Shrinking bottle capsules

[wpt-me]

I use a fork to hold in place till shrunk enough.

Bill

 

[monty]

Two ways to deal with your issue - a) Buy a capsule holder (cheap); or b) just hold the lower part of the capsule until the upper part is submerged and shrinks (what I do).

What does a capsule holder look like?

 

[cmason1957]

What does a capsule holder look like?

Here is a link to one.

https://labelpeelers.com/equipment/...hdVNE4gvUDEG_clg0TKP_hzE7JlI7kjhoCuQ8QAvD_BwE

 

[jumby]

My capsules are very loose when placed and would not allow turning upside down to put in boiling water.
I get it that my volume is real small but these things cost too much for whats there. I only use them on wine I gift to others. I've never had stored wine corks leak or push out so these are mostly esthetic for me.

Pick yourself up 1 of these to hold the bottle when turning it upside down. Works perfectly everytime!

https://labelpeelers.com/equipment/...zShPkvS2GYru_iZN9RLWiz2lhzoKfm8xoCI2AQAvD_BwE

 

[monty]

Here is a link to one.

https://labelpeelers.com/equipment/...hdVNE4gvUDEG_clg0TKP_hzE7JlI7kjhoCuQ8QAvD_BwE

Never seen that before. How does it work?

 

[jbo_c]

Just use a finger until the top hits the water and you can move it so you don’t dip your finger too.

Jbo

 

[cmason1957]

Never seen that before. How does it work?

Put capsule on bottle, put bottle into the J (hook, crook, whatever you call it) part of the tool. Turn upside down, lower into boiling water, the capsules will shrink right up.

 

[rustbucket]

Two ways to deal with your issue - a) Buy a capsule holder (cheap); or b) just hold the lower part of the capsule until the upper part is submerged and shrinks (what I do).

I just bought a capsule holder today after following this thread. When I bottle the wine I currently have in primary in a month to six weeks hence, I plan to try dipping the capsule covered bottles in boiling water.

My current capsule shrinking practice calls for the use of a heat gun. While the results are acceptable, the capsule shrinkage does not come out entirely uniform.

 

[mainshipfred]

I may have to try the boiling water sometime but the heat gun is so easy.

 

[Scooter68]

I just bought a capsule holder today after following this thread. When I bottle the wine I currently have in primary in a month to six weeks hence, I plan to try dipping the capsule covered bottles in boiling water.

My current capsule shrinking practice calls for the use of a heat gun. While the results are acceptable, the capsule shrinkage does not come out entirely uniform.

A heat gun can generate a lot of heat so if you don't have a temp control on it you need to hold it further away. Just got a heat gun and learned that quickly. TOO MUCH heat will lead to exactly what you describe.

 

[Kantuckid]

I'm gonna try the boiling water first.

 

[JoP]

A heat gun can generate a lot of heat so if you don't have a temp control on it you need to hold it further away. Just got a heat gun and learned that quickly. TOO MUCH heat will lead to exactly what you describe.

I had the same issue in the beginning with the heatgun, but with time and patience, I learned and now this is my favorite method to shrink bottle capsules.

 

[Jal5]

I hold my heat gun back about 6 inches and keep it moving up and down and around the capsule to shrink the caps. It works great!

That’s what I do too

 

[gsf77]

That’s what I do too

ditto

 

[crushday]

I just capped 4 dozen bottles using near boiling water on my stove. “Near boiling” because water that is rapidly boiling shrinks the caps too much and too quickly. I have thought many times of buying a bottle cap shrinker, but feel the water/stove method works well. That said, I don’t feel that compelled to spend $200 on a bottle cap shrinker.

 

[Scooter68]

G B I understand especially since all it consists of is a coiled heating element, preset themostat, switch, stand, and shield. For less than $50.00 you can get a variable temp heatgun that can be used for other things. Made my own holder and after about 10 bottles worked out the correct temp setting.

 

[Jal5]

Scooter can you share a photo of your holder?
Thx

 

[Scooter68]

Out of town at present. Will share one when we get home. (About a week)

 

[John Miller]

I use a heat gun also. I wear a heavy glove on the hand holding the capsules. Hold the gun over the top until it shrinks enough to stay in place, then move the gun to a horizontal position and rotate the bottle a full turn. No wrinkles, looks great.