There has to be a better way.....

[Brownalemikie]

I bottle my beer by myself and a have trouble with the auto siphon slipping up and down while pumping to start filling bottles from the carboy. I'd rather not transfer to a bottling bucket. If I had 3 hands I could hold the auto siphon while pumping.

Do you guys have any tricks to secure the auto siphon inside the carboy while doing the initial pump? I've tried the 1/2" clamp but that slides too. Thanks!

 

[indymedic]

Do you use a bottling wand? If so you should be able to use 2 hands to start the siphon and then pick up your bottle filler and go at it.

 

[mj1angier]

Yeah, the clamp on mine slides too. My thought ( which I have not tried yet) is to slip an O ring on the tube above the clamp. It would be tight enough to hold in place but can be moved up or down to fit different size carboys

 

[n3lson1]

Cut open a universal bung and put the bottling wand through it. It will still slip a bit but usually you can find a good spot for it and bottle away.
Cheers!

 

[flars]

There is a clip sold for the auto siphon to hold it to the lip of a carboy and bucket. Wrap some tape above and below the clip or your clamp to prevent sliding for doing a one hand pump.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Thanks guys, I'm thinking I'll try Flars idea about using tape to secure it. Will give update on Friday after bottling some porter.

Btw, I've already tried using the Fermtech clip/clamp and it slides around too. Maybe tape will work.

 

[Scturo]

I started using the auto siphon to bottle, but had the same problems that you are having. I switched to a bottling bucket, with a bottling wand connected to the spigot (using a piece of tubing). Way easier and cleaner.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

Mine slips too. A couple layers of paper towel wrapped between the clamp and the siphon tightens it up enough to keep it from slipping but still allows it to slide when you need it to. Costs nothing, disposable, and takes two seconds to put on.

 

[kristiismean]

Been answered to death I guess

that said, there are different sizes, and some are closer to each other. I thought mine was loose, i grabbed the wrong one....

 

[max384]

Best thing I did to stop this from happening was to start kegging!

Seriously though, a worm clamp on the racking cane works great, and is easy to take on/off.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Best thing I did to stop this from happening was to start kegging!

Seriously though, a worm clamp on the racking cane works great, and is easy to take on/off.

I like this idea too, but I'm confused how to attach the worm clamp. Do you have any pics or diagrams? Thanks!

 

[max384]

There are two options, depending upon the type of racking cane holder you have. You can attach it to the racking cane just above the holder, and that keeps it from sliding down any further. If your racking can has a lip, you can put the worm clamp over that as well.

 

[xCSx]

Bottling bucket is so worth it...

 

[PADave]

Best thing I did to stop this from happening was to start kegging!

Seriously though, a worm clamp on the racking cane works great, and is easy to take on/off.

Or just use a bottling bucket. Messing with a siphon while trying to bottle doesn't sound like fun.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Or just use a bottling bucket. Messing with a siphon while trying to bottle doesn't sound like fun.

Ok, I'm convinced. But first I'm gonna try taping the auto siphon to the carboy. Maybe I'm a little paranoid but I'd just as soon not transfer the beer more than needed due to nasties getting in the beer. Have not had an infection yet...want to keep it that way. If tape doesn't work, then I'll get a bucket

Thanks guys!

 

[brewcat]

Why not a bottling bucket? Seems it would be easier to mix priming solution.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Why not a bottling bucket? Seems it would be easier to mix priming solution.

Well, I've been using Domino Dot sugar cubes....one per bottle. I only brew 2 1/2 gallon batches so sugar cubes work good so far.

 

[passedpawn]

Here's what I used with glass carboys and better bottles. Worked great for years.

Now I use this, for my Big Mouth Bubblers.

 

[PADave]

Ok, I'm convinced. But first I'm gonna try taping the auto siphon to the carboy. Maybe I'm a little paranoid but I'd just as soon not transfer the beer more than needed due to nasties getting in the beer. Have not had an infection yet...want to keep it that way. If tape doesn't work, then I'll get a bucket

Thanks guys!

Just use starsan on the bucket and make sure you clean it out as soon as you are done. You've got just as much chance, or even more, of picking up something from the autosiphon or tubing, which IMO are harder to clean than a bucket.

 

[MaryB]

I ferment in my bottling buckets and save a step. For ales that don't need long ferments it works well. Yeast cake settles below the spigot and any that is in the spigot initially comes out when I pull the hydrometer sample. I use hop bags during the boil to cut down on how much junk ends in the fermenters... Switched to this a year ago with no issues and several 6 week ferments. I pull the spigots and clean the threads etc in a bucket of concentrated PBW solution then reassemble.

 

[mj1angier]

Got a o-ring kit at Home Depot for $10. Fixed