New corker

[Garagista]

I was gifted a corker as part of a swap, which is great. There is not a label on it but It is much heftier than my current corker. I’m tempted to clean it up and sell my old one. You can see the difference in the traditional corker and my new one.
Does anyone have any knowledge of this corker and whether it is any good?

 

[Ohio Bob]

The lever arm is longer for the one on the left. Should require less arm strength to insert a cork.

 

[BarrelMonkey]

Just to clarify - the one on the left is the one you acquired as part of a swap? The one on the left is a Ferrari/Italian floor corker. I have one and it has served me well so far. The only problem I encountered was trying to use it for crown capping (sparkling wine). You can get a crown cap accessory which attaches via a couple of lugs on either side of the cork compression jaws, but it never worked that well and eventually the lugs broke off. However it's still fine for inserting corks and I would recommend it.

*Edit to correct linked URL

 

[Garagista]

Just to clarify - the one on the left is the one you acquired as part of a swap? The one on the left is a Ferrari/Italian floor corker. I have one and it has served me well so far. The only problem I encountered was trying to use it for crown capping (sparkling wine). You can get a crown cap accessory which attaches via a couple of lugs on either side of the cork compression jaws, but it never worked that well and eventually the lugs broke off. However it's still fine for inserting corks and I would recommend it.

Wonderful, thanks. I should have been more clear, the new one is left. It needs some love to bring it back to its former glory but sounds like it will be worth it.

 

[buzi]

By the looks I have the table corker of the one on the left meaning it has to be adjusted for each h bottle size. If you use all the same bottle heights it is fantastic. I recycle my bottles so I would much rather have the adjustable floor model.

The Ferrari is a robust corker with heavy brass jaws. Despite all the adjusting for bottle heights I have had mine over 20 years and it looks brand new! Yours is a keeper! Merry Christmas!

 

[Garagista]

Thanks you @buzi and Merry Christmas!

 

[bstnh1]

Just to clarify - the one on the left is the one you acquired as part of a swap? The one on the left is a Ferrari/Italian floor corker. I have one and it has served me well so far. The only problem I encountered was trying to use it for crown capping (sparkling wine). You can get a crown cap accessory which attaches via a couple of lugs on either side of the cork compression jaws, but it never worked that well and eventually the lugs broke off. However it's still fine for inserting corks and I would recommend it.

I believe the one on the right is a Portuegese floor corker, not a Ferari.

 

[winemaker81]

Keep the Ferrari. It's bigger and heavier, but as others have noted, the longer arm makes it easier to use. A PITA to store, but oh, well! My Ferrari is 35 yo and it will put any cork in any bottle.

MoreWinemaking! lists the Ferrari for $250 USD and the Portuguese for $70, although both are out of stock.

 

[Garagista]

Keep the Ferrari. It's bigger and heavier, but as others have noted, the longer arm makes it easier to use. A PITA to store, but oh, well! My Ferrari is 35 yo and it will put any cork in any bottle.

MoreWinemaking! lists the Ferrari for $250 USD and the Portuguese for $70, although both are out of stock.

View attachment 118927

Sweet, thx.
That looks almost exactly like it. Therefore, I assume this imprint is for Ferrari.

 

[winemaker81]

That looks almost exactly like it. Therefore, I assume this imprint is for Ferrari.

Your model is somewhat newer than mine -- looks like a 2 piece handle while mine is one piece. But it's essentially the same unit. We have bottled as many as 16 cases in a session and the Ferrari reduces the physical effort. It will serve you well.

Funny story -- my son purchased a hardware set after he moved out, and it came with a double-lever corker. But it was not used -- we used the Ferrari when he was growing up, and I take it to his house for bottling his wines.

A couple of years ago I was visiting and we decided to bottle one of his wines, a totally off the cuff decision. So he got out the double-lever corker and we did it.

Afterward he looked at me, looked at his corker, and said, "We are NOT doing that again!"

 

[ChuckD]

Afterward he looked at me, looked at his corker, and said, "We are NOT doing that again!"

Yep, and every stash of wine making equipment I have purchased came with at least one. I have a box somewhere with several of them.

I also found this one in a box of miscellaneous equipment I purchased. I’ve never tried it.

 

[BarrelMonkey]

MoreWinemaking! lists the Ferrari for $250 USD and the Portuguese for $70, although both are out of stock.

I think the model that @Garagista shows is the $169 USD version - I corrected the link in my post above. This is exactly what I have - 2 piece handle and a red grip.

One other point - the bottoms of the feet are unshielded and a bit sharp, so if you're going to use it or store it on a floor that you care about you might want to add some sort of covering. I bought some 1" square chair leg protectors from Amazon which seem to do the trick.

 

[winemaker81]

I think the model that @Garagista shows is the $169 USD version - I corrected the link in my post above. This is exactly what I have - 2 piece handle and a red grip.

Huh. I didn't realize there is more than 1 model. MoreWinemaking! has 5 listed, including a champagne corker. Thanks for pointing out the different models.

One other point - the bottoms of the feet are unshielded and a bit sharp, so if you're going to use it or store it on a floor that you care about you might want to add some sort of covering. I bought some 1" square chair leg protectors from Amazon which seem to do the trick.

Agreed! If you look at my picture, you'll see I have pads on the feet, probably the same idea as what you have.

 

[Garagista]

I think the model that @Garagista shows is the $169 USD version - I corrected the link in my post above. This is exactly what I have - 2 piece handle and a red grip.

One other point - the bottoms of the feet are unshielded and a bit sharp, so if you're going to use it or store it on a floor that you care about you might want to add some sort of covering. I bought some 1" square chair leg protectors from Amazon which seem to do the trick.

That’s a great idea. I was also going to explore

 

[Garagista]

Agree. I was thinking about these. I used them on my crusher.

 

[bstnh1]

Your model is somewhat newer than mine -- looks like a 2 piece handle while mine is one piece. But it's essentially the same unit. We have bottled as many as 16 cases in a session and the Ferrari reduces the physical effort. It will serve you well.

Funny story -- my son purchased a hardware set after he moved out, and it came with a double-lever corker. But it was not used -- we used the Ferrari when he was growing up, and I take it to his house for bottling his wines.

A couple of years ago I was visiting and we decided to bottle one of his wines, a totally off the cuff decision. So he got out the double-lever corker and we did it.

Afterward he looked at me, looked at his corker, and said, "We are NOT doing that again!"

I started out with a double level corker and thought it was just fine. I couldn't understand why anyone would spend a lot more money on a floor corker that accomplished the same thing - until I bought a floor corker.

 

[Garagista]

I broke the Ferarri down and ran all the bits through a rust remover and ultrasonic cleaner.
I'm still confused why such nice tool would have raw steel bolts and springs that will rust like crazy.

 

[VinesnBines]

Glad you numbered the brass jaws. I hope you took a picture before you took them out. They are beast to get lined up.

 

[Garagista]

Glad you numbered the brass jaws. I hope you took a picture before you took them out. They are beast to get lined up.

I did take a photo, especially the jaws and springs. The springs look like an adventure unto themselves.

 

[VinesnBines]

It is a great corker. I liked my old one (used) so well that I bought another used (slightly newer and less used).

Don’t spray kmeta or Star San down around the jaws. My first one rusted and I had to take it apart to paint the plate under the jaws. That was our rodeo with the jaws.

After you and your helpers - yes you will need four to six hands - have learned new swear words and sweat buckets, hopefully the jaws will suddenly slip in place.

I haven’t taken anything else apart on mine.