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Jim: Yep, they're normas. Agreed that they're seated well enough but took the picture to demonstrate the inconsistency. It's better since I made the adjustment. Previously, seating was anywhere from 1/4" above to 1/2 " into the neck. Brant: The corks were wetted in Kmeta solution and seemed...

Not sure what happened. Here the original shot of the play.

Took an in-depth look at the corker after the last note and found that the jam nuts on the platform lock/release had some play. This adjustment controls when the bottle platform locks and releases. I removed the extra play and the platform releases now when the plunger clears the iris...

Thanks Brant, your point is well taken in that the top of the bottle will always rest against the underside of the corker due to the bottle platform spring tension. If the platform slips downward during the insertion process, the cork would indeed seat higher. I'm still at a loss as to why the...

Thanks Jim, believe you're right. In Root Cause Analyses, one phase is called a "Change Analysis" and many times that's where the primary cause lies. Have used all my regular corks and just opened the Nomas for this bottling. I'll be visiting my LHBS this week and plan to pick up a bag of my...

Thanks NorCal, I went back over the entire corker with a fine toothed comb this afternoon and gave special attention to that area. It appears that the connecting rod and lock bar are functioning the way they should. The bottle platform locks tight when the handle is pulled down. There is just...

Thanks Vinny, Giving the corker the once over again to see if I missed anything on the first look. I'm using the AIO so the ullage is pretty close to identical but understand your point on internal pressure. Since a liquid is incompressible, its gotta go somewhere. Your second point - bottle...

Experienced an unusual situation this week while bottling the ’22 crop of muscadine wine. I have used my Portuguese floor corker for 30+yrs with no problems and it has always seated the cork at the correct depth. This week for some unknown reason, it would leave some norma corks 1/4 inch high...

A day without wine is like a day without sunshine. A day without sunshine is like - night?:p

That would be my guess.

I used to be a bee keeper in a previous life. Tulip poplar was the only plant in this area that produced a large surplus of nectar which the bees converted into a dark, some say strong-tasting honey. It's generally in high demand here. Have never heard of any use for the flowers but would...

+ 2 to Chuck and Jim I wouldn't worry about oxidation when bottling unless it's gonna take a REALLY long time - like a couple of days as long as you have sulphited sufficiently. I will be doing the same routine with a 54 l demi next week. The wine has already been sulphited and sorbate added...

I'd check with one of the big box stores. They carry a wide assortment of springs.

I'm happy to report that the new "Thief" arrived in the mail this afternoon. Many thanks to Patrick at Fermtech for standing by their products and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Well Duh!:slp Trying to figure out a way to retrieve samples from a newly acquired 54 l demijohn that is only half full (at this point). Had hoped I’d hear something from Fermtech letting me know when to expect the replacement “Thief’ but nary a word - not even a response to my last note...

Well, Customer Service at Fermtech is alive and well. Just got a note from Patrick stating that he was shipping me a new one.👍 That's the level of customer support all companies should strive for.

Welcome to WMT. Keep us posted on goings-on.

Well, I decided to take a look inside after 3 hot water baths failed to correct the leaking. Heated the base gently with a heat gun until the glue released and I was able to disassemble. There is a small "O" ring around the valve pin that appeared under magnification to be intact . I couldn't...

Thanks Brian, will give that a try and let you know if it works. It's almost like the pin in the check valve isn't seating. Wondering if its a manufacturing defect since its new. Does yours leak at all?

Thanks Bob. I still have my original glass thief but seldom use it. Bought the Fermtech version to replace my test jar and cut down on sampling time. Looks like a bad plan on my part; Fermtech still hasn't responded. Not a big loss if I trash like cmason1957 but probably won't give them...