DIY Monster Bottle Tree w/ pics

[Flomaster]

here is another option.. if you want to build a sanitation bottle tree

you are going to use a 1/2" or maybe smaller sch40 PVC street 45° bend.

drill hole in pipe 1/2" insert 1/2" street 45°
put shot 6" piece of 1/2" sch40 pvc into the 45.

put a cap at the top and bottom and fashion your pump

now this is all in theory, im not sure how well the pump would do at filling the bottles at the top however.

-=jason=-

 

[fc36]

Is a sanitizer/cleaner bottling tree really worth all that effort? Just do it by hand or start kegging your beer. A sanitation bottling tree is way overthinking. However, I'm certain that this post is like me shouting into an empty room and this is all falling on deaf ears. This forum is a wonderful waste of time at work and great for those overthinkers and engineers out there.

 

[Flomaster]

im going to keg my first batch so for me no its not worth it, but for the guy who likes to DIY and get technical at the same time yeah maybe it is worth it.

to each is own and it takes all kinds.

-=Jason=-

 

[fc36]

Do you like to do it yourself? Oh man, you set me up on that one. I agree, I just wanted to play the contrarion.

 

[JewBrew]

I believe this was brought up earlier in the thread. Why are those PVC condoms needed. Why cant i just mount the bottles on the drywall screws after spraying the rack down with starsan?

(Quick tip: I always leave starsan in a spray bottle (empty windex bottle) it makes for quick and easy sanitizing.)

 

[Acoma]

Finished this project today and I am going to try it out for the first time tomorrow. Thanks nightshift

 

[rdann87]

Well it looks like i found my next project... great idea

 

[Photopilot]

I am all about DIY but for $28 I bought a premade one

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=909

I already had the vinator which sits right on top. Built in drip catcher on the bottom. For a couple bucks you can get one more layer that will hold 9 more bottles. I am thinking this whole setup saves me about 1/2 hour on bottling day. If you bottle, whether you buy or build one get one.

 

[dallasdb]

I've been bottling for awhile now and never used a tree. Serious question, do you not have a dishwasher?

I load my dishwasher with my bottles a few hours before bottling time and run it with no soap and high heat to pasteurize the bottles. Works great and is easy. I don't have to scrub each bottle as long as I've rinsed them after drinking them last time.

Never had a contaminated batch either.

Does anyone else use the dishwasher?

 

[314alias]

Nice post! I like that you did it all in the kitchen!

 

[drocu]

I've been bottling for awhile now and never used a tree. Serious question, do you not have a dishwasher?

I load my dishwasher with my bottles a few hours before bottling time and run it with no soap and high heat to pasteurize the bottles. Works great and is easy. I don't have to scrub each bottle as long as I've rinsed them after drinking them last time.

Never had a contaminated batch either.

Does anyone else use the dishwasher?

+1. I do the same. I run the dishwasher with bottles the night before bottling. I also sanitize them with Starsan the day of and place them back into the dishwasher to drain while I start racking my beer.

As someone else pointed out, I may just get a commercially available bottle tree if I ever feel the need to augment my routine. It's easier to put away. This DIY tree is nice and cheap but where can you hide that monster?

 

[PIGMAN]

Just finished building the tree based on your design, Knightbridge. Great idea! I used one of those big Christmas tree stands to hold it up. The recess in the stand is big enough to catch any drips from the bottles. I paid 1.00 for it at a garage sale. Thanks for the DIY.

 

[bbarr21]

Just finished building the tree based on your design, Knightbridge. Great idea! I used one of those big Christmas tree stands to hold it up. The recess in the stand is big enough to catch any drips from the bottles. I paid 1.00 for it at a garage sale. Thanks for the DIY.

Love the stand idea

 

[rwcbrew]

Thanks for the great project & pics. I love to DIY & customize, especially if it can be done for less than buying. Extra kudos to posts by knightshift (OP & #26) & bbarr21 (#57 & #58) for the details (& pic showing it doesn't take up much more floorspace than a carboy).

My 2 hypothetical additions/changes:

- Rotation. I have a plastic 45 bottle tree & really appreciate that it rotates for ease of loading/unloading. Has anyone tried to add casters, or a lazy susan bearing underneath their build? Maybe just some little furniture sliders would be enough, depending on what your tree is standing on.
It would add a few bucks to part list, but worth it IMO. Just search for 'lazy susan' on ebay (& sort by price), amazon (in Tools & Home Improvement), etc.. Just be careful with the build to avoid making it wobbly.

- PVC cement: I am also weary of broken or sheared drywall screws. I'm sure this is low enough a risk if you're careful loading & unloading (to not bend/flex a branch too hard). I'd also like to reduce the risk of rust eventually making its way to the lip of some bottles.
I'd cut the 1/2" pipes at 45' angle on one end, liberally apply PVC cement to that end, & sliding it down over the screws. The top & bottom of the junction should form a strong bond. Using purple primer on both sides before the cement is worth it. Any remaining gap (on the sides of the junction) would be sealed with a bit of silicone sealant. Using a larger diameter center pipe will minimize gapping on the sides of the joints.
On second thought, PVC bonds are pretty strong so I'd test this out on one branch 1st without the screw. It would probably be plenty strong enough & let me skip the sealant (since no rust). Not having to drill all those holes would be nice. Would definitely use a large diameter center pipe to maximize surface contact of the pipes.

Since I still have other things I need more, I'll probably never get to this. But, I'll put it on my list as relatively 'kid friendly' project. (Get 'em started young!) If it works out, I an always sell or give away my current tree.

 

[scottvin]

I started this project last night. I have cut all the "arms" and I started drilling the holes this morning. I should finish this up tonight. I was thinking of using our Christmas tree stand as the base - thoughts? (I think I someone on here do that)

 

[DeepWoodBrew]

Excellent Idea!!!!

I would much rather make one..than buy some foriegn made one!

 

[tre9er]

I started this project last night. I have cut all the "arms" and I started drilling the holes this morning. I should finish this up tonight. I was thinking of using our Christmas tree stand as the base - thoughts? (I think I someone on here do that)

Someone about 3 or 4 posts up from you did just that and said it worked well. Hey, if it can hold a 50lb (?) Christmas tree up, I bet it can hold your bottle tree!

 

[tre9er]

Anyone been using this for a good bit of time who can report on it's durability? I was thinking of putting a wooden dowel inside the PVC to further stabilize the screws, but I suppose any liquid that travels the threads of the screws would get to the wood and that wouldn't be great. Perhaps some silicone on the screws near base of PVC...hmmm

 

[jraddude]

Uggh I just bought 1/2" ID PVC like the other guy on here and cant find anything smaller in any of the 3 hardware stores around here. Where do people find smaller PVC?

 

[electrohippy]

I know that Tap Plastics has all kinds of diameters of clear acrylic tubing. They even have colors in some of the sizes!

 

[electrohippy]

Tap Plastics has many sizes of clear acrylic tubing. 6 Ft of 1/2" OD is $2.45. Closest one to Davis is in Sacramento (there are actually 2).

My question is, how do you pre-drill at a 45 degree angle consistently? A jig and a drill press? Or just wing it with a cordless?

 

[tektonjp]

Tap Plastics has many sizes of clear acrylic tubing. 6 Ft of 1/2" OD is $2.45. Closest one to Davis is in Sacramento (there are actually 2).

My question is, how do you pre-drill at a 45 degree angle consistently? A jig and a drill press? Or just wing it with a cordless?

Make a jig out of a block of wood. Drill a 45 degree hole in that, and then use it as a drill guide on the pipe.

 

[nbrack]

This is a cool idea and saving $30 means a FREE batch of beer!!! :rockin:

 

[adamg8504]

I know it is double the price, but when we're talking $16 (+time and a big & clunky design) vs. $33 for a commercially available one from my LHBS that can hold 90 bottles, rotate and is at least half the size...It's kind of hard to go the DIY route on this one.

http://labelpeelers.com/rotating-bottle-tree-90-capacity-p-2573.html

 

[mattmeiske12]

I did mine for around $12 because I had screws and wood laying around. I'd much rather build something when it's cheap and simple than going and dropping $30 for something that isn't a "necessity". I'm with the user above.... I'd rather use that money to make a beer.

 

[BridgewaterBrewer]

I couldn't find 1/2 inch outer diameter PVC at my hardware store, so I used 1/2 inch OD polyethylene tube (Sharkbite brand). It's more flexible than PVC, but when dealing with only 6 inch lengths, the flexibility doesn't seem to matter.

 

[medley]

How are the drywall screws holding up? In my experience drywall screws rust fairly easily.

 

[MelvinSchlock]

Thanks for this. I made one today in about 2 hours. I used a thicker "trunk" which takes 8 bottles around.

 

[puddlecop]

This is awesome!

 

[enspun]

I know this thread hasnt been commented on in a while, but isnt anyone concerned about the ragged ends of the pvc tubes that hold the bottles having shavings come off in the bottles? I just completed this project and i am trying to file the ends to prevent this but am still a bit concerned. caps are much more expensive than is worth it at this point. I also think that for this project, buying was a bit cheaper than DIY. DIY is always more fun obviously...