DIY Monster Bottle Tree w/ pics

[knightshift]

I would be a bit concerned about the drywall screws. I am always breaking them. I already have a bottle tree, but if I were going to attempt this, I would think about using some heavier gauge screws. Stainless screws are pricey, but 80 of them would probably add $5 to the cost, and would be worth it in my opinion. I have a bunch of heavy bottles (1L fliptops e.g.).

One other thing, if you staggered the pegs 45 degrees on each row, you could fit a lot more in there by cutting your vertical spacing. You might think 60 or 80 bottles is enough, but I guarantee you it will be filled at some point .

Another good idea...like a spiral staircase. cool

 

[spitfire]

Almost anything would work for the dip tray. You could use the lid to those rubbermaid storage containers. They have a lip on them and it would hold all the water in, that's what I will be using.

As far as the drywall screws, they are fine, really no reason to upgrade to SS screws. I would say it would be better to use a longer drywall screw than upgrade to SS

 

[donshizzles]

Alright I was able to put together this bottle tree based on knightshift's design. The only difference was that I used a 5ft piece of 4" pipe (already had such a big pipe laying around), extended the base 2x4's by a foot and placed the screws in a descending spiral. I spaced them far enough apart to accomodate both 12oz and 16oz bottles and was able to place 90 pegs.

Total time 2 hrs.

Thanks for the idea knightshift!!!

 

[donshizzles]

https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/tree_002.jpg


https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/tree_001.jpg

 

[knightshift]

Alright I was able to put together this bottle tree based on knightshift's design. The only difference was that I used a 5ft piece of 4" pipe (already had such a big pipe laying around), extended the base 2x4's by a foot and placed the screws in a descending spiral. I spaced them far enough apart to accomodate both 12oz and 16oz bottles and was able to place 90 pegs.

Total time 2 hrs.

Thanks for the idea knightshift!!!

You're welcome!

 

[knightshift]

https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/tree_002.jpg


https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/tree_001.jpg

Now all you need are some "branches" and "leaves" on your tree!

 

[Kauai_Kahuna]

Thanks for posting this, great setup.

 

[donshizzles]

Now all you need are some "branches" and "leaves" on your tree!

Yeah I'm heading to Lowes today to pick up some 1/2" pvc. The have 10' for $.89 so the total cost to me for this build......$2.93!!!! :rockin:

 

[SeismicSteve]

Great idea.

What if you were to bond the branches to the main trunk and cap the top of the trunk? You could place the entire thing in a deep drip pan, get a cheap sump pump from harbor freight and pump sanitizer through the branches. It would drain through the bottles and back into the pan and circulate itself. I may try this myself... You could even cap the branches and perforate them so the sanitizer sprays inside the bottles.

 

[BlackE1]

I am currently building mine. Note to anyone planning on building there own. I bought 1/2 in pvc. I cut it all up with out testing to see if the bottles would fit over it. So now i have 80 6 inch pieces of 1/2 I.D. pvc. So you need to make sure that the pvc you buy has an O.D. of 1/2 inch.

Oh well that's why i should have checked before i cut. Back to the hardware store.

 

[Gosassin]

I am currently building mine. Note to anyone planning on building there own. I bought 1/2 in pvc. I cut it all up with out testing to see if the bottles would fit over it. So now i have 80 6 inch pieces of 1/2 I.D. pvc. So you need to make sure that the pvc you buy has an O.D. of 1/2 inch.

Oh well that's why i should have checked before i cut. Back to the hardware store.

That SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS.

 

[Talloak]

I think the idea of using a pump to recirculate sanitizing solution through an entire tree is worth a closer look. You would cap the trunk and put caps with perforations on the branches. Obviously, there would be no screws involved, just pvc branches directly in the main trunk to allow for the flow of sanitizer. I am unsure if you could pump enough through it to get all the way to the top though, especially if your trunk is 4" PVC instead of 2".

My friend uses an aquarium pump to recirculate sanitizing solution held in a 5 gallon bucket through a single 1" piece of pvc, capped at the top with 5 holes drilled into it, then puts a glass carboy upside down on top of the pvc. It sprays sanitizer into the carboy at a continuous rate - very effective. He turns it on and then forgets about it. Sometimes for days, but that isn't the point.

 

[aop2717]

I did this project, and at first tried a variation of just drilling a hole just big enough to jam the 'pvc tree limbs' in at a 45 degree angle. Well put them in an tried several different adhesives to attach them but didn't have anything that would hold sufficiently to support a bottle. So that if you were trying to pump sanitizer through it, you would have to come up with some new way to attach the 'pvp tree limbs'. So just used the screws like knightshifts original.


Mine works great and is nice to have around and cheap to build. Thanks for the idea/plans knightshift.

 

[Drew_101]

Just finished mine last night. I think it will work great

 

[giligson]

Oh Drywall Screws......Is there nothing you can't do????

 

[opzo]

Drew_101 ... If you are drilling holes and mounting PVC branches into a PVC trunk I would think that PVC primer (to clean) and PVC cement should do nicely if your holes are relatively smooth. Alternately you can use something stong and bulky like subfloor adhesive ... though I have no idea if it subfloor adhesive is anywhere near foodgrade, probably not, it's probably loaded with toxins since most people will never eat off of the subflooring in their home.

 

[Drew_101]

I tried mine out over the weekend. It works great!!:rockin:

 

[Stickshaker]

I'm thinking if you used schedule 80 pipe for the main trunk, and used a hole saw with an extra long pilot bit, you could drill the branches in at a good angle. Then they could be attached with primer and pvc glue. Somebody try this and get back to me, I'm too lazy. Thanks in advance.

 

[mordantly]

this is freaking genius! imn gonna make one with a 4x4 sitting here needing to work and 3" deck screws.. no need for pvc condom.

 

[Grimster]

I did this project, and at first tried a variation of just drilling a hole just big enough to jam the 'pvc tree limbs' in at a 45 degree angle. Well put them in an tried several different adhesives to attach them but didn't have anything that would hold sufficiently to support a bottle.

drill holes, insert pipe, then pour a bottle of pvc cement from the top.

Or just fill it with foaming sealant and let that dry inside the trunk? Or both! If that don't hold it good and solid then I'd be very surprised.

 

[resslerk]

Just tossing this out there, when I bottle I use my bottle washer which can wash 10 bottles at a time. Just this morning I did 4 cases in under 30 minutes using it. They go from there directly into the dishwasher. If you completely load up your bottom rack you can get a lot of bottles in there. I then run it without any soap (just rinse agent) on high temp wash with heated dry. I bottle right next to the dishwasher so I can take them directly from the dishwasher, put beer in them, and cap. I just never liked the idea of spending the time to clean the bottles and then letting them sit out in the open for hours drying on a bottle tree. Plus I don't need to store bottle trees anywhere.

Not sure this is the most efficient way of doing things, but I get get good clean and dry bottles inside and out using this method. Best part is that there really isn't any mess and I utilize a tool that I already have.

 

[Medicbrewer]

This looks awesome. I'm sorry I spent the money for my 90 bottle tree now.

 

[ImaBrewinfool]

Nice job. Have you filled it with 22 oz bottles yet? Still standing? I dont use 12s too much any more. If I'm going through the effort I want to minimize my work.

 

[Bottletree]

That is a really nice bottle tree. Ironically, it looks like a traditional folklore bottle tree made from cedar or cypress. So, kudos.

 

[Chirobrewer]

I then run it without any soap (just rinse agent) on high temp wash with heated dry.

Does the rinsing agent affect head retention? Do you get a nice head on your hb when your pour?

 

[resslerk]

Does the rinsing agent affect head retention? Do you get a nice head on your hb when your pour?

I have never had an issue with head on my beers. When evaluating a brew and not just drinking it I use the pour 2/3 down the side and pour the last 1/3vertical into the beer and always seem to have a nice 3/4" to 1 1/2" of head.

With regards to the bottle washing, I think the majority of the "inside" bottle washing is done with my bottle washer setup, and the dishwasher mainly rinses them, sanitizes via heat. My guess is that a very minimal amount of rinse agent actually makes its way inside the bottle. The outside of the bottles clearly get it though, because they feel great.

 

[bbarr21]

Used a 3 1/2" OD PVC pipe as the base can get 8 around a single level. I alternated to inbetween bottles every layer so only had to use 1 1/2" vertical space for each row. Use 3/8" pvc as the knobs (1/2" OD). Can fit 88 bottle in 2' vertical high, and that is including the 6" at the bottom for the stand.

I cut the smaller pvc at a 45 angle on one side of each this allows it to meet the vertical pvc flush and gives more stability to each branch.

I am planning on adding a removable tier, spacing things out a bit more so that I can fit the 22's even thinking about adding a vertical post form the footing to dry a carboy or 2.

 

[bbarr21]

Just found out that the larger diameter of the vertical PVC allows me to dry my carboy upside down in the center of the tree as well. NICE

 

[rgray58]

Built my bottle tree on Saturday similar to bbarr21. The same day I got my Vinator bottle rinser and Dry Irish Stout extract kit from Northern Brewer. On Sunday I bottled the brown ale that was finished fermenting while I brewed up the Irish Stout. This was my 4th batch brewing, the first where I bottled the last batch while brewing the next and it was my easiest brewing day yet. Between the bottle rinser, bottle tree, and having my son cap while I bottled, the entire process went as smooth as silk. It just gets better and better.

 

[knightshift]

Nice job. Have you filled it with 22 oz bottles yet? Still standing? I dont use 12s too much any more. If I'm going through the effort I want to minimize my work.

Yes Indeed! I just did 16 Bombers (22 oz bottles) 4 Flippies (16 oz bottles) and 16 12 oz bottles all on the same tree. no problems. put the bombers on the bottom, flippies in the middle, 12s on top. Looked like a beer bottle Christmas Tree!!!