My first bottling

[BigDaveK]

Aw who am I kidding? I’ve already got gooseberries in the back yard, elderberry cuttings rooting, paw paws in pots to overwinter and have just volunteered to help tend a couple of beehives

Congrats on your first gallon! That first one can be, uh, life changing. And by life changing I mean start planning for bottle storage now.

Elderberries grow fast and you might have a harvest the first year. Paw paws will be a few years. Consider foraging for a crazy number of free wines.

 

[milw]

@BigDaveK yes already have plans to increase the anise hyssop plantation, got seed in for meadowsweet, got some cranberry stolons, and wondering about capturing milkweed floral essence. I bet thats on your list already!
Basement storage might be an issue, the lights are often on and there’s a fair amount of heat generation. Maybe under the stairwell, which is currently walled off… in the meantime, inside a TV/stereo stand with doors…

 

[QuiQuog]

@milw
I have to ask, because some of the corks in the last picture look like they may have some damage at the bottom. Did you reuse the corks when you re-corked the bottles?

 

[milw]

@milw
I have to ask, because some of the corks in the last picture look like they may have some damage at the bottom. Did you reuse the corks when you re-corked the bottles?

No, I used fresh ones (softened in warm water for a few minutes). One bottle had a few cork crumbs from the first cork that I didn’t remove tho.
-Scott

 

[winemaker81]

No, I used fresh ones (softened in warm water for a few minutes). One bottle had a few cork crumbs from the first cork that I didn’t remove tho.
-Scott

What kind of corker do you have?

 

[milw]

What kind of corker do you have?

The red Portuguese floor model, new. I’ll take another look at the bottles and at the first corks (threw them in drawer). Is it possible the corker is damaging the bottoms of the corks when it compresses them?

 

[winemaker81]

The red Portuguese floor model, new. I’ll take another look at the bottles and at the first corks (threw them in drawer). Is it possible the corker is damaging the bottoms of the corks when it compresses them?

It's more likely you don't have the bottle lined up correctly.

You don't need to wet the corks as it won't make any difference.

I was originally taught to boil the corks, which actually makes them brittle. Generally speaking, the corks can go from the bag into the corker with no intermediate steps.

 

[vinny]

I went from 1-2 sweet fruit wine kits a year to 12 different kits this year.

Magnificent! I knew you had great potential.

You've made us all proud!

 

[milw]

It's more likely you don't have the bottle lined up correctly

Here are some pics. The bottles I have, have got maybe 3mm play within the bossed area, and tend to slide away from the handle pivot side.(view from the top)


The cork pusher, when all the way down, is not centered in the bossed area either- is that normal?


Finally, not sure if this is the one that originally sparked concern @QuiQuog, its an Aglica (edit) #9 straight and this one has a dark piece of cork in the composite…

 

[Shurt1073]

I had the same problem this year and YOUTUBE is your friend.

 

[winemaker81]

Here are some pics. The bottles I have, have got maybe 3mm play within the bossed area, and tend to slide away from the handle pivot side.(view from the top)

Looks like Scott has an answer.

 

[milw]

I had the same problem this year and YOUTUBE is your friend.

I literally watched that exact video before posting, but he talked about replacing the jaws, and adjusting a sideways offset. Not clear what I should do for a front/back adjustment, maybe some shims inside to move the jaws toward the back?

PS I’m a Scott, is @Shurt1073 too?

 

[winemaker81]

I literally watched that exact video before posting, but he talked about replacing the jaws, and adjusting a sideways offset. Not clear what I should do for a front/back adjustment, maybe some shims inside to move the jaws toward the back?

PS I’m a Scott, is @Shurt1073 too?

The action of removing and resetting the jaws may correct problems.

Yes, multiple Scott's.

 

[Shurt1073]

Yes ... reset the jaws but you might need to bend the plunger with some vise grips but be careful. I was able to straighten up the alignment with just a little pressure. Mine works like a champ again.

Scott

 

[milw]

I noticed there is some bend in the plunger, can you post a side view of yours? And thanks to all for all the help, this is great!

 

[Shurt1073]

I'm not sure tweaking the plunger is in the instruction book but it worked for me.

 

[ChuckD]

I'm not sure tweaking the plunger is in the instruction book but it worked for me.

Ohhhhhh… the corker plunger! I was beginning to worry about where you kids were taking this .

WMT After Dark

 

[milw]

I'm not sure tweaking the plunger is in the instruction book but it worked for me.

Instruction book? I didn’t get that, just the device… once the cat moves off my lap I’ll check but I’m pretty sure mine has about that same amount of bend to it.
WMT Gone Wild ?

 

[Jovimaple]

Same here

 

[milw]

@Jovimaple can you put the handle down and take a picture of the bottom side? For science…