Headspace and secondary fermentation.

[LavransAUG]

Hello. I am brewing raisin wine and I wonder how much headspace it too much headspace regarding a 10 litre plastic bucket. I think the yield will be around 7 to 7,5 litres and is this too much headspace during secondary fermentation? Thanks.

 

[Yooper]

You want a carboy or jug, or a demijohn, filled up to within an inch of the top at the narrowest part of the vessel, right under the stopper, to avoid oxidation. A bucket will not do.

 

[Francis Eric]

I agree with above, but since this is such a small amount
you could rack into a number of (8) fifth bottles (sanitized)
or 1.79 litre bottles

7 or 7 1/2 litre is about 2 gallons
while I know plumbing places have rubber bungs
could get these for 20 cents , and make caps by drilling
(for bung to fit glass bottle caps)

I have had to do that because couldn't get to a wine store
or afford a lot of bungs In bulk at the moment (it was a lot)

this is more work though as you'd have to drill the caps of the bottles

Just adding b/c people might nit have wine stores by them

also I did do the whole ballon with the pin whole
first wine someone gave me there wine was good
I did it, and it was oxidized

you could make a airlock with a bent copper pipe (if you got some leying around)
or fish hose tied with a rubber band (should have a gap like in the U part)
I do not know it has been so long but maybe some card board jammed in there.

Guess I am going to have to try myself
(actually wine store is a lot farther for me as well now
like 20 miles or Chicago 40 so I might have to as well , but it isn't difficult .)