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AlFulchino · 01-11-2010, 02:39 PM

i might have missed it...but did you get enough bottles

**xanxer82** · 01-11-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdcl1977

rawlus, cpfan & deboard,

Yes, they are 6 gallon carboys. The mushroom corks came with the kit but I had planned to pick up a corker and use a traditional cork when I reorder. Sanitizing the equipment has been one of my main worries. As I have read on these posting it can turn a batch very easily. I will cut and paste these to my notebook for reference.
Thank you for the help and great advice.

Get yourself a 5lb bag of KMeta. You use it to sanitize and stabilize.

**cpfan** · 01-11-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawlus

boil up a pot of water, fashion a coathanger or other implement to hold the capsule onto the bottle neck as you invert it into the boiling water for about 1 second. it will instantly shrink to fit.

We use a wooden slotted spoon that happens to be kept real cose to the stove.

Steve

bdcl1977 · 01-12-2010, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlFulchino

i might have missed it...but did you get enough bottles

Yes I have plenty of bottles, I have been collecting for some time now and I have had some help from friends - 92 is the count.

bdcl1977 · 01-12-2010, 01:40 AM

rawlus
I have a heat gun, would it be to mujch for the capsules? I will work on the coat hanger the kit came with rubber bands. I will be delayed a few days on my start. I had maintained my room temp between 72 - 75 degress. I put in my supply of water to bring it up to temp and it did not come up any higher than 68. after peforming several test I need my equipment at least 24 inches above the floor. I am building stands now. All the [pointers everyone has given have been great Thanks to all.

Wade E · 01-12-2010, 01:45 AM

Lots of people use heat guns and they work great, Just start a little way and adjust in as needed.

bdcl1977 · 01-14-2010, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade E

Lots of people use heat guns and they work great, Just start a little way and adjust in as needed.

Wade
my first try will be a kit, will i have to be concerned with the ph level to start with? What is the differance between acid test and ph test?

Wade E · 01-14-2010, 03:08 AM

With a wine kit everything is already adjusted! I suggest reading up on the acid/Ph question, its not really something that can be answered easily. Knowing what to do and knowing how they work are 2 totally different things. I know where they should be and how to get there if they are not. Basically a ph of 3.1-3.7 is where you want to be, any lower and yeast wont survive, any higher and bacteria can thrive in there. As far as acids go, you usually want a range of between .5 - .8 depending on what kind of wine you are making. if too low it will taste flat, if too high it will be very tart!

bdcl1977 · 01-15-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpfan

BDCL:

Welcome to a great hobby, and forum. I hope you ordered 6 US gallon carboys.

The Calif Conn kits are decent kits for beginners. The results may be a thin in body, depending on your tastes. [Rawlus..they are 7.5 litre kits from Vineco.]

The chardonnay should have a small bag (25g) of oak chips, and the riesling some elderflowers. [But, I haven't made either in over 2 years, so things may have changed.] Personally, I would probably add the oak to the chardonnay and leave the elderflowers out of the riesling, but that's my personal preferences.

I would expect these kits to ferment down to an sg of .992, even though the instructions probably say .995 (or lower).

Basically, read and follow the instructions. Perhaps you should read them now, and ask questions if anything doesn't make sense. BTW, the Vineco bentonite is different than that in most kit brands. You do not have to rehydrate it before adding.

Good luck, Steve

cpfan

I will start my first batch Sunday, you are right it does say .995 I will carry it on down to .992. I plan to age it longer in the carboy before I bottle. Would and additional 45 to 60 days be too long?

**cpfan** · 01-15-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdcl1977

cpfan

I will start my first batch Sunday, you are right it does say .995 I will carry it on down to .992. I plan to age it longer in the carboy before I bottle. Would and additional 45 to 60 days be too long?

No problem with that extra aging. Will help the wine to clear for one thing.

I usually make higher end kits and they end up in carboy longer than that. Just check them regularly to make sure that the liquid in the air lock hasn't disappeared.

Steve