need a quick opinion on this buy PLEASE HELP THIS NEWBIE!

[Sarah11690]

Sorry guys since im still VERY new at this and looking at getting and starting my kit, i found this awesome deal and its very time sensitive the add basically said

"I have 3 glass 5 gallon bottles and one 3 gallon glass bottle. I have about 110 750 ml bottles with new caps. 4 nice buckets. Pretty much all you need other than the fruit, sugar and yeast. It's all worth well over $500. In very clean condition. Acid testing kit, flavoring and everything"

which ive talked them down to a VERY affordable price

but then i asked if the hoses, test jars, air lock, hydrometer and thermometers were also with them, and they responded to they had no clue what i was talking about, that they had never used the stuff, so i asked for pictures and nothing looks broke or chipped and with this being such a good deal i want to go pick it up tonight i just want to make sure its as good or if you think this is a waist....

 

[Julie]

how much are you paying?

 

[wineforfun]

Depending on how big the "buckets" are, I wouldn't pay more than $100 for everything. The bottles to me aren't worth paying for as you can get them free numerous places.

 

[Sarah11690]

I've talked her down to $200 but if that to high I can offer her lower n not waist my time since she doesn't have most of the equipment, I guess I'm just not sure what all the equipment is that I need to start? And the buckets look to be about 10 gal

 

[Julie]

I agree with wineforfun, $100. I won't pay more than $25 for a 5g carboy, actually I would lean more towards $20 and definitely no more than $15 for a 3g and $5 for the buckets

She is a total idiot for asking $500

 

[vacuumpumpman]

I agree with wineforfun, $100. I won't pay more than $25 for a 5g carboy, actually I would lean more towards $20 and definitely no more than $15 for a 3g and $5 for the buckets

She is a total idiot for asking $500

I agree ^^^

 

[tonyt]

I'd walk.

 

[Sarah11690]

Thanks guys!!! I said I'd give her 75 for everything and explained because her carboys n buckets unfortunately are the cheaper parts of wine kits, it's the rest of the equipment a that would make it worth it... But I haven't heard anything from her, I think I found a pretty good list of what all I need for a kit thanks so much!!

 

[chrisjw]

First of all, you also need to determine what you are going to make. Wine kits are typically 6 gallons so at least (1) 6 gallon carboy would be required and an 8 gallon bucket. However, as you get into it, the 5 gallon and 3 gallon carboys will be really good to have as well. If you are going to make wines from fruit then 5 gallon carboys would be good.

If I was getting into winemaking for the first time then I might pay a bit more but it must be Italian carboys, and test fitted with a universal bung (some old or Mexican carboys do not work with the universal bungs), and the buckets must be in really good shape (no scratches, with covers) with graduated scale on the side and at least 8 gallons, and the bottles must be clean with no labels. Walk away very fast if the carboys are made in China.

To find out what you need to get into wine making see what the beginner or starter wine making equipment kits have in them and look at the prices of the individual items if purchased new. Some retailers charge a lot of $ for new buckets, so the buckets may be worth more to you than a wine maker who already has a sufficient supply.

 

[Sarah11690]

I've looked into alot of different kits, its just i keep seeing comments and etc. how ill need to buy stuff out side of the kits, the wines id like to do is a chocolate raspberry port, then a cherry moscato, then a pineapple wine?

 

[sgx2]

You know, most local shops will have access to kits like those and would be delighted to sell you a starter winemaking kit.

As others have said, you'll want a nice bucket with graduated marks as the regular kit wines will make 6 gallons but the port kits will probably make 3 gallons and gallon marks on the side of the bucket will be very helpful. The bucket size should be about 8 gal (7.8 gal is common).

Most starter winemaking kits come bundled with a glass carboy or you can step up to the glass carboy for a small extra charge. Get a good quality glass carboy (typically "ribbed" in appearance -- I found that the quick way to tell if the glass carboy is of good quality, other than having it come in a box labelled "made in Italy", is asking the store to put a wine thief into it (the lower quality carboys, such as those from Mexico and China, will often have a neck with a non-standard interior diameter and the wine thief won't fit)...

You'll want to make sure the starter kit is bundled with a racking cane and associated hose, a hydrometer and associated test jar (a plastic "jar" is okay here), and a bottle filler tool would be great as well.

Most starter kits should cost around $75-$85. You'll want to buy some cleanser as well.

 

[Julie]

telling her to go out and buy 6 gallon carboys or starter kits isn't the question that was posed, she wants to know what is a good price for the lot that she has found.

Again, if you can get her down to $100 don't be foolish and pass this up, take it! And as far as buckets having gallon markings on it, you can place them yourself, it is not that difficult.;

 

[jamesngalveston]

I am fairly new to wine making, and my first kit i bought, sucked after getting info from here...It did not have what i needed.
I think you are better off, (Others please chime in) figure out what size you want to make, buy the proper size primary and secondary.
buy a hydrometer, auto syphon,filling cane,my wine thief is a turkey baster,
the chemicals you can purchase per recipe and you can get a list from almost anyone here, and they will be glad to help.
If I would have found this site before i started, i would be well ahead....

 

[Downwards]

I agree, no way on that price. New carboys are like $40 at the LHBS, so if I buy them used, I won't pay more than 20-30. The other stuff is just whatever. You can use lots of things for a primary. Smart and Final (or any restaurant supply) has food service buckets graduated for much cheaper than most things sold for fermentation. They are only 5 gallon to the top, but you can buy many of them for cheaper. Things like racking canes, hydrometers etc, I always buy at the LHBS. It's good to support them, we'd be bummed if they were gone!

 

[Sarah11690]

Thank you all so much!!! This Is way helpful, after talking her down she wouldn't go low enough that justified then the jugs are made in Mexico and china (one of each).... I just apologized said it wouldn't work for what I need and wished them luck

 

[sgx2]

telling her to go out and buy 6 gallon carboys or starter kits isn't the question that was posed, she wants to know what is a good price for the lot that she has found.

Again, if you can get her down to $100 don't be foolish and pass this up, take it! And as far as buckets having gallon markings on it, you can place them yourself, it is not that difficult.;

Ok, I see. I saw someone new to the hobby trying to understand if this was a good buy, and I thought pointing out that a new, full starter kit from a LHBS would be less than $100.00 would be helpful. Evidently not.

 

[Sarah11690]

No it really was!!!!! everyone is very hopeful, i even found a LHBS in town! They walked me through a lot too!

 

[sgx2]

No it really was!!!!! everyone is very hopeful, i even found a LHBS in town! They walked me through a lot too!

Glad to hear! Good luck with your first batch!

 

[Sarah11690]

Thank you!!! I have a chocolate raspberry port starting, then I ordered a cherry mascato so as soon as that comes ill be able to start it!