Rubber stopper issues

[JDesCotes]

Ok, so yesterday I picked up a used carboy from an online seller. I took it home, cleaned it up and left about an inch and a half of hot sanitizer solution in it for storage. I them moved it into my storage room and placed my rubber stopper on it (no hole)

Today I went to degas my wines and noticed that the stopper has been sucked in to the carboy! I guess the hot air cooling caused a vacuum...

Can anybody recommend any ways to get it out? Right now I'm thinking of taking some clipping sheers and needle nose pliers and trying to chop it into pieces (while still inside). I'm open to suggestions.


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[SmokeyMcBong]

You could try a little warm veg oil or very soapy water as a lubricant and attempt to pull it out with your pliers. If the fit is so tight that you cant haul it out with oil or soap lubrication then chopping it up is probably the only option.

good luck

 

[dralarms]

That would be a good plan. But I'm cheap, I'd try to get it out whole first. If it went in it should come out.

 

[GreginND]

A plastic grocery bag works great. Stick the bag most of the way into the carboy, turn upside down to grip the stopper, and pull.

Here's a YouTube video showing the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUSx0xN_R3o

 

[Brew and Wine Supply]

I used a cork remover to get one out that I sucked in while vacuum degassing. Have them in the store, will try to get it up on the web later today.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUSx0xN_R3o

Brilliant post brother

 

[LoneStarLori]

A plastic grocery bag works great. Stick the bag most of the way into the carboy, turn upside down to grip the stopper, and pull.

Here's a YouTube video showing the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUSx0xN_R3o

I wonder who thought of that. Amazing!

 

[JDesCotes]

That is AMAZING! Thank you for sharing!!


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[Arne]

Let us know if it works for you. Arne.

 

[GreginND]

I presume the bag trick would work best if it's completely dry. If wet it might slip. I would let everything dry out good.

 

[Enologo]

I don't know if it'll work with a rubber stopper but i had two bottles with the corks pushed and I tried that and it worked like a charm. I was so excited, my wife thought I was nuts.

 

[Runningwolf]

Greg, interesting point about it being absolutely dry. By all means I would try that first, but having done tis many times I always found it easier lubricated with some wine.

 

[JDesCotes]

Just got home and tried it. Worked like a charm!! It was wet and everything. Word of caution though... Don't pull too fast or it'll break a window! It shot clear across the room and then bounced all over.


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[Runningwolf]

Good to hear, congratulations!

 

[GreginND]

Yay! Glad it worked

 

[grapeman]

Glad the bag trick worked for you.

Another way that could be tried would be to tip the carboy over and shake it around a bit until the narrow part of the stopper fit into the hole fairly tight. Place the carboy neck in some type of carboy holder (either a store bought one or a piece of 4 inch pvc pipe). Next take some hot water and pour over the outside of the carboy to heat the air inside. The expanding air should pop the stopper back out.