[smurfe]

I have read that the Italian Floor Corker is the best you can buy. Does anyone know anything about these? Are there adjustments that need to be made other than the plunger depth?


The reason I ask is today I attempted to bottle a batch of wine and had a complete terrible stressful event. The corks catch on the lip of the bottle and on the frame of the corker under the Iris when inserting the corks.








I have had issues like this since I got the corker but never as bad as today. I do notice that bottles with the wide lip are the worse. A regular Bordeaux bottle normally corks fine. I went through over 100 corks today trying to cork this batch and eventually had to bottle it in gallon jugs with screw caps as I had to open every bottle as they all had cork particles floating in them.





I am devastated that my high end Limited Edition kit is sitting in gallon jugs like cheap supermarket wine. I suppose I can re-bottle in some other bottles. I just wanted to use these as I have a couple hundred of them.


I can not figure out why the cork is striking the edge. The bottles lip fits in the indentation area on the corker fine. I sometimes can put the bottle in at a tilt and get a cork to enter correct but it is few and far between.


I really never figured I would have issues like this with a high end piece of equipment. Does anyone else ever have any issues? Is there any other adjustments a guy can make? I am at my wits end and dread when bottling time comes around. I have 3 more kits ready to bottle in the next week or so. Comments are appreciated.





Smurfe

[Bert]

Smurfe


When the Iris closes on the cork, can you look and see if the cork is lined up with the hole???? Will get back to you...I have one too.

[masta]

Holy Cow Smurfe....I have an the Italian corker and have never seen this happen. Definitely sounds like something is wrong with the line up or the iris itself.


How are you prepping the corks?


I took a good look at my corker and removed the top cover plate which is held down with 4 smallbolts and found no adjustment that could be made. Two of the jaws are bolted to the frame (one from the inside and one from the outside) and the other two are spring loaded. Use caution if you take the cover off and try to operate the corker as the iris will want to pop out!!!


Smurfe, check the tightness of the the top cover bolts and the one bolt on the front left side of the housing that holds the stationary section of the iris to make sure it is tight. Any of these bolts being loosecould cause the iris to be the out of alignment with the center hole.


It this isn't the case I would think there is a a defect in the iris and a replacement is in order.


I should have taken a few pics but didn't feel like dragging out the camera but will if needed to explain further.

[AAASTINKIE]

I have found with any corker you must move fast to get the cork in before it starts to expand, move fast!!

I move slow and squish the cork down small, then push it in fast as I can shove the lever down.

[smurfe]

Originally Posted by masta

Holy Cow Smurfe....I have an the Italian corker and have never seen this happen. Definitely sounds like something is wrong with the line up or the iris itself.


How are you prepping the corks?


I took a good look at my corker and removed the top cover plate which is held down with 4 smallbolts and found no adjustment that could be made. Two of the jaws are bolted to the frame (one from the inside and one from the outside) and the other two are spring loaded. Use caution if you take the cover off and try to operate the corker as the iris will want to pop out!!!


Smurfe, check the tightness of the the top cover bolts and the one bolt on the front left side of the housing that holds the stationary section of the iris to make sure it is tight. Any of these bolts being loosecould cause the iris to be the out of alignment with the center hole.


It this isn't the case I would think there is a a defect in the iris and a replacement is in order.


I should have taken a few pics but didn't feel like dragging out the camera but will if needed to explain further.

Yeah, I had checked all of that and do know what you mean when you take the top plate off. It wanted to pop out of there. I am at a loss here. I have had issues more or less since I got it but thought it was inexperience. It does seem that the more I use it, the worse it gets though.


In regards to prepping the cork, I just soak them while I am corking. I don't soak them overnight or anything like that. I have heard pro's and con's about soaking the corks. I do notice that if you soak them too long the print runs off of then.


Smurfe


Edited by: smurfe

[smurfe]

Originally Posted by AAASTINKIE

I have found with any corker you must move fast to get the cork in before it starts to expand, move fast!!
I move slow and squish the cork down small, then push it in fast as I can shove the lever down.

Yeah, I hit it fast like a Karate move I had read that somewhere before, maybe you had said it in another post before but you are correct. The biggest problem though is the cork is scraping on the side of the iris and the lip of the bottle.


Smurfe

[geocorn]

I had the same problem. It is an alignment issue with the corker.


The pin that holds the handle in place is the problem. If it wears down, the corker does not align with the hole. Take the pin outand see if it is worn and give me a call. I will get a replacement to you as fast as I can.

[PolishWineP]

Are you coming to Texas? We could all have a look and figure it out. What a mess!

[PolishWineP]

Or you can just do what George suggests. I think my idea would be more fun thought!

[geocorn]

PWP,


Your idea would be more fun, but I imagine Smurfe would like to bottle some more wine before May.


By the way, we will also replace all of the lost corks! Let me know how many to send.