Not So Fun

[beerjunky828]

While bottling sux it is currently the cheapest way for me to consume my creation. Even better when you have friends to help cap the bottles.

So if you have a hand-capper do not crimp the caps on with too much force as the BOTTLE CAN BREAK AND CUT YOUR FRIENDS HAND. There was some heavy bleeding. Needless to say, a spectator was taken care of the cut and I was tending to the beer. The day could have been much worse.

Just a warning to the NooBs.

 

[humann_brewing]

The buddy that got me into brewing use to have semi-weekly brewing parties. One week would be brewing and then the next time it would be bottling.

Friends come in great for beer making.

 

[SkewedBrewing]

I've had a New Belgium bottle shatter in my hands while capping. Not cool. Sorry to hear that it ended with someone getting hurt.

Now you/he can say the beer was literally made with blood sweat and tears.

 

[beerjunky828]

And I will say that there is no "bad blood" about it. He wants to take on and conquer the capper the for the next batch. Determined to not waste a beer.

 

[JPicasso]

The trick with the wing cappers, you don't want to cap with downward force,
you're only twisting your hands and the capper does the pressing.

I'm jealous though, my bottle operations are a one-man job.

 

[humann_brewing]

And I will say that there is no "bad blood" about it. He wants to take on and conquer the capper the for the next batch. Determined to not waste a beer.

That's the spirit!

 

[jpc]

I'm jealous though, my bottle operations are a one-man job.

as is my sex life.

 

[nealf]

You weren't using twist-off bottles were you? I have heard they break fairly easily when using those wing cappers.

 

[homebrewer_99]

The trick with the wing cappers, you don't want to cap with downward force, you're only twisting your hands and the capper does the pressing...

Do you have a Red Wing capper?

Chances are it wasn't the DOWNWARD pressure on the capper as much as it was the LAST PUSH to crimp. It also exerted inward pressure on the lip of the plates which crushed the bottle neck.

Turn your capper over and look at the metal clamping plates that capture the lip of the bottle.

There are two cresent sizes. Could be yours is set to the wrong size for the bottle. That's why I have 2 cappers...one preset for each size...

See my picture...if you reverse the metal plates chances are you won't break any more bottles... Give it a try.

 

[JPicasso]

Metal plates???!

Reversible??!!

It's 11:41 and I thought I would go to bed today without learning anything.

Thanks homebrew99. Seriously, never knew about those plates.

 

[homebrewer_99]

There are 2 different red cappers. One has reversible plates and one doesn't.

IMO this is important if you are looking for a capper, but hardly anyone knows about the plates.

If you get the black capper...the other side of the plate is flat and therefore, not reversible...don't buy them...