Corks - is this normal?

[Jim]

Just bottled my Beaverdale kit and used my new 2 lever corker for the first time.

This was the result - very similar to what used to happen to me years ago using my hand corker, only much easier to do it.

Corks didn't go fully in

I didn't wet the corks in any way (they are waxed ones and google suggested no real need to sanitize them). Anyway, I had to trim them off so that the shrink on capsules will go on.

[GAZ9053]

I got that with my hand corker, I do 30 bottle kits one bottles one set going so I bought a floor corker.

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Short measures there Jim?

[Jim]

Thanks Gaz - good to know it's not just me!

BB, I just shared it out between the six bottles rather than have 5 1/2 bottles of wine. I'm hoping the larger air space won't cause a problem though - I didn't think of that till after I'd done it.

Next question: heat shrink capsules - heat gun or boiling water?

[GAZ9053]

I use a heat gun, block of wood on top to hold it down or it blows it off, nice and easy or you will burn a hole in the shrink wrap.

[Jim]

Thanks Gaz, I did it with the heat gun - wish I'd read your post first though, as they were blowing about a bit. Finished up OK though.

Now I just have to be patient!

[GAZ9053]

Dont forget to let them stand upright for a few days so the corks can expand and seal before laying down.

[Jim]

Will do. They're upright in my beer fridge at the moment.

[boingy]

Long time since I used corks but, yes, they always seemed to stick out a tad and needed cutting off. Mine always needed soaking overnight but they were not waxed. I only did the heatshrink cap thing a couple of times but back then the technique was to steam them over the spout of a boiling kettle. After a couple of wonky ones and few burnt fingers you soon got the hang of it...

These days wine either goes into 1 gallon bag-in-a-box containers or into recycled screw-cap bottles.

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Thanks Gaz - good to know it's not just me!

BB, I just shared it out between the six bottles rather than have 5 1/2 bottles of wine. I'm hoping the larger air space won't cause a problem though - I didn't think of that till after I'd done it.

Next question: heat shrink capsules - heat gun or boiling water?

You'd have been better to fill 5 to about an inch from the top and sup the rest

[oldbloke]

My corker does that, but not always. I used to think it was overfilling, but discussion in various places convinced me otherwise. I think it's just how well the corker seats onto the neck, the plunger can either get the cork all the way or it can't.
Luckily I don't care what it looks like at long as it doesn't leak!

[Jim]

Thanks Gaz - good to know it's not just me!

BB, I just shared it out between the six bottles rather than have 5 1/2 bottles of wine. I'm hoping the larger air space won't cause a problem though - I didn't think of that till after I'd done it.

Next question: heat shrink capsules - heat gun or boiling water?

You'd have been better to fill 5 to about an inch from the top and sup the rest

I'll know for the next time. My next kit is 30 bottles, so one bottle less won't be so much of an issue.

[BarnsleyBrewer]

You'd have been better to fill 5 to about an inch from the top and sup the rest

Oop's, meant to say about an inch from the cork base once inserted, an inch from the bottle top could be tricky and fun ramming a cork in...lol

[Jim]

You'd have been better to fill 5 to about an inch from the top and sup the rest

Oop's, meant to say about an inch from the cork base once inserted, an inch from the bottle top could be tricky and fun ramming a cork in...lol

I knew what you meant.

[Horden Hillbilly]

I use one of these for my shrink caps Jim. I dunk them in a pan of hot/boiling water & it's quick work.