Recent content by bmckee56

Wayne: I used brown plastic bottles withplastic screwcaps which I purchased from a LHBS near my home. I used them for Hard Lemonade made recently and I was very pleased with them. I do not think I would do any long term storage with them, but for short term they work very nicely. I did...

Here is a picture of the unit I will be using. http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4189 I have not used it yet, but have read Daniel Pambianchi's book which provides detailed instructionsnecessary to complete the process. I can purchase a beer gun...

Even doing a "Google" on Empty Port Bottles provides little possibilities! Salute!

Your regular tap water is going to be over 7 close to 8 on the PH scale, possibly higher than that even depending on location. The kits are designed for the addition of water, so I wouldn't sweat it to much. If you have a PH meter, you can test the wine later to determine if you need to make...

I also use the 375ml bottles for the port wines I make, but I was hoping to find a few of the Port Style just for special occasions. Thanks for the suggestions and the replies. Salute!

As long as they container has been properly sanitized, you should have no problems. I save the 23l kit bags and cap just in case something like this happens to me. I rinse out then sanitize the bag and cap. I put a small amount of K-Meta solution inside the bag a seal it up until I need to use...

I just bottled and capped my Sangiovese and used black shrink caps which I found were significantly bigger wider than what I normally used. They shrank up fine, but they were a bit bigger than I was used to. I am uncertain why they are available that way. My LHBS has always noticed and...

I just bottled my Chocolate/Orange Port and I used 750ml bottles (Bordeaux) for the job. I was checking out some images of Port Wines via "Google Images" and noticed that there is a traditional Port (Porto) Style Bottle and Plastic Top Cork used by many of the Portugese Makers. I like the bottle...

My better half is having the grand kids over, so I'm going to make up a big batch and spray them down after they play outside. It is good for loads of stuff. I use it everywhere I can. I even have taken in a squirt bottle to work to spritz down some of the stuff I use regularly. Salute!

You could drill a hole into the top of the lid and insert the temp. probe and then use food grade silicone on the outside lid to seal it inplace. The probe can be removed if necessary and reinserted because the silicone is applied to the outside of the primary lid. You could go one step...

Save a bag or two when your done siphoning or pouring and clean them out well and sanitize them with k-meta, then if, or when you need additional carboy space for temporary storage, you have a nice little package to work with. Tha cap can be drilled out and a grommet installed to fit an airlock...

Regular maintenance on these floor corkers is advisable. The hole where you place the cork and compress it builds up with goobers and nasties if you don't periodically clean it. I place my corks in a solution of K-Meta prior to corking so the solution hides out down there and can create rust if...

Agree with the milk crates. Have you ever tried large balloons sanitized and attached to the carboy and then use a rubber band on the neck. Latex gloves also work nicely (clean and sanitize them well). They allow for pressure/vacuum fluctuations nicely. They look cool when they expand too...

Nice rig Waldo. I have three 1 gallon wines sitting, waiting to be bottled. I used my vacuum pump to degass, but you little gizmo looks pretty cool. I might give it a whirl on the next go around. By the way, the wine is looking nice and clear already, what is (or was) it exactly...

Invert your carboy box that the carboy comes in, cut out a square for the airlock, place it over your carboy. You can cut a small door in the side (3 sided cut) to view your creation. You can also insulate your carboy if necessary and recover it. When your carboy is empty, store it in the box...