Where is the 5 gal. mark on a glass carboy?

[markcubed]

Is five gallons in a standard 5 gal. glass carboy right up to the neck or is there some head space?

Thanks

 

[david_42]

Yes, no, maybe.

Every manufacturer is different and what you'll have to do is put five gallons in the carboy and mark it.

 

[MBasile]

Yes, no, maybe.

Every manufacturer is different and what you'll have to do is put five gallons in the carboy and mark it.

Bingo. My bottling bucket has volume markings, so I was able to mark 1 gallon through 5 gallon markings every half gallon on my 6 gallon carboy.

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Best way to find out is to measure out five gallons and pour it in and mark it. In my experience, five gallons is pretty close to the bottom of the neck. I believe most use six gallon carboys for this reason (I do). With a blow off, you should be fine.

 

[Tripod]

I etched mine with glass-etching compound at every gallon mark. This is not my original idea...if you search the threads you'll find the how-to...
EDIT: links are listed in my second post below...

Here's mine...


Here is one in use...I think that is the honey porter...


You can get the stuff from Michael's for $7 and not use even a quarter of it to do this. It does not make a deep etch either so you don't have to worry about compromising the mechanical strength of the glass...

-Tripod

 

[blackwaterbrewer]

that glass etching is really cool. i like the carboy in the milk crate too. excellent idea.

 

[rico567]

On my glass carboys (which are identical, came with my original kit), the first constriction on the outside of the neck is 5 gal. I have no reason to know or mark any other level. I determined this by the crude expedient of pouring 5 measured gallons of water into the carboy. Don't know of any other accurate way to do it. I expect there aren't any- the way these are made, I suspect there's some inconsistencies in thickness, which would result in different levels for a given volume.

 

[Vuarra]

I'm a Canadian, and get my water in 10 L and 4 L containers... I measured out 20 L in a carboy, and 52L in a demi-john. Now I know when I'm close to my maximums. I always leave head space for krausen / blow-off purposes.

 

[Grizzlybrew]

I etched mine with glass-etching compound at every gallon mark.

I think this is th ebest thing I have ever seen on this forum!!!

I have been trying to decide on the best way to mark my carboys. Right now, I use sharpie's that fade and wash off (permanent, my @ss!). I had just about settled on raised labels, but wasn't completely content. This is perfect!

You even answered my question about affecting the integrity of the glass. Next stop - Etching Glass Carboys

 

[Tripod]

I think this is th ebest thing I have ever seen on this forum!!!

I have been trying to decide on the best way to mark my carboys. Right now, I use sharpie's that fade and wash off (permanent, my @ss!). I had just about settled on raised labels, but wasn't completely content. This is perfect!

You even answered my question about affecting the integrity of the glass. Next stop - Etching Glass Carboys

Thanks, but all of those ideas came from HBT...I'm just paying it all forward.

Here is the link to the thread where I asked the same question a while back: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/permanently-marking-glass-carboy-each-gallon-91528/

I think it was Revvy that steered me to this link https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/marking-your-carboy-63174/ that has the step-by-step someone posted before I started searching...

I wish I could claim the idea as my own but I can't! :cross: The rings all the way around the carboy is original though...I wanted to be able to read the level from any angle. The design is mine but the technique is something I learned here.

The milk-crate happens to be just the right size so I use it because it provides handles. That way I don't worry so much about the glass slipping and breaking and slicing my leg! My carboy stays in the milk crate 24/7...another idea I got off of this site.

Hope that helps...

-Tripod

 

[Tripod]

Right now, I use sharpie's that fade and wash off (permanent, my @ss!).

I did the same thing and quickly became frustrated! Someone also suggested nail polish but I thought it would chip over time. I thought it would be cool to find that white paint they use on Pyrex to mark volume levels...I think you can write on it too...

No question, the etching is the easiest permanent solution and allows you to be as creative as you like...

-Tripod

 

[Grinder12000]

Come on people - DUCT TAPE!! Why get so technical.

 

[homebrewer_99]

You may have gotten the idea from one of my posts because I know I didn't get the idea from HBT. I've been using milk crates since 1994.

I got an etching kit for Christmas last year...now that idea I DID get from HBT. I haven't gotten around to it yet though. Kudos to whomever had the idea.

 

[Arkador]

+1 on filling your carboy 1/2 galon at a time, marking it, then acid etching it.

My 5 and 6.5gal both bit listyed volume right where the glass starts turning up to the neck.

Never trust the marks on an AlePail, they can be off by as much as 1/2 gallon! Mark them yourself with a perminate marker!

 

[DNW]

Bingo. My bottling bucket has volume markings, so I was able to mark 1 gallon through 5 gallon markings every half gallon on my 6 gallon carboy.

Uhhh...

Never trust the marks on an AlePail, they can be off by as much as 1/2 gallon! Mark them yourself with a perminate marker!

Ditto!

Great idea on the etching... But I usually ferment in a plastic bucket (unless I'm doing a secondary, where I don't need the volume any more) so I probably won't bother.