Oxygen while bottling

[mattdee1]

I can see how bottling without a wand can work, but why? A wand is $3-$4, one of the cheapest pieces of equipment for this hobby, so not a cost issue. From a process it's extremely helpful and efficient too. I now have 2 spigots on my bucket (with a dip tube inside bucket) and the wand attached with a 2" piece of tubing. I sit at the table and bottle two at a time. Quick, simple and effective every time! Why anyone would want to turn the tap each time is beyond me! And now I wouldn't want to go back to one at a time bottling or tipping the bucket at the end (no need with dip tube).

No doubt. I bottled my first two batches by turning the spigot on and off every time. Then I picked up a $3 spring-loaded wand. Bottling day was instantly transformed from tedious to relaxing.

 

[Calder]

BTW, there are two versions of bottling wands. One has a spring-loaded tip, the other has a "drop down" gravity-actuated tip. I've used both, but prefer the spring-loaded wand, as it seems to shut off better and drip less.

I have used both. I really like the springless one, but after a while they leak and can cause a mess. I think it is due to salts (beer stone) forming on the hard sealing surfaces. It is a glued assembly, so cannot be taken apart to clean.

I tried the version with a spring, and the end came off after a few uses, leaving a bigger mess than I ever had with the springless model.

What I use now. I removed the spring, and use it as a sprngless model. Works great. The elastomer seal works better than the hard seal of the springless models, and it can be taken apart for cleaning.