Gallon markings on various sizes of carboys?

[Khristyjeff]

Does anyone have pictures of their carboys with gallon markings that you've marked on the sides? Thought this would be helpful if someone's already done this.

 

[KCCam]

Every one is different. I mark my primaries, in litres, by pouring in a kg at a time, and marking it with a Sharpie, to make it easier to guestimate how much to make so there is plenty for topping up, etc. A kg isn't EXACTLY 1 L, but it's sure close enough for me. I mark each carboy with total volume.

 

[winemaker81]

I don't mark carboys, as I use them only for aging, and they only have 2 settings: Empty and Full.

Like @KCCam, when I get a new primary (in the 7-10 gallon range), I fill it with a 1 quart measure, marking the outside with a Sharpie at each gallon.

For making kits, it makes more sense to mark the fermenter in liters, although with my wide mouthed fermenter, the markings would be close enough together that I'd mark every 2 liters instead of 1. However, 19 and 23 would be marked.

For grapes and juice, I use larger containers, e.g., 32 gallon brutes for grapes. Mine are grey (couldn't find white locally) and are not translucent, so marking them doesn't work. However, for grapes and juice I know the amount before I start as I'm not diluting anything, so markings don't matter.


EDIT: fixed clarity.

 

[beano]

Like most , I only Mark my primary containers. The carboys are of known capacity and will be full.

 

[reeflections]

I also only marked my primary buckets, but I have been thinking about marking my glass carboys where they actually are at the capacity. I.e., if it's a 5 gal carboy, I would mark where the 5 gallon line is. I have found they vary from carboy to carboy and I think this would help me decide which carboy to go to. Not of huge importance so I have only been thinking about this for quite a while.

 

[Rembee]

This is how I marked my new 30L Speidel.
As for my glass carboys, I don't mark them either. They are for bulk aging only.

 

[Jim Welch]

I used glass frosting acid etch to mark my first couple carboys, it was a bit of work but was permanent. Used tape to mask out an arrowhead at each appropriate spot and applied the etching compound.

 

[winemaker81]

marking my glass carboys where they actually are at the capacity. I.e., if it's a 5 gal carboy, I would mark where the 5 gallon line is.

Instead of making the level, measure the capacity and use Jim's idea and write it on the carboy?

 

[Rice_Guy]

like @winemaker81 I weighed batch ingredients in kilos as I was filling. The tare weight is written in a vinyl sticky.
This is a seven gallon. I don’t like the way the cap on the Big Mouth Bubbler sealed so this has a silicone cover.