Corks rising

[Norske]

everyone knows that you musn't use a claw hammer, it causes bottle shock, instead use a 3lb sledge hammer, ...one precise blow and voila!

 

[BobR]

I had a similar problem last winter when I bottled. I decided to soak the corks and I had two bottles out of about 30 that every time I put the cork in, a few minutes later they would be pushed up about a 1/4 of an inch. After several attempts, I finally dried the necks of the problem bottles and put in two dry corks......problem solved. Don't know why those two bottles were a problem. Just wondering if the neck size could vary plus/minus during production and an "oversized" neck with a wet cork could cause it to be loose and push up. Anyone ever checked inside diameters before?

 

[Wade E]

There are some bottles (usually imports) that are smaller. Typically the right size bottle is the 1 a dime will just fit into and the slightly smaller ones are imports but a floor corker will work with both while a dble lever hand corker will bust your chops with the smaller ones!

 

[dessertmaker]

There are some bottles (usually imports) that are smaller. Typically the right size bottle is the 1 a dime will just fit into and the slightly smaller ones are imports but a floor corker will work with both while a dble lever hand corker will bust your chops with the smaller ones!

For the record, I don't notice a difference when I use my cheap red plastic hand corker, a spray bottle with k-meta, a folded up washrag on top and a hammer.

5 little taps. Never broken a bottle. And I have corked some of the weirdest bottles.

And I've used some of the other corkers. It just seems quicker and easier to grab a bottle and bang on it.

 

[Arne]

For the record, I don't notice a difference when I use my cheap red plastic hand corker, a spray bottle with k-meta, a folded up washrag on top and a hammer.

5 little taps. Never broken a bottle. And I have corked some of the weirdest bottles.

And I've used some of the other corkers. It just seems quicker and easier to grab a bottle and bang on it.

Really?? I have one of those things I would give you if I could find it. Only thing is, there is onbody on here that I dislike enough to give it to them. First time I used a floor corker, I never looked back. Corked a couple of batches with that hand corker. It worked but I am way too lazy to want to use it anymore. LOL, Arne.

 

[dessertmaker]

Really?? I have one of those things I would give you if I could find it. Only thing is, there is onbody on here that I dislike enough to give it to them. First time I used a floor corker, I never looked back. Corked a couple of batches with that hand corker. It worked but I am way too lazy to want to use it anymore. LOL, Arne.

This merits a long explanation: A few years ago I took my wife on a tour of a local winery. When we showed up it was late and we were the only ones there. The lucky bastard giving us the tour ended up being a seriously addicted home brewer who had shown up there years ago, asked the owner way too many questions and somehow ended up getting hired for it.

So obviously I had like several billion questions for him, since I had been wanting to get into the hobby myself but knew NO ONE around here who did it. And he answered them all (to my wife's unending delight and amusement.)

And the biggest question I had was how do they get those huge corks into that tiny hole because I sure as heck can't ever put them back when I'm trying to save the bottle for later. He had of course by now convinced the winery owner to let him stock an inventory of home brew supplies in the gift shop (out of selfishness I'm sure since he was too old to use the Internet and there isn't a LHBS for hours.)

And he showed me all the corkers they had, and then explained that when I bought my wine kit it would come with a little red one that most people thought was demon possessed but that if you held it firmly and beat the top of it with a rubber hammer they actually went in quite easily with it.

Being the cracked person I am my eyes lit up and I shouted "You mean I can make my own alcohol AND beat on stuff with a hammer at the same time?!" Of course my wife's head was now buried in her hands, and the little old ladies who had gotten there after us on a church bus (?!?!) and were browsing through their selection of touristy Louisiana shot glasses (!?!?!?!?!?) were staring.

But the old man understood, and just arched an eyebrow, smiled back at me and said "Yes."

And quickly followed up (seeing the crazy in my eyes) "Just not too hard or you'll break the bottle and spill wine all over your kitchen."

So call it a nostalgia thing or maybe a cracked crazy guy thing, but part of the home brew experience for me is making my own alcohol while beating on stuff with a hammer. I've tried the other corkers but then I have to put the hammer up and the wine just doesn't taste the same after.

So go ahead. Judge me. I have admitted my guilty pleasure and I am ashamed.

 

[jswordy]

For me, with an average run of 75 or more bottles, it is a production thing on the corker. There is no way a hand corker keeps up with a floor model. The time saved is worth it.

 

[JohnT]

Great story!

I did the natural evolution of things (from plunger-corker to level-hand-corker to floor-corker. Although I would never go back, I have to say I miss the feeling of ramming the cork home with a hammer.

I did make the mistake of having my father cork a bottle. He has been in construction all of his life and really tried to set the cork in one blow. I was picking glass schrapnel out of my cellar walls for years lol

 

[FABulousWines]

I have yet to bottle my first batch, but I have to tell you: the guy at the LHBS gave me a demo of one of those red Portuguese floor corkers. The price tag was something like $65. Seems like a no brainer to me. I hear those hand corkers can wear you out. I'll probably do the first batch or two by hand, but that floor corker has my name on it.

dessertmaker: Hey this hobby is all about enjoying yourself, right? So if you want to beat on stuff with a hammer, go for it. I ain't gonna judge nobody.

 

[dessertmaker]

For me, with an average run of 75 or more bottles, it is a production thing on the corker. There is no way a hand corker keeps up with a floor model. The time saved is worth it.

Here's a question, do you have to adjust the floor corker for height like you do a bench corker?

Cuz if so, I'd accept that challenge providing that we use my assorted collection of bottles from all my friends. "If it has a cork, bring it to Josh and he'll give it back to you with wine in it."

Stipulation: you have to help me get the labels off. That is the worst part of bottling for me BY FAR!

 

[JohnT]

Here's a question, do you have to adjust the floor corker for height like you do a bench corker?

Cuz if so, I'd accept that challenge providing that we use my assorted collection of bottles from all my friends. "If it has a cork, bring it to Josh and he'll give it back to you with wine in it."

Stipulation: you have to help me get the labels off. That is the worst part of bottling for me BY FAR!

in short, no.

The platform that the bottle rests on is spring loaded and lock into place once the lever is moved.

 

[dralarms]

I use that little hand corker for the corks that don't go in just right at bottling. 1 slap with my hand is usually enough to sink it in just where is supposed to be.

 

[Traverse]

I had a bad day with finals and read these comments and cracked up pretty good. Thanks!

I just got back from my buddys and we popped open one of the bottles. It was clear as could be, no weird smells, no fizz, no sediment, and we drank it; it wasn't bad. And the corks that he pushed back in are staying now, so I have to believe that the culprit was indeed the weather! Which is great news! Thank you everyone for your input! Now I just need to go get me one of those corkers...

Traverse

 

[dessertmaker]

I had a bad day with finals and read these comments and cracked up pretty good. Thanks!

I just got back from my buddys and we popped open one of the bottles. It was clear as could be, no weird smells, no fizz, no sediment, and we drank it; it wasn't bad. And the corks that he pushed back in are staying now, so I have to believe that the culprit was indeed the weather! Which is great news! Thank you everyone for your input! Now I just need to go get me one of those corkers...

Traverse

When I had bad luck with finals I would beat stuff with.... OH NEVER MIND!

(Actually I shot stuff. But that's a whole different story.)