Most often broken piece of brewing equipment

[bob1852]

I hadn't broken any equipment until last night. In fact, I was laughing at this thread because of all your misfortunes.

well, I was bottling last night, and during cleanup I couldn't get the hose off of the auto siphon (first time using the brand new auto-siphon btw). So, like an idiot, rather than just conitnuing to pull and pull so more, I tried to twist, and "SNAP" goes the racking cane at the bend.

 

[Shooter]

I hadn't broken any equipment until last night. In fact, I was laughing at this thread because of all your misfortunes.

well, I was bottling last night, and during cleanup I couldn't get the hose off of the auto siphon (first time using the brand new auto-siphon btw). So, like an idiot, rather than just conitnuing to pull and pull so more, I tried to twist, and "SNAP" goes the racking cane at the bend.

I've recently found that pushing the hose harder onto the cane, I know it seems wrong to push it farther onto the hose, will loosen it and if I pull immediately back on it the tubing comes off easily.

 

[bob1852]

I've recently found that pushing the hose harder onto the cane, I know it seems wrong to push it farther onto the hose, will loosen it and if I pull immediately back on it the tubing comes off easily.

ah, the ol' chinese finger trap!

where were you last night? I'll keep that in mind when I buy my next one....

 

[petep1980]

Classic. Take gravity, rinse hydrometer, put in dish rack, wife breaks.

 

[Hegh]

I hadn't broken any equipment until last night. In fact, I was laughing at this thread because of all your misfortunes.

well, I was bottling last night, and during cleanup I couldn't get the hose off of the auto siphon (first time using the brand new auto-siphon btw). So, like an idiot, rather than just conitnuing to pull and pull so more, I tried to twist, and "SNAP" goes the racking cane at the bend.

When mine gets stuck, I run hot water over the tubing for about 30 seconds, then it pulls off easily.

But the suggestion to push and then pull is probably easier and faster, I'll have to try that next time.

 

[Cheeto]

-OTHER-

My wallet,


-Jason

 

[beerthirty]

I have collapsed a false bottom once and wounded my pride several times. Other than that I still have my original hydro, vial, and thermometer

 

[EdWort]

Ever since I bought 3 hydrometers at one time, I have never dropped one. Go figure

 

[Revvy]

Classic. Take gravity, rinse hydrometer, put in dish rack, wife breaks.

You broke your wife?

I broke my first hydrometer on Friday. So my count in my brewing career is 1 hydrometer, 1 autosiphon, and about 5 gazillion thermometers.

 

[bob1852]

I broke my first hydrometer on Friday. So my count in my brewing career is 1 hydrometer, 1 autosiphon, and about 5 gazillion thermometers.

 

[Shooter]

ah, the ol' chinese finger trap!

where were you last night? I'll keep that in mind when I buy my next one....

It has worked for me so far. Sometimes to get the tubing to push on farther I have to pull up on the edge of the tubing with my fingernail, just to get a little air between it and the cane, and then I push forward. Once it gets moving I think the residual liquid in the tube tends to work it's way up on to the cane and lubricate it and that also seems to help in pulling it off, as it tends to slide off very easily at that point.

 

[ODP]

I haven't begun brewing yet, but after unpacking my equipment that came in the mail yesterday, my guess is that the hydrometer will be the first to perish due to my clumsy hands. That little guy looks a little fragile.

 

[globeboxxr]

I've destroyed two hydrometers in the last 3 months. They never seem to just break either... they tend to launch out of the test container, flying through the air in slow motion, ending up in million pieces on my kitchen floor.

Also, I snapped a racking cane. I'm not exactly sure how, but there it is.

 

[Beernik]

I got tired of breaking hydros and bought a refract.

 

[IanP]

well, I was bottling last night, and during cleanup I couldn't get the hose off of the auto siphon (first time using the brand new auto-siphon btw). So, like an idiot, rather than just conitnuing to pull and pull so more, I tried to twist, and "SNAP" goes the racking cane at the bend.

A perfect description of how/why I started this thread in the first place. Thanks to those posting ideas on how to avoid in the future! Now to find out if I can make them work...

 

[thelorax121]

Only hydrometers broken so far, but I am shocked that I haven't merc'd my autosiphon yet, 22 brews and counting...

 

[allanmorgan]

Two floating thermometers...they hate me....and one auto-siphon.

 

[enkamania]

A while back I went through a bunch of thermometers. I've become much more coordinated evidently

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Things of mine that get broken the most (in order)

1) Sunday morning plans
2) Bank account
3) Having a 'normal' conversation about beer

 

[kh54s10]

I have broken one hydrometer. The cane part of my autosiphon cracked after many years of good use. The pump part of my Vinator broke at the threads I guess years under tension of the spring was too much for it. Three items in 5 1/4 years. Not too bad.

 

[allanmorgan]

I haven't begun brewing yet, but after unpacking my equipment that came in the mail yesterday, my guess is that the hydrometer will be the first to perish due to my clumsy hands. That little guy looks a little fragile.

Congrats on your pending first brew. When it takes hold of you, there's no turning back.

 

[theDREWery]

Not only have I broken mostly airlocks, they're the only thing I've broken. Have three hydrometers, three racking canes (1 gal, stainless, and auto), and 20+ glass carboys. Must have gotten used to being careful working in the machine shop, or something.

Also, the airlocks were only broke because they were too clogged to bother cleaning them.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Pride, is the most oft broken piece of home brewing equipment.

Usually sanity comes right after.

 

[jerbrew]

Airlock. I usually keep 2 brand new ones on hand. probably broken 5 just this year.

Although I went about 4 years with one hydrometer and then broke 3 in one month. Pretty careless and frustrating month.

 

[jcav]

Cool a zombie thread brought back to life! I broke a hydrometer once and the plastic "L" tube of my auto siphon back in the days when I used to bottle. Hey Passedpawn enjoyed your story about the carboy with hot wort shattering in the pool and the algae bloom afterwards! Wonder if that wheat wort made it take off like no tomorrow!

John

 

[EDF713]

When I opened this thread, but before I started reading it, I thought "well, I'm fortunate because I haven't broken many things." I thought of a hydrometer that rolled off a counter and an airlock I somehow crushed. Then I saw the choice "bottles". Oh yeah. I've broken more bottles than anything else. One of these days I'll start kegging, but it will not bring back lives of those bottles that died so many senseless and clumsy deaths. One even broke itself at the bottom of a washtub. I'm not sure how it happened, I just found the remains. It's bottles for me.

 

[CheerfulHeart]

I have learned from copious experience that hydrometers don't bounce. Not when you drop them on concrete, granite, kitchen mats or even shag carpets (don't ask). I have learned to keep at least 2 new ones waiting in their padded tubes.

 

[JimRausch]

2 hydrometers, 1 carboy, 1 autosiphon, 1 thermometer. Not bad in almost 5 years of brewing, and scanning the rest of the necroed thread, about par for the course. Oh yeah, I have 3 airlocks with cracks, but I just ducktape those.

 

[bobeer]

not that I break it but I replace auto siphon's more than any other piece of equipment-- Just due to the build up of funk that gets in it...

 

[fourfarthing]

1 wine thief glass, 1 wine thief plastic, 3 hydrometers, 1 thermometer, 1 test jar, numerous other pieces. All in 1 1/2 years!