Cork storage

[jhawk]

I plan on buying a bag of 1000 corks. I will be using 500 in the next week or so. Plan on the other 500 in April. What is the proper way to store them.

 

[dralarms]

Take a 5 gallon bucket, place a bottle of kmeta in the center and pour corks around bottle and seal.

 

[Runningwolf]

I do the same as above.

 

[wineforfun]

Take a 5 gallon bucket, place a bottle of kmeta in the center and pour corks around bottle and seal.

5 gal. seems a little extreme. I would assume a 1 or 2 gal. bucket would suffice.
I guess I should clarify, it seems extreme for up to a few hundred corks. I am sure a 1000 may need it.

Also, what ratio of water to kmeta are you using and I assume the bottle has it's top left off...........so basically like a bucket in a bucket?

 

[ibglowin]

I use a 6 Gallon bucket that came with a MM AJ Kit years ago and you can not get 1000 corks into it by any means and have room for a quart milk container in the middle filled with standard KMETA sanitizing solution (without a top) You can only go as high as the milk carton before you risk your corks tumbling down and into the open milk carton. I split them up into (2) 6G buckets with ~500 each.

 

[Boatboy24]

I use a 6 Gallon bucket that came with a MM AJ Kit years ago and you can not get 1000 corks into it by any means and have room for a quart milk container in the middle filled with standard KMETA sanitizing solution (without a top) You can only go as high as the milk carton before you risk your corks tumbling down and into the open milk carton. I split them up into (2) 6G buckets with ~500 each.

You can use a wine bottle - the corks won't fall into that. Now if I only had an empty wine bottle laying around...

 

[ibglowin]

Not a bad idea but I like a little bigger opening on the end for the SO2 to get out. Need to a find a plastic cylinder about 18" tall and 3-4" in diameter so you could pile the corks higher in the bucker without worry.

You can use a wine bottle - the corks won't fall into that. Now if I only had an empty wine bottle laying around...

 

[roger80465]

Not a bad idea but I like a little bigger opening on the end for the SO2 to get out. Need to a find a plastic cylinder about 18" tall and 3-4" in diameter so you could pile the corks higher in the bucker without worry.

How about wrapping the bottle neck with cheesecloth. Would that solve the problem?

 

[wineforfun]

I use a 6 Gallon bucket that came with a MM AJ Kit years ago and you can not get 1000 corks into it by any means and have room for a quart milk container in the middle filled with standard KMETA sanitizing solution (without a top) You can only go as high as the milk carton before you risk your corks tumbling down and into the open milk carton. I split them up into (2) 6G buckets with ~500 each.

Makes sense.

What is the "standard KMETA sanitizing solution"? I don't use kmeta for sanitizing.

Also, is there a time limit (days/months) on how long you can leave those corks in there?............before they may dry out and become not useful.

 

[ibglowin]

Yep, thats a good solution I think.

How about wrapping the bottle neck with cheesecloth. Would that solve the problem?

 

[ibglowin]

50gms KMETA in 1G water.

The KMETA solution in a sealed container keeps the humidity pretty high in the bucket as long as its sealed. I have had corks as long as two years old stored in one and while they do start to get a little harder or less pliable but they still seem to insert and seal OK.

What is the "standard KMETA sanitizing solution"? I don't use kmeta for sanitizing.

Also, is there a time limit (days/months) on how long you can leave those corks in there?............before they may dry out and become not useful.

 

[wineforfun]

50gms KMETA in 1G water.

The KMETA solution in a sealed container keeps the humidity pretty high in the bucket as long as its sealed. I have had corks as long as two years old stored in one and while they do start to get a little harder or less pliable but they still seem to insert and seal OK.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[wineforfun]

Ok, last thing, how often do you need to change out the kmeta solution, ie: make a new batch? or does it last indefinitely?

 

[Runningwolf]

I've had it last 6 months. It depends on the original strength. I try to replace it whenever I make up a new big batch or when you smell it and it doesn't burn your nose anymore.

 

[dralarms]

5 gal. seems a little extreme. I would assume a 1 or 2 gal. bucket would suffice.
I guess I should clarify, it seems extreme for up to a few hundred corks. I am sure a 1000 may need it.

Also, what ratio of water to kmeta are you using and I assume the bottle has it's top left off...........so basically like a bucket in a bucket?

I got 2, they hold just over 500 each.

 

[dralarms]

I use a 6 Gallon bucket that came with a MM AJ Kit years ago and you can not get 1000 corks into it by any means and have room for a quart milk container in the middle filled with standard KMETA sanitizing solution (without a top) You can only go as high as the milk carton before you risk your corks tumbling down and into the open milk carton. I split them up into (2) 6G buckets with ~500 each.

Not a bad idea, plastic pvc capped at one end. Then you count have it as high as needed.