Not all 5 gal carboys are created equal

[Wine Maker]

Any one ever notice that not all 5 gal carboys are the same size? I have about 15 of them. With some I get 24 bottles and others I get 25 - 26 bottles. Any way to thell the difference? The problem that I have is when I rack from one to the other. If I rack from a slightly smaller one to a larger one I end up with a topping problem. I recently started using a lable maker to indicate the size to try to aleviate the problem.

 

[cpfan]

Well I can answer the question for 6 US gallon catbots. The Italian ones are larger than the Mexican ones.

But I don't know about 5 US gallon carboys. Maybe your marking system will reveal the truth!!!

Steve

 

[Wine Maker]

One of these days Steve I just have to fill and measure each one and mark accordingly. And to think I just figured this out after all this time making wine.

 

[MUMBA]

why dont you just buy a few pounds of glass marbles to drop in and top off
the larger ones

 

[Wine Maker]

hmmm... interesting idea about the marbles. Good suggestion, this way I can keep the volume the same for each carboy. Thanks.

 

[Madriver Wines]

I just racked from a 5 gallon Mexican glass carboy to a plastic one and had about a quart left over?! I was forced to drink the excess.

 

[Tom]

I just racked from a 5 gallon Mexican glass carboy to a plastic one and had about a quart left over?! I was forced to drink the excess.

BOY !
And the things we have to go through for our hobby.. err (obsession)

 

[St Allie]

How terrible for you Madriver!


hehehhe

 

[Wade E]

You should put this in a wine bottle with small bung and airlock for topping up later unless there is no need for topping up later!

 

[Madriver Wines]

You should put this in a wine bottle with small bung and airlock for topping up later unless there is no need for topping up later!

I already have a 3L from the first racking. I racked it and added some wine from the carboy. It had been watered down some the first racking so I wanted to strengthen it some. I will probable need it when we go back into the glass carboy.

 

[Madriver Wines]

Update

I racked back into the glass carboy yesterday and needed 750ml to top off with!! The actual loss was maybe 1/3 of that??

 

[benlitchfield]

Could this be US gallon vs imperial gallon?


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallon