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On the top of the air lock I add a balloon of saran wrap and a rubber band sealing the little critters out. Also K-meta spray the air lock rubber where it meets the carboy glass, it will dry with that white film, hopefully stopping the little critters from laying their eggs and bacteria...

After working on cleaning both corkers and centering the plunger on the one causing the cutting & deep grooving, I think the off set plunger was more of an issue. The second (cleaned) corker's plunger is off centre and makes a deeper groove in the synthetic cork, but no cuts. It seems like it...

I re-centered the plunger - disassembled and cleaned and lubed the unit. It is better, not cutting the cork, but still leaving a line on one side of the syn. cork. One of the compression jaws feels ruff and the likely culprit. I have company coming over tomorrow to bottle 3 batches of their...

My trusty Portuguese floor corker has worked fine since new, till the last batch of wine. Noticed the corks were leaking after the first day on their side. I have used the same corks before without any issues. The corks are indented along the side and the worst leakers are actually cut from...

I read an article on how oxygen can exchange thru the water in the air lock. In my long term ( just started last month ) carboy air lock, I use vodka - glycerine- k-meta mix. On top of the air lock I use a sterile loose fitting saran wrap with rubber bands to seal. This way the air exchange is...

Saran Topping! When I first started into wine making, I feared the air locks would dry out while bulk aging. I wrapped saran wrap around the top portion of the air lock leaving a bit of bulkiness and sealing with a rubber band. At the time I had no idea this would slow down the air exchange...

Scooter68: Your concern is well noted - strapping down a carboy wine plug can or will let to serious problems - point taken. Every wine can lead to a new or different scenario inside the carboy and an incident could occur. I removed the strapping device and the plug has stayed down. The...

Thanks Stickman - That is good reading. I have 3 same wines clearing all the same dates, I may complete two with the solid plug and 1 with the air lock for 4 months - then taste. The only issue with the solid plugs I bought, do not stay in the carboy until strapped down. Many wine makers have...

My one carboy has a strapped solid rubber plug for about a week now. The only reason I used the solid plug is due to the manufacture instructions. From the start, strapping is the only way the plug would stay down and seal. Is there any reason the manufacture is requesting a solid plug over...

More Kmeta? :? Right after clearing some kit makers are requesting a solid plug and a 1/4 tsp kmeta for bulk aging. I find it hard to keep a rubber solid plug in the carboy without a plug holder (rigged). I would like to leave the wine like this for 5 months (then bottle) without adding...

Smaller bottles age faster I find most of my bottles at the recycle depot, as they set aside bottles wine makers are looking for. 1/2 bottles(375ml) and 1.5L (double) are the odd size they have set aside for me. The 1/2 bottles do work in the floor corker but double the preparation work. I...

The wife's preference! Since Nov 2015 I have made 2 I.Mist Peach Apricot, 1 Rasberry Peach & one Legacy Pinot Grigio (sweeten with 1 cup of sugar). These were for the wife and her friends, with the lightly sweeten Pinot Grigio being her favorite. She is coming around to a few aged dry reds...

Nov 2015 to Aug 2016 Back in Nov. 2015: The error of adding to much water was corrected by going to a double batch and adjusting the water to the correct level. On the advice from heatherd, I added 2 tsp of grape tannins & and 2 extra powder oak packs to the double batch. After 3 months...

How many kits? Watto Brew - This wine making is addicting - but a very good hobby. This latest Barbara kit is # 16, maybe one more this winter. That will be it till fall. This way I have enough wine to start the long aging process and enjoy some good wine as well.

Barbara - any mods? Jc5066 - The structure of this kit is little different- maybe I should leave it alone. I guess that is why asked for any experience with this one, before I screw it up. Thanks,

Purchased the Barbara kit, and wondering if anyone has completed this kit with any successful modifications? Appreciate any response. Thanks Tim

A friend has given me 3 glass carboys and all the starter equipment, as he never used it. He knows this kind act will generate payback, rather than have the equipment sit idle. I like the idea of carboy aging, and will have to pick up a few more carboys. Then I can try a white wine for the...

Heather your breaking my heart - having to wait a year before I can enjoy my wine. LOL The Kenridge kit is a Cab/Shir. Seriously, I will follow your advice - this is great. Thanks for taking the time to help out!!! Tim

My very first attempt on homemade wine is a "Kenridge" Classic the 4 week model, recommended by the sales person. Certainly didn't plan this larger batch, as a beginner - hopefully it turns out and pleases the palate. My choice of wine is always a red, but to please the wife a sweeter...

Brain Fart! Yea, that would describe the error. I have a 40liter bucket as the original kit bucket is broken. I added the water first, not calculating the 10 liters for the wine kit, catching the error when the total volumes were 8 liters over ( not 9 liters as earlier stated ). I now...