Help!! Bottles keep breaking!!

[Stauffbier]

So, I primed up my 2nd batch of beer in my bottling bucket to start bottling tonight.. I am capping with a cheap butterfly capper (black one from Midwest). The very first bottle capped up, but it seemed to be hard to cap. It took 3 squeezes of the butterfly to get a good seal. Seemed strange, but I continued. Then, to my horror, the next bottle broke when I squeezed. I tried again, and the next 2 bottles broke as well. All 3 bottles were different size and brand. 2 were bottles that I had capped on my first batch with the same capper. I might add that my first batch of 49 bottles capped up just fine with this capper. I'm not sure what has happened to cause this, but to be safe I decided to order a bench top capper. I have a couple questions;

1) Can anyone recommend a good bench top capper and distributor to order it from?

2) Is it bad that I put my already primed beer back in the secondary on top of the yeast cake it came off of? I'm guessing it will be ok if I just let the yeast ferment the priming sugar back out??

3) Will I re-prime with the same amount of corn sugar again next time I attempt to bottle this beer?

I'm super frustrated and disappointed at this moment! I'm hoping this is just a learning experience, and not a total loss of a batch of beer (that smells and tastes amazing already)...

Please help!
Much thanks!!!

 

[jonmohno]

Were they screw top bottles? These are the only ones i had break,butterfly cappers are not cheap,mine hasnt failed me and they are said to last forever.
How long did you prime your beer then decide to put it back on the yeast cake? HOw did you put it back? Did you carefully pour?

 

[Stauffbier]

They were pop top bottles. One was a 22oz that came from Midwest with the capper. One was a New Belgium and the 3rd was a Sierra Nevada. Both of which I had already used once before. I had another one of the 22oz slightly crack, but not break too..

The beer was primed for very little time. When I realized i was having trouble I put it back in the secondary right away. It had just been racked into the bottle bucket about 30 mins prior. I took the bottle filler off of the siphon hose and just stuck the hose back into the secondary and let 'er rip out of the bottle spiggot. It didn't stir up the yeast very much.

 

[Stauffbier]

butterfly cappers are not cheap,mine hasnt failed me and they are said to last forever.

Not to contradict you, but I think mine is of poor quality. I just went to inspect the capper more closely, and I have discovered that the two metal pieces that come together and grip the bottle are both bent out of shape. One is twisted left and the other is twisted to the right. Now I can see why my bottles were breaking with such liitle force applied. I think my first batch wore the thing out. I'm guessing the red (more expensive) butterfly capper they have at Midwest might be made of stronger materials. It would appear that I need to order a capper either way. So, bench top is the way I'm going to go...

 

[Kosch]

I just picked this up from my LHBS:

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_356_61&products_id=985

I haven't bottled a batch with it yet, but I've test capped (and uncapped, and recapped) about 15 bottles, and it's MUCH nicer than the wing capper IMHO.

Kosch

 

[Stauffbier]

Thanks Kosch! I just found the exact same one on ebay.. I'm going to order it! I'm thinking a bench top capper will be able to cap more types of bottle than a butterfly will since it doesn't have to grab the "capping flange" on the bottle...

 

[ajf]

So, I primed up my 2nd batch of beer in my bottling bucket to start bottling tonight.. I am capping with a cheap butterfly capper (black one from Midwest). The very first bottle capped up, but it seemed to be hard to cap. It took 3 squeezes of the butterfly to get a good seal. Seemed strange, but I continued. Then, to my horror, the next bottle broke when I squeezed. I tried again, and the next 2 bottles broke as well. All 3 bottles were different size and brand. 2 were bottles that I had capped on my first batch with the same capper. I might add that my first batch of 49 bottles capped up just fine with this capper. I'm not sure what has happened to cause this, but to be safe I decided to order a bench top capper. I have a couple questions;

1) Can anyone recommend a good bench top capper and distributor to order it from?

2) Is it bad that I put my already primed beer back in the secondary on top of the yeast cake it came off of? I'm guessing it will be ok if I just let the yeast ferment the priming sugar back out??

3) Will I re-prime with the same amount of corn sugar again next time I attempt to bottle this beer?

I'm super frustrated and disappointed at this moment! I'm hoping this is just a learning experience, and not a total loss of a batch of beer (that smells and tastes amazing already)...

Please help!
Much thanks!!!

Send me a PM with your address, and I'll send you a butterfly capper that works fine. At least it worked fine when I used to use it.

-a.

 

[jonmohno]

butterfly cappers are not cheap,mine hasnt failed me and they are said to last forever.

Not to contradict you, but I think mine is of poor quality. I just went to inspect the capper more closely, and I have discovered that the two metal pieces that come together and grip the bottle are both bent out of shape. One is twisted left and the other is twisted to the right. Now I can see why my bottles were breaking with such liitle force applied. I think my first batch wore the thing out. I'm guessing the red (more expensive) butterfly capper they have at Midwest might be made of stronger materials. It would appear that I need to order a capper either way. So, bench top is the way I'm going to go...

Hmm thats weird the capper called black beauty was actually more expensive than the red barren i ended up having to buy,Ive only had a problem with specifically the boulevard brewry twist caps/bottles- i was shocked i closed down on one it broke(bye bye beer ) then another broke- had to toss that beer,didnt want to drink some glass.Generally all the craft beer bottles specifically the long necks it seems ive never had a problem,and i get a massive variety of them. Im usually drinking 6 mixers and bottle conditioned beer. Those stubbies like sierra nevada are very easy to capp,so much you dont think you even capped them,they do stick some when pulling back.Maybe dont press so hard???

 

[BucksPA]

i think, and I would want someone else to clarify as this has never happned to me, but I believe that any residual yeast left in suspension will eat up the priming sugar you put in just now. I'd make sure everything is sanitized and closed up airtight until you can get a capper. Hopefully its tomorrow. I'd want to add more priming sugar again.

anyone else?

 

[Stauffbier]

Thanks ajf, but I just ordered a bench top. I'll keep you in mind if I still have trouble.. Thanks again!

Jonmohno.. I think it's too late to try and not press too hard. I believe I must have been capping to hard and that's what bent my capper. Not sure. Hopefully bench top will solve my problems.

BucksPA, It's already back in the secondary sitting on the original yeast cake again. I didn't sanitize the secondary since the beer had just come out 30 mins earliear. I was planning on washing the yeast, so I left a little beer in the secondary on the cake and put a freshly sanitized bung and airlock on to keep the cake safe till I wahed. So, I'm thinking it should be safe from infection. It will be at least a week before my new capper arrives. I live in BFE and there are no LHBS's around so I have to order everything...

 

[BucksPA]

time will tell. the yeasties should eat everything up. if it's an ale, get it on the high end of the fermentation temp range, ie 68 F for 2 days. Then, add your priming sugar again at bottling and report back to us a few weeks later. I think you'll be fine, though it is something I have never experienced myself.

I keg and/or bottle but I have heard the horror stories numerous times before about cappers failing on bottling day. Always a good idea to have a spare I guess.

 

[Stauffbier]

time will tell. the yeasties should eat everything up. if it's an ale, get it on the high end of the fermentation temp range, ie 68 F for 2 days. Then, add your priming sugar again at bottling and report back to us a few weeks later. I think you'll be fine, though it is something I have never experienced myself.

I keg and/or bottle but I have heard the horror stories numerous times before about cappers failing on bottling day. Always a good idea to have a spare I guess.

It is an ale. I have it at 65F right now.. I'll try to kick it up a few degrees. I'm thinking the worst that will happen is my ABV % will go up, which doesn't seem like such a bad thing. I guess it will be a good learning experience. I just hate that I lost 46 oz of good beer!

I'll keep you all posted on the results..

Thanks for the input!

 

[djfriesen]

Your priming sugar should have a negligible affect on your ABV. I'm willing to be you'll never know the difference.

 

[Stauffbier]

Your priming sugar should have a negligible affect on your ABV. I'm willing to be you'll never know the difference.

And I'm fine with that as long as it isn't ruined. It's my German Christmas Amber Ale. I'm hoping to get it bottled in time to actually drink it ON Christmas!

 

[djfriesen]

Your only real concern, I would think, is oxidation. But, as long as you were careful putting it back in primary, that shouldn't be a real issue. I'm sure it will be great on Christmas!!! Cheers!

 

[Stauffbier]

Your only real concern, I would think, is oxidation. !

I was thinking the same thing. I could have been more gentle, but frustration took over. Maybe since the yeast will be working to consume the corn sugar it will also use up what little oxygen got in...

 

[lgilmore]

I broke my second bottle using a butterfly. Part of it was I just was pressing too hard to put the cap on. I backed off a little on the down ward pressure and hasn't happened since.

But you should find a capper that works best for you.

 

[djfriesen]

If you're worried, throw a party and get that stuff consumed before the oxidation presents itself. On the other hand, it may end up being no issue at all.

Maybe since the yeast will be working to consume the corn sugar it will also use up what little oxygen got in...

That's a thought. But if that were the case, I would think oxidation would never be an issue in bottling as there is always some small-scale fermentation occurring in order to carbonate the beer. Either way, there isn't anything you can do about it now. Live, learn, and drink quickly!!

 

[Stauffbier]

I broke my second bottle using a butterfly. Part of it was I just was pressing too hard to put the cap on. I backed off a little on the down ward pressure and hasn't happened since.

But you should find a capper that works best for you.

Mine definitely got bent somehow.. I tried to bend it back in shape with pliers, but I can tell when I squeeze on a bottle that it isn't engaging properly still. I'm not even going to bother breaking more of my bottles with it. I'm sure it was my own user error that did the damage, but too late now. So, capper upgrade due to circumstance. I wanted a bench top anyway...

 

[Stauffbier]

Live, learn, and drink quickly!!

This is something I can do!

 

[Stauffbier]

So, I just got my new bench top capper. I found 5 of the most odd shaped and sized bottles I could find, and it capped all 5 marvelously... I'm looking forward to my 2nd attempt at bottling my German Christmas Ale this weekend!

 

[viking73]

I had a similar problem with new belgium bottles, they seem to break quite easily. I've since gotten rid of them and started using 22s. I also cap with a red baron.

 

[alexdagrate]

I've used the same red emily (wing) capper for over 8 years, hundreds of batches, no problems.

I typically use 12 oz Deschutes bottles, standard-issue 22 oz bottles (ninkasi, deschutes, etc), and Sierra nevada's awesome 24 oz and 750ml bottles.

I wish I had hundreds of those Sierra Nevada 750 ml, they're fantastic and super-tough.

Just by switching from 12 oz bottles to 750 ml bottles, you can cut the number of bottles you have to sanitize by more than half!

 

[Stauffbier]

I think I might have capped a bottle that had a capping flange on it that was a little too long. I probably forced it to cap instead of rejecting the bottle. I think that may have bent the metal. After that I couldn't cap anything. Not even bottles that came with the capper. The benchtop model seems to work well. We shall see.

With all of this being said, I inteand to bottle tomorrow night. I think the corn sugar has fermented out. I've gotten 1.014 twice this week (2 days apart).. I'll check again tomorrow. Strange because it finished out at 1.013 the first time around.. What I'm wondering is....

Should I prime it with 2oz of corn sugar again, like I did the first time around? Or should I cut back a little?

 

[unionrdr]

I use the Red Baron capper myself. I broke one SN stubby with it. I found that if you lower the handles gently to seat the neck grippers in place before seating the cap I don't break the neck of the bottle. I show this in my bottling video in my gallery. Then just pull down on the handles evenly,& with medium pressure. Never broke another bottle. You can't be aggressive with wing cappers.
But the bench capper is def better. So far,I've only had trouble with the Sapporo bottles. The wing capper hangs up on one side of the cap. I think Smithwick's bottles did that once in a while. All the others work great.
Sierra Nevada
Sam Adam's
Paulaner
DFH
Franziskaner
Great Lakes
Magic Hat
Just to name a short list...

 

[Stauffbier]

Just bottled up finally! The bench top capper worked great on every brand of bottle I threw at it!

 

[Toy4Rick]

Hey gang,

I use the red wing capper and over 8-9 batches, not a single issue, have used all different 12 and 22oz bottles that I gather from the neighborhood trash.

My neighbor uses the same capper and again, no issues at all

Might just have a bad capper

Toy4Rick

 

[Stauffbier]

Hey gang,

I use the red wing capper and over 8-9 batches, not a single issue, have used all different 12 and 22oz bottles that I gather from the neighborhood trash.

My neighbor uses the same capper and again, no issues at all

Might just have a bad capper

Toy4Rick

I'm noticing that pretty much everyone in this thread has a good track record with the Red Wing capper. Unfortunately, my brewing kit came with the Black Beauty. It's a few bucks cheaper than the Red Wing. I could be wrong, but in the photo the Red Wing looks more heavy duty. Like noted before, I think I bent part of it by forcing it to cap a bottle that probably should have been rejected. I considered buying the Red Wing as a replacement, but I decided to get the bench top capper instead. I'm glad I did, because it capped every single type of bottle that I have! :rockin:

 

[unionrdr]

I bought the Red Baron wing capper because the bench model they had for my purposes was more expensive. Not only that,It seemed to me to be the brand/model that uses a plastic pin for height adjustment. Something like that. But I still want to get one,as it would keep the bottle more steady when pressing the caps. Atm,I have to use a small,round pot holder that came in a set my wife bought. I usually set the bottle on it when capping. When I made that bottling video,it had been miss-placed.

 

[C-Rider]

I've never had a broken bottle w/my red wing capper. Just checked, it's made in Italy.

I love Sierra Nevada beer and I like stubbies. They fit much better on the top shelf of my apt sized fridge. Some of the long nexks touch the top and some are to tall altogether and have to go ont he lower shelf. Trying to covert to all stubbies.

 

[truekey]

Bump.

I just tried bottling a gallon of cider I did as an experiment (belgian yeast + cinnamon) and I cracked four bottles with my black beauty.

I thought at first it was a fluke and I had leaned too far. After that, they kept on breaking, couldn't even get the handles on the capper a quarter of the way down.

Is it done? Should I go buy a new capper?

Also, I'm glad it was just a gallon batch. Cider tasted like the best I've done yet, so I wasn't too happy about my capper ruining bottling day for me

 

[Stauffbier]

My Black Beauty never worked again. I ended up getting a bench capper, and that thing has capped thousands of bottles since this thread was started. It will cap any brand of pop top bottle.

 

[truekey]

Looks like I'll be shelling out the cash for that.

I have only been brewing a year, only made twelve batches of beer or so. I didn't expect the capper to break so soon.

 

[jonmohno]

I broke part of my redwing by trying to recap some unfinished belgian bottled ales which are not meant for cappers-you can but not press too hard. Just a warning. It was only one side that snapped off,where its suppose to stop but its still good to cap bottles. Just stay away from the belgian bottles-particulary the bigger bomber bottles, the small ones like pirrat or drakkur have a different lip that are ok.

 

[Stauffbier]

My Black Beauty ended up with bended metal parts, because I tried to cap bottles that it didn't work on properly. It was definitely user error on my part. That's why I like my bench capper. It will cap ANY bottle as long as the cap is the right size.