Carboy Level/Calibration Sticker Prototype

[wyzazz]

Good point... These need to hold up during cleaning and use for years. Else, it could hurt your reputation as a quality vendor. I would suggest doing a test on the smaller pieces to see if they can withstand a long PBW soak and agitation/scrubbing.

I don't think I've ever scrubbed the outside of my carboy, just a wipe with a soft sponge and warm water. I'm sure it'll be a quality/durable product, but let's not be unrealistic here. If you soak your carboy in PBW or caustic I'm sure they will probably wear off.

 

[azscoob]

Great work Bobby! I love that you provide such top notch brewing accessories, I also hope you can stop doing that pesky "day job" thing and have a lucrative business off your site alone! here's to living the dream!

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

I don't think I've ever scrubbed the outside of my carboy, just a wipe with a soft sponge and warm water. I'm sure it'll be a quality/durable product, but let's not be unrealistic here. If you soak your carboy in PBW or caustic I'm sure they will probably wear off.

You clean your way... I clean my way.

I dunk the thing in a tub sink filled with hot PBW and leave it sit over night (along with whatever else i may be cleaning; usually bottle). Then everything gets a good wipe down with a green scrubby and a rinse before hitting the drying rack.

 

[wyzazz]

You clean your way... I clean my way.

I dunk the thing in a tub sink filled with hot PBW and leave it sit over night (along with whatever else i may be cleaning; usually bottle). Then everything gets a good wipe down with a green scrubby and a rinse before hitting the drying rack.

You're too hardcore for me Man! I just wouldn't count on the vinyl stickers to stand up to a long term hot PBW soak.

 

[Bobby_M]

For that type of abuse, you might want to do the acid etch.

 

[AnOldUR]

I just wouldn't count on the vinyl stickers to stand up to a long term hot PBW soak.

I only soak the inside. :cross:

 

[wyzazz]

I only soak the inside. :cross:

That's what I thought too, but obviously some of us take cleaning to a whole new level.

I dunk the thing in a tub sink filled with hot PBW and leave it sit over night (along with whatever else i may be cleaning; usually bottle). Then everything gets a good wipe down with a green scrubby and a rinse before hitting the drying rack.

 

[Golddiggie]

You clean your way... I clean my way.

I dunk the thing in a tub sink filled with hot PBW and leave it sit over night (along with whatever else i may be cleaning; usually bottle). Then everything gets a good wipe down with a green scrubby and a rinse before hitting the drying rack.

Using that much PBW, to me, is just being wasteful. All that really matters, for carboys, bottles, and most other things, is the inside or whatever will actually come into contact with the wort/beer. I can understand removing blow-off (and drips) from a carboy/fermentor, but soaking it in PBW overnight is just nuts.

You're probably also one of the people that takes the antique copper clad pot and scrubs it until looks brand new, on the outside.

 

[jvcjbl]

Got the stickers lastnight... I must say I wasn't expecting getting them so fast. I didn't apply the .25 or the .50 or the .75 stickers because I know it is a 6.5 gallon carboy and only make ~5.25gal. batches. I am definitely ready to order another set for my 5 gallon carboy. I am now questioning my first measured sharpie lines, because the 6gal. mark is damn near the same position as the first 6.5gal. mark.

I will take more detailed/higher res. photos once the carboy frees up... I was in a rush to get this new beer I brewed into primary.

 

[MetallHed]

Sweeeeeet!

Put mine on this morning:

I placed them like I did because I primarily do 2.5 gallon batches.

I really appreciate it, Bobby. I WILL be doing business with you in the future when I get the equipment to do full batches.

Thank you!

 

[Bobby_M]

Got the stickers lastnight... I must say I wasn't expecting getting them so fast. I didn't apply the .25 or the .50 or the .75 stickers because I know it is a 6.5 gallon carboy and only make ~5.25gal. batches. I am definitely ready to order another set for my 5 gallon carboy. I am now questioning my first measured sharpie lines, because the 6gal. mark is damn near the same position as the first 6.5gal. mark.

I will take more detailed/higher res. photos once the carboy frees up... I was in a rush to get this new beer I brewed into primary.

I think this goes to show how different a "standard" 6.5 gallon carboy can be. Unless mine is a rare 7 gallon carboy or maybe yours is a 6 gallon? It looks like maybe the fill ratings are right to where the straight wall begins to curve. Metalhed's would be a 5 gal, yours is a 6 gal, and mine is 6.5.

 

[Bobby_M]

My next step is to throw a bunch of the alternate designs on my carboy to see which is best and also cut them all out in a more expensive vinyl with a longer outdoor rating. I know everyone wants long lasting AND inexpensive but most of the time those are mutually exclusive demands

What do you guys think for colors? I think the white is obviously visible so I'm leaning that way but would you pay something like $1 extra per strip for an etched glass look?

 

[jvcjbl]

I think this goes to show how different a "standard" 6.5 gallon carboy can be. Unless mine is a rare 7 gallon carboy or maybe yours is a 6 gallon? It looks like maybe the fill ratings are right to where the straight wall begins to curve. Metalhed's would be a 5 gal, yours is a 6 gal, and mine is 6.5.

I really want to remeasure it because I had sharpie lines on it and had it marked all the way up 6.5g. Either my measurements initially were wrong or they are wrong now. I double check and it is a 6.5 gallon carboy

 

[kmk1012]

When can I buy these? I like the white look as it would stand out against a good dark beer. I have five carboys and would like to quit guessing.

 

[JNye]

When can I buy these? I like the white look as it would stand out against a good dark beer. I have five carboys and would like to quit guessing.

+1 Get r done! Brewers are supposed to be patient. I fail.

 

[Bobby_M]

Lol, I already stay up to 1am every night cutting and weeding the sight stickers and various other brewhardware tasks. I'm trying ;-)

Check this out...

 

[Hugh_Jass]

Lol, I already stay up to 1am every night cutting and weeding the sight stickers and various other brewhardware tasks. I'm trying ;-)

Check this out...

That I'm a home brewer sticker is sweet.

 

[jvcjbl]

Ok Bobby, I need a couple more sets of these level stickers as well as the homebrewer one. PM me the paypal address.

 

[Bobby_M]

Hang tight guys, I'm going to go nuts cutting in the next couple days and start making everything available. I have a bunch of other fun sticker designs also.

 

[JNye]

How are these made Bobby? You say you are cutting them, I assume you have some sort or special cutter template or machine. Just wondering all what is involved.

 

[Bobby_M]

Yes, I have a vinyl cutting plotter. After the cuts are made, excess vinyl is manually picked out and an application tape is applied over the top. Basically I was farming out the work to a local sign shop for the sight glasses but they started getting pissy with me when I asked for priority over first time walk-in customers. Problem solved, I bought my own machine and now I can make all sorts of brewing-relevant decals. Yay!

 

[Bobby_M]

OK, I finally made enough to be able to put them on the site. The final design looks like this:

And I also have this one...

 

[Golddiggie]

How about a 'money shot' with the carboy sticker applied??

What size is the Home Brewer decal??

 

[Bobby_M]

The one on my truck in that pic is 2 x 6 "

 

[jvcjbl]

Placing order now! Thanks Bobby!

 

[Flomaster]

damn a day late and a dollar short I would have loved to add those to my sight glass order I made last friday. i'll just have to order some thing else to justify shipping

-=jason=-

 

[jvcjbl]

damn a day late and a dollar short I would have loved to add those to my sight glass order I made last friday. i'll just have to order some thing else to justify shipping

-=jason=-

Ordered 4 stickers and shipping was $.49.... no justification needed.

 

[Bobby_M]

By the way, someone asked me if it would stick to a better bottle and the answer is a definite YES. The higher quality vinyl I picked up even conforms to the textured area on the ribs and sticks aggressively.

 

[Bobby_M]

Does anyone have a picture of their stickers stuck with the final design?

Just for giggles I'm going to stick some on a growler and do the extended hot PBW soak thing. I do know that even the mild adhesive version is tough to peel off without a razor blade.

I spent all weekend cutting and weeding these so there are plenty in stock in both white and black vinyl.

 

[jvcjbl]

Hey bobby I took an updated pic for you. It was of the original design, but I did mix some of the new pieces at the top. I was wrong it was a 6 gallon carboy. The LHBS store sells both 6.5 and 6, I got a 6. I can snap one real quick if you want of the new design.