correct use of a bottling stick

[50quidsoundboy]

About to do my first AG brew, which I plan to bottle. I've got a bottling stick but what I'm wondering is, do I need to use it with a bucket with a tap on it, or can I use an untapped bucket and rely on the syphon effect?

 

[oldbloke]

A "little bottler" has a connector so it replaces the tap on your fermenter.
If you just have the stick, it goes on the end of a syphon. And then you have to work out how to get the syphon started... You want a pumped one or one with a tap so you can get it started, stop it, then fit the stick.

 

[50quidsoundboy]

ah thanks - i guess i need a bucket with a (suitably narrow) tap on it, then.

 

[oldbloke]

Or go with the siphon. One with a tap... Start it without the stick on, close the tap, attach stick to tap with short length of siphon tube, open tap, go.

 

[alanywiseman.]

I use my bottling wand with out a tap. Probably not the most hygenic but I find that the fit to the tap is very loose and air gets in :thumb:

 

[oldbloke]

How do you get the syphon started? Coz I'm prolly buying a wand in the next few days...

 

[Swift Pint]

I use a bottling stick and sypthon. Get the spyphon started by filling the tube + bottling stick with water prior to putting the tube in the beer. The first few mls that come out will be the water, but it starts the syphon and pull the beer out.

 

[oldbloke]

Ah, right, makes sense. Ta.