If you bottle with caps, get a bench capper. Seriously.

[T8rAleKing]

I broke my plastic red wing capper after about 5 bottles of my first batch. Let me tell you it's no fun trying to cap bottles with the bell and a hammer. Bought a bench capper after that and haven't looked back since.

I had this same problem after 4 bottles (the very 1st bottle-capping experience of my homebrew history)...thank god I had a backup all metal capper in the garage, which I had just picked up off of craigslist 2 days prior.

wing capper it is for me as I learned from Revvy and "The System" :rockin:

 

[lou2row]

The only bottle I haven't been able to cap with my wing was a Hob Goblin.

 

[zacjack]

If you bottle with caps, get a kegging system. Seriously.

Fixed that for ya'

 

[Stauffbier]

I used to use a wing capper, but as my batches got larger, I found it was quicker to use a bench capper due to one-handed operation. One hand fills and places a cap on the bottle, while the other hand caps it on, then removes it. Repeat.

You're quite the multi-tasker! I fill all of my bottles first and just place the caps on loosely, and then I cap them all with my bench capper. It takes me 5 minutes at the most to crimp all of the caps..

 

[kh54s10]

You're quite the multi-tasker! I fill all of my bottles first and just place the caps on loosely, and then I cap them all with my bench capper. It takes me 5 minutes at the most to crimp all of the caps..

About the same with my wing capper.

I have never used a bench capper. How about some one sending me one, I'll test them and give a report.

 

[Calder]

I have 2 red-wing cappers. Both are about 15 years old and going strong. I have one set for regular bottles and one set for champagne bottles. I've looked at bench cappers, but never felt they were worth the cost.

I fill the bottles, cover with caps, clean up and then cap. Takes about 5 to 10 minutes to cap about 65 bottles.

 

[jonmohno]

Ive only broken a few which were twist caps(avoid those) with my red barron.Works perfect,i can do it very quickly with most every bottle long necks seem the easiest consistant-wise but probably not the weird big bottle belgian ones though .The short ones go on easiest but pulling up they catch a little-no big deal though.

 

[iaefebs]

I cap about 120 bottles a year and the wing capper works fine

 

[nbolmer]

About the same with my wing capper.

I have never used a bench capper. How about some one sending me one, I'll test them and give a report.

I got a classic one from the 1960s on ebay for 15 bucks

 

[feelinhopy]

I just use grolsh style bottles. Skip caps all together.

 

[D0ug]

Listen, you guys have NOT experienced bottling unless you've done ten gallons with a Hammer Capper, talk about smooth.

 

[nbolmer]

Listen, you guys have NOT experienced bottling unless you've done ten gallons with a Hammer Capper, talk about smooth.

I believe hammer cappers went out with the triceratops.