Need to get more beer out while racking

[Krelja]

I'm using this racking cane right now and it works ok, but I want to try to get more beer out of my carboys.
Sterile Siphon Starter - For 5 and 6 Gallon Carboys | MoreBeer
It seems to work really well for the beginning of the process but once I get down to the end it just plain sux. If I lose the flow with around an inch or two left I can never get it going again. It seems like I'm losing at least a 22 oz or more. What else can I try to get the rest of my nectar out?

 

[rsmith179]

Go for an autosiphon. You can find them at pretty much any LHBS or online as well. They're cheap and work great. Nothing better than being able to start a siphon just by pumping the cane once or twice. The autosiphon also gets pretty much everything out of your carboys so there isn't much wasted at all. One of the best, minor investments I've made for brewing to date.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

This may be a silly question, but are you angling your fermenter when you rack?

I use a piece of 2x4 to raise the front of the fermenter a couple of inches. This tends to be enough that I get all but a couple of very yeasty ounces out (you rack from the low part).

And, +1 on the autosiphon.

 

[Darkstashcrashes]

autosiphon +1

 

[flylock_jac]

autosiphon is the way to go.
Also check out your local dollar store or plant section at wally world.
I found this little guy in a dollar store. they were selling em 4 for a buck.
Was only one left ,so I grabbed it. It fits perfectly around the autosiphon and lets you adjust the depth for siphoning and frees up your hands . used it the other night. started my siphon and left it alone.

 

[jgln]

This is why I like bottling with a bucket with a spigot as a secondary. I never lose suction because there is none and if there is suitable beer left below the spigot I can tilt the bucket at that time and get the last bit. Like I mentioned in other threads the beers I brew have sometimes up to 4" of trub left so I always transfer into a secondary with a spigot. I have a glass carboy I use for wine and I pretty have no choice but to siphon that.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

+1 to the auto siphon
+1 to tilting your carboy

 

[user 30639]

+1 to the auto siphon
+1 to tilting your carboy

+1 on both of those. In my short brewing career, the auto siphon has been the best 10 bucks I've spent.

 

[Benjibbad]

Question along the same lines, I recently moved from glass carboys to better bottles with the racking port installed. In a few days I am going to be racking to secondary for a dry hopping. The racking port rotates so I should be able to get everything. Anyone have any experiance with these? Pros Cons?

 

[Scut_Monkey]

I don't have any experience with better bottle but everyone seems to enjoy them except the add on items are expensive. I can say that the auto-siphon is great and probably one of the tope 3 add on items I have bought for my brewing. I do have to say that the internal portion of the auto siphon is relatively fragile and mine broke when trying to remove the tubing I have attached to it. It turned out ok as the break was at the top and I simply cut just below the break.

I also agree with tilting the carboy or bucket. I bottle out of a bottling bucket and I tend to tilt it when I'm at the last 3 bottle or so. This tends to put a little more sediment into the last 2 bottles but I typically keep those for initial sampling to determine if carbonation is good and if the flavor of the beer is turning out ok.

Also, Revy posted a rather detailed post on bottling tips. Included in the post is a bottling dip tube which can be used in a bottling bucket. Seems like a great idea to me and I'm planning to try it out next time. Below is the link.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/revvys-tips-bottler-first-time-otherwise-94812/

 

[Krelja]

Thanks for all the help. I was looking at the auto-siphon and it seemed to work very well. I do tilt the carboy when moving to the bottling bucket or secondary. So at least I was half way there

 

[Duane_Austin]

+1 autosiphon

It came w/ my homebrew starter kit w/ buckets, etc., and thank C2H5OH it did.

Because I just did my 1st batch, and read tons of books and online articles on beginning brewing, and they all talked about the tricks of starting siphoning, and got all fretted out about that step, then discovered this autosiphon thing that came with my kit -- nothing to it!

Almost makes me wonder if there are disadvantages to the autosiphon if all these books written by veterans talk about starting a siphon and make it sound all complicated -- why don't they just tell beginners to get an autosiphon for $10? Is there something wrong with it? Are they just being purists? Gotta figure the the autosiphon has been around long enough, that these writers being "old-timers" can't account for it. Dunno. But it worked great for me, and see no reason why not to use one.

 

[Krelja]

I picked up the autsiphon but I haven't used it yet. I am worried about one thing. It's gonna be a pretty close fit with my glass carboy so I'm not sure how much I wil be able to move it around in the carboy. I also have a better bottle that it should work perfectly because the mouth of better bottle is about twice the size. I figured I'd throw this in as well since it was mentioned earlier. I do bottle out of my bucket with a spigot but I have to get it outta the carboys and into the bucket spigots rule