Bottle

[Chippy_Tea]

I have never racked into 75ml screw top glass bottles, could someone tell me how much of a air gap to leave at the top.

The bottles are all this shape -

 

[calumscott]

I use a little bottler (well, just the bottler bit shoved on the end of a siphon tube) and just fill to the top.

By the time you extract the bottler you have a perfect headspace.

I think anyway...

 

[LeithR]

If you don't have a little bottler - like me - aim for between 1.5 and 2 cm. That will give you enough headroom. I'd also suggest you bottle some in a PET bottle or 2 (smal coke bottle size) so you can keep track of the carbonation and conditioning. Just give em a squeeze!!
:

 

[graysalchemy]

I'd also suggest you bottle some in a PET bottle or 2 (smal coke bottle size) so you can keep track of the carbonation and conditioning. Just give em a squeeze!!

Carbonating in a wine bottle :nono: :nono:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks for the advice, i have split the 30 bottle kit in half and have put all mine in PET bottles (i like to do the squeeze test occasionally) the rest which i am giving someone are in glass bottles, i have finished the wine following the kit instructions so i hope the glass bottles will be fine.

 

[bobsbeer]

As you are bottling in screw caps there is no need for the air gap, so it can be filled to the top. The air gap is for corks as unless you have a reasonable one the pressure will push the cork back out, and of course you need the space for the cork. This does not apply to screw top bottles. But like Callum I use a little bottler and have a gap, but not for any other reason.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks Bob, i have told them to save their 2 litre pop bottles for next time they want to go halves on a kit, i found sterilising so many small bottles a right pain.

 

[bobsbeer]

i found sterilising so many small bottles a right pain.

It can be a bit of a pain, but I can generally bottle 30-60 bottles in a couple of hours. I use a blast washer to pre rinse, and then a bottle washer with videne and put on a bottle rack to drain. Then a little bottler on the end of a syphon tube and go from bottle to bottle on the floor. Once done I now use the Novatwist caps which just push on then twist to seal, as I only use screw cap bottles. Job done.

Blast Bottle Washer similar to the one pictured. It goes on to the tap and blasts water into the bottle. A fast way to rinse. This one costs about £15. Just Google ’Blast Bottle Washer’. I have a different model, so can’t comment about this brand.

Then a Avvinatore Bottle Rinser filled with Videne solution:

The unit is made of plastic and the bowl is about 8" across and 5" high. It cost less than £15 and is available in lots of HB outlets.

I then place the bottles onto a bottle tree to drain.

And finally a Novatwist cap.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

That looks like a great set up, i am off to search for a little bottler as i have seen them mentioned in the forums but haven't a clue what it does.

 

[Tyronnster]

That looks like a great set up, i am off to search for a little bottler as i have seen them mentioned in the forums but haven't a clue what it does.

can't recommend one enough

 

[bobsbeer]

Great little gadget marketed by Youngs. About £6-8 Usually comes with a tap to be fitted to a bucket. I use mine on the end of a length of syphon tube.

 

[matjam]

I use mine on the end of a length of syphon tube.

So Bob, I've got the Wilko's Syphon tubing. Not sure of the tubing size. Do you know if this bottler would fit?
Where does the tubing fit onto the bottler - at the red part?

Cheers,
Matt