broken carboy didn't sever all your limbs off. I'd invest in better bottles.

 

[Montanaandy]

+1 on BB's. Montanaandy

 

[WIP]

I think people are too scared of glass. Switching completely from glass to better bottles is crazy IMHO. If it works then it works. Why not use buckets instead of better bottles, they are cheaper, but that is aside from my point. My point is, you are more likely to get hurt mowing your lawn than you are using a glass carboy. Are you going to replace your lawn tools with those plastic scisors thay give preschoolers?

 

[cheezydemon3]

I think people are too scared of glass. Switching completely from glass to better bottles is crazy IMHO. If it works then it works. Why not use buckets instead of better bottles, they are cheaper, but that is aside from my point. My point is, you are more likely to get hurt mowing your lawn than you are using a glass carboy. Are you going to replace your lawn tools with those plastic scisors thay give preschoolers?

All bucket here buddy.

Carboys and BB's are so people can see their beer.

I know what is in there.

 

[CodeRage]

I think people are too scared of glass. Switching completely from glass to better bottles is crazy IMHO. If it works then it works. Why not use buckets instead of better bottles, they are cheaper, but that is aside from my point. My point is, you are more likely to get hurt mowing your lawn than you are using a glass carboy. Are you going to replace your lawn tools with those plastic scisors thay give preschoolers?

Lol, that analogy is a bit out here. Haven't heard of a single person in the same sampling group here who were mangled by their lawn mowers. Glass carboys on the other hand is a different story.

Glad no one was seriously hurt. I use buckets and better bottles. My insurance is too crappy to risk dealing with carboys.
Not to mention when they break they make a MESS. Use what your comfortable with I suppose.

 

[bknifefight]

My point is, you are more likely to get hurt mowing your lawn than you are using a glass carboy. Are you going to replace your lawn tools with those plastic scisors thay give preschoolers?

haha I like this. I agree too. I have been using glass from day one (or day two, I did do several batches with Mr Beer) and this is the first mishap I have had. I still am all glass and don't consider this something to turn me from it.

 

[lowlife]

Lol, that analogy is a bit out here. Haven't heard of a single person in the same sampling group here who were mangled by their lawn mowers. Glass carboys on the other hand is a different story.

When I was a kid I cut a toe off during a push mowing accident. Just a note.. =)

 

[FishinDave07]

All bucket here buddy.

Carboys and BB's are so people can see their beer.

I know what is in there.

^ +1, I wouldn't wish a broken carboy upon my worst enemy :fro:

 

[WIP]

I never said you had to get mauled by a mower. Never cut your finger sharpening a mower blade, or twisted an ankle on a rock, etc?

 

[Nysh]

Don't you guys use carboy handles or straps? It seems like handling a carboy would be a lot safer with something to hold on to.

 

[WIP]

Never use a carboy handle with liquid in the carboy. The kneck will break off. Why not just bear hug it and watch your step? I use milk crates, they are free behind the grocery store

 

[C2H5OH]

haha I like this. I agree too. I have been using glass from day one (or day two, I did do several batches with Mr Beer) and this is the first mishap I have had. I still am all glass and don't consider this something to turn me from it.

I think people are too scared of glass. Switching completely from glass to better bottles is crazy IMHO. If it works then it works. Why not use buckets instead of better bottles, they are cheaper, but that is aside from my point. My point is, you are more likely to get hurt mowing your lawn than you are using a glass carboy. Are you going to replace your lawn tools with those plastic scisors thay give preschoolers?

I have brewed for over 3 1/2 years; heating up my two glass carboys and pouring boiling wort into them. (Approximately 50 times each.) Never had a tale of woe. I'll keep knocking wood, and brew tomorrow with the same technique.

 

[BierMuncher]

A few tips about glass carboys:

• Invest $1.00 for some rubber gloves. Most dropped carboys are due to slippery hands
  
• Never handle a carboy over hard surfaces. (Concrete, tile...BATHTUBS). I have carpet swatches throughout my brewshop. (When it comes to glass a piece of padded carpet is much more forgiving than concrete.)
  
• One hand firmly wrapped around the neck...one hand on the under side of the carboy.
  
• Use a dolly to move your carboy across the room. Minimize the physical labor involved to moving it from down there...to up here. Not from this side of the room to the next.
  
• Hit the gym. You have to be in good shape to toss around a filled carboy. If you are not of the athletic persuasion, go get yourself a girlie jar...otherwise known as a better bottle.

j/k

 

[bigjoe]

Lawnmower analogy was a bad one for sure. I'm more prone to falling down the stairs in my house as opposed to breaking a carboy. I've broken one carboy and fallen down the stairs 5 times in the last 11 years.

I broke my last carboy a few months ago. I had it for over 17 years, but wasn't brewing for part of that time. I paid $5 at a flea market for it, so I'm not too bummed about it. No injury sustained but as quick as it happened I can see how people do get injured. Knowing someone who had a nasty injury from one I know not to react to it slipping. Just let it go. So I just pulled my hands away. It only fell from about an inch above the floor.

I won't buy another. I have kids and they know to stay away from the brewing equipment, but things happen. I'm a bucket man. I had one I used for years. I only put beer in it and never scrubbed it. Spray hose and oxi-clean if that didn't work.

Lucky for me I just emptied the batch from carboy and was cleaning the yeast cake from it. I guess the positive thing was I didn't have to clean it.

 

[WIP]

Lawnmower analogy was a bad one for sure. I'm more prone to falling down the stairs in my house as opposed to breaking a carboy. I've broken one carboy and fallen down the stairs 5 times in the last 11 years.

I broke my last carboy a few months ago. I had it for over 17 years, but wasn't brewing for part of that time. I paid $5 at a flea market for it, so I'm not too bummed about it. No injury sustained but as quick as it happened I can see how people do get injured. Knowing someone who had a nasty injury from one I know not to react to it slipping. Just let it go. So I just pulled my hands away. It only fell from about an inch above the floor.

I won't buy another. I have kids and they know to stay away from the brewing equipment, but things happen. I'm a bucket man. I had one I used for years. I only put beer in it and never scrubbed it. Spray hose and oxi-clean if that didn't work.

Lucky for me I just emptied the batch from carboy and was cleaning the yeast cake from it. I guess the positive thing was I didn't have to clean it.

Yeah, I guess my analogy is flawed, but you all got the point. Every once in a while, one breaks. Big deal. If you are worried, get buckets. I buy glass, because it is easy to clean and you don't have to worry about scratches. I have buckets too, they are cheap.

 

[Montanaandy]

"If you are not of the athletic persuasion, go get yourself a girlie jar...otherwise known as a better bottle."

I row at least 50,000 meters per week, lift weights, etc. and have done so for over 30 years so I am in pretty good shape. I use BB's and switched after using glass. Using rubber gloves to handle the BB is easy. Not so with the glass which is slippery particularly after using oxyclean. Just because you have not had one break on you yet doesn't mean that it won't happen.

I don't worry about scratches on my BB because I don't ever use a brush - no need after a scoop of oxyclean and an overnight soak.

Glass certainly has a cachet but I am this it to brew beer and not ruminate on how pretty my carboy is. That and the fact that I enjoy using my tendons to row, lift, etc. and would really miss them if they were severed. Montanaandy

 

[Teromous]

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your carboy. On a side note, I think it is really cool that your grandparents brewed, and that you are getting something passed down to you. I am the pioneer in brewing for my family.

 

[bknifefight]

I have handles on all of my carboys and wonder how the hell I managed to haul them around without them. My dad saw them and said he wished they were around when he used to make wine. I like the milk crate idea too. I never thought of carrying it that way!

 

[Batinse]

'Ware carboy handles!

Caution (and milk crates!) are the best advice. Sorry about the carboy, but thank the beer gods it was empty...

 

[cheezydemon3]

Maybe the difference is having kids?

Giant piece of glass in the house to the single guy = possible risk, just enough risk to sound interesting maybe....


Giant piece of glass in the house to a parent = WTF???!?!?!?!?!?!?!