Siphon Advice needed

[Spikedlemon]

Ok. First real batch of wine here and I'm racking from bucket to carboy.

I don't like this whole siphoning one bit.

First: I don't like the idea of putting my mouth on an, otherwise, clean tube and stick it into the bucket of clean wine.
Second: what a PITA it is to get started. While it took me a little to get it going and, once I did, I got 7/8 of the bucket transferred before a bubble made its way up and I lost it - forcing me to go back again...

Any advice for siphoning techniques?

... My next step is to consider a pump if I continue to jump up and down and swear at it (like getting 7/8 of the way before having to do it again).


On the bright side: the wine wasn't terrible tasting when I got some in my mouth. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't terrible.

 

[wineforfun]

No issues doing it here. I would like to think my mouth is fairly clean.
For me, I like the "mouth siphoning" as I always get a nip that way.

Not sure why you got a bubble unless the racking cane got near the surface of the must and drew in some air.

 

[AZMDTed]

Well, the inexpensive solution is to get an auto siphon so you don't have to use your mouth. Major drawback to that can be shooting wine all over if your hose isn't long enough during the drawing phase. But the real solution if you intend to stay in the hobby is to get a vacuum pump. Mine is well worth it's cost and will just keep getting cheaper by the kit in the years ahead. Good luck.

 

[Tnuscan]

Maybe try a longer hose, practice makes perfect. Practice with water. As far as germs take a big ole messy swig of everclear. Kills germs on contact. lol
Other than this try the auto siphon..??

Note: Lift the cane off bottom, clamp with clothes pin, about halfway.

 

[Arne]

Get a fermenting bucket with a spigot. Put the hose on the spigot and let gravity drain it out. Or like said above, the autosiphon, or more money a pump. Either pressure or vaccum. Arne.

 

[BlueStimulator]

All in one wine pump...... It racks, degasses, bottles, transfers ect. I love mine

 

[kevinlfifer]

Make sure you are high enough. I siphon @ 48" difference.

 

[JohnT]

All in one wine pump...... It racks, degasses, bottles, transfers ect. I love mine

No to mention the fact that an AIO pump will pump "up hill". No need to move your wine so that it is higher than you target carboy.

 

[grapeman]

Since you are just beginning, an auto-siphon is the way to go. It is around $10 and will last for years if taken care of. Just get a 6 foot hose and that should take care of any spillage problems. It has an outer tube with an inner racking cane. Just lift the inner cane upwards and then push it down. The siphon begins very easily. Pumps are nice, but this is effective and inexpensive.

 

[grapeman]

A less expensive option is an auto-siphon http://www.homebrewsupply.com/standard-auto-siphon-3-8-in.html
Get a six foot hose and that takes care of spillage problems while starting it.

Sorry about the repeat the first post didn't show up when I went to get a link to ne to show.

 

[Spikedlemon]

Thanks all. I wasn't aware of the autosiphon. I'll see if one of my local shops has one available for the next racking/batch.

 

[BradC]

Here's another vote for the auto-siphon. I'm doing my first kit right now, but accidentally shot cleanser all over my kitchen floor this afternoon when I made a poorly-timed inadvertent stroke while cleaning it, so I'm sure it's going to work well when I need it!

 

[barbiek]

Auto siphon! After one use you'll be kicking yourself in the butt for not purchasing one sooner! And the tip prevents most sediment.

 

[Mismost]

Get a fermenting bucket with a spigot. Put the hose on the spigot and let gravity drain it out. Or like said above, the autosiphon, or more money a pump. Either pressure or vaccum. Arne.

Get both, you need both. I primary ferment in a bucket with a spigot.....simply attach a hose to transfer to a carboy. If you can drill a hole, you can buy just the spigot for under five bucks and install it in the bucket you have. Very handy.....at bottling time, attach a bottling wand to the spigot...fermenting and bottling bucket all in one.

Get the auto siphon too....you need it to rack from carboy to carboy or carboy back to the bottling bucket. Super easy to use. Should be able to buy both for 20-25 bucks.

If you want to keep it cheap, rubber band a rod, long handled plastic spoon to a racking cane....anything clean and straight will work. Rubber band it togather nice and loose ...not too tight and with the bottom of the rod a couple inches above the bottom of the hose or racking cane. Stick it the bucket and suck start your siphon. you can push down to let the cane get closer to the bottom....can make life a little easier.

 

[Mismost]

spickedlemon...I was going to keep this to myself because it was really stupid on my part. BUT when racking from bucket to carboy or carboy to carboy....make sure that where you are going is big enough to handle where you have been. Six into five is a very tight fit and scrubbing wine outta tile grout is a PITA.

 

[balassley]

if I could go back in time I'd skip the auto siphon and go straight to the AIO pump, mainly because I've had issues with degassing - two birds one stone

 

[Arne]

spickedlemon...I was going to keep this to myself because it was really stupid on my part. BUT when racking from bucket to carboy or carboy to carboy....make sure that where you are going is big enough to handle where you have been. Six into five is a very tight fit and scrubbing wine outta tile grout is a PITA.

Might just as well post it on here like you did. Might just help keep someone else out of trouble. Like set your fermenters in a large container that can catch spills or volcanos. Bins, pans, even a large garbage bag pulled up around the outside a little. My spills are pretty easy to cleanup as I just have concrete where I make wine. Just have posted this for others every so often, especially when I see they are making their wine over nice flooring. Good luck with your winemaking, Arne.

 

[Spikedlemon]

I think I found the source of my frustration and I figure that sharing in hopes that it'll encourage someone else new from having the same.

The hose on the siphon was too large and leaking air. I had another length of hose of slightly smaller diameter that needed to use hot water to make it sufficiently pliable to attach to the siphon and all my troubles went away.

And I picked up an autosiphon. Siphoning went from frustrating to easy very quickly.

 

[olusteebus]

I have tried to get the two hole bung used for vacuuming - the orange ones. You blow into the little one and the racking cane can be in the other with a line to the receiving carboy. It does not work good and I think the reason is that the small opening on the smaller hole does not allow enough air in to continue the siphon.

What you might try is place a cane or just a part of a cane in the small hole that is at least as big as the cane you are racking with. That will probably get the siphon going and allow it to contin

here is the carboy cap I am talking about

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewi...honing-equipment/3-5-6-gall-carboy-cap-orange

 

[JohnT]

Here is another tip..

Get a length a thick guage stainless steel wire.

I find that syphon hoses tend to curl up making syphoning close to the bottom of you carboy a real pain. You can insert the wire into one end of the hose so that the hose is held nice and straight in the carboy.

You can also leave a little bit of the wire sticking out of the end to act as a "stop", thus preventing you from syphoning straight off the bottom of your carboy.

The best part is that this length of wire can be used on just about any diameter of hose! A true multi-tasker!