Help, battle capper has died mid bottling session

[matth]

As the title suggests, my bottle capper has died with 30 bottles batch primed and awaiting capping, any suggestions?

For info I think the capper has just worn out, no big breakages, the bottom plates were out of alignment so I realigned them and it worked for a bit but not well, now it just fires bottles off in random directions.

 

[supersteve]

Never tried it myself but is it possible to set it onto the bottle and hit it with a hammer?

 

[oldbloke]

What sort of capper is it?
If it's definitely dead, nothing to be lost in trying to get the actual capping bell out and using it with a rubber mallet - I wouldn't try a hammer.
I was always happier with a hammer-on than a 2-lever. Then I git my bench capper...
In extremis, a piece of copper pipe with the right internal diameter can be used with a hammer/mallet, or you might find something suitable in a socket set

If the beer is actually in uncapped bottles and you have no way to sort it, clingfilm them until you can get a new capper.

 

[matth]

Cheers for the replys, it was a youngs two handled affair, luckily managed to drive round to a friends an borrow one, was thinking of using mole grips as I don't have a rubber mallet or conveniently sized piping. At least I didn't,t have to try - bench capper being ordered in the morning!

 

[Andysbrew]

I have recently purchased one of those youngs twin handled cappers, hope they are ok, not used it yet............

:-|

 

[GavH]

I have a Youngs 2 handled capper as well. Done probably no more than 150 bottles with it and it started playing up on the last batch. Got there in the end but the process was slower than this site since the recent upgrade :-o. If the lifespan of these cappers is really so poor, a bench capper might be the next purchase.

 

[MattN]

I have a Youngs 2 handled capper as well. Done probably no more than 150 bottles with it and it started playing up on the last batch. Got there in the end but the process was slower than this site since the recent upgrade :-o. If the lifespan of these cappers is really so poor, a bench capper might be the next purchase.

Mine lasted about 300ish bottles before it lost its grip. On the last bottling session I decided it was time for a new one and I was thinking of buying an Emily capper.

 

[serum]

I had a similar thing with the young's capper. It died after about 4 brews which was pretty ****. I've bought a more sturdy looking metal one and it seems to be working well but found it seems to like different bottles so I've had to throw some of the ones I've used in the past. Hopefully the new one will last longer.

When the Youngs one was dying I could still just about use it by tilting it to seal one side then doing the same on the other side and it allowed me to finish a few more brews but it was far from ideal.

 

[Andysbrew]

Sounds like I will be investing in a bench capper then..... the ones on Malt Miller look ok for around

 

[Andysbrew]

 

[Andysbrew]

Malt miller for around

 

[oldbloke]

Andysbrew: The forum currently can't cope with a pound sign....

 

[Andysbrew]

Ahhhhhhh is that why it won't display my text

 

[matth]

Wow, sounds more common than I thought. Mine must've bottled about 300 bottles, which I suppose is ok for something that was 7 quid or so. I assumed my tecent bottling in a fairly uneven concrete floor was to blame, but it must just be the life span. The one I borrowed was red, don't know what make it is but it feels much sturdier. But definately looking at a bench capper!