Racking

[CoxyBoy123]

When I rack into a second demijohn, does the it have to have an airlock to mature or can it be a solid bung?

 

[LeedsBrewer]

No idea, though i always stick em under airlock just to be safe.

 

[Moley]

Don't ever use a solid bung in a glass DJ unless you're absolutely certain that fermentation has completely finished and the wine has been stabilised.

You can buy safety bungs with a pressure relief valve, or I just use solid corks and never ram them home too hard.

If you have any doubt whatsoever, leave it under airlock.

 

[CoxyBoy123]

Don't ever use a solid bung in a glass DJ unless you're absolutely certain that fermentation has completely finished and the wine has been stabilised.

You can buy safety bungs with a pressure relief valve, or I just use solid corks and never ram them home too hard.

If you have any doubt whatsoever, leave it under airlock.

Cheers, just bought 5 solid bungs that now have no purpose haha

 

[LeedsBrewer]

Drill a hole in and fit an airlock. or as moley said, if you are positive that fermentaion has finished then fit them but so that any pressure inside the DJ will force the bung out instead of blowing the DJ up.

 

[CoxyBoy123]

Drill a hole in and fit an airlock. or as moley said, if you are positive that fermentaion has finished then fit them but so that any pressure inside the DJ will force the bung out instead of blowing the DJ up.

I didnt think of drilling a hole

Will do that and just get hold of some more airlocks

 

[Moley]

just bought 5 solid bungs that now have no purpose haha

Well if that cost you any more than 75p you've been diddled.

Put them in the freezer overnight if you're thinking of drilling them.

 

[CoxyBoy123]

just bought 5 solid bungs that now have no purpose haha

Well if that cost you any more than 75p you've been diddled.

Put them in the freezer overnight if you're thinking of drilling them.

75p each :?

 

[oldbloke]

Cheers, just bought 5 solid bungs that now have no purpose haha

Nah, I've got a couple of demijohns under solid bungs. They've very definitely finished but (#1) don't taste great so being left to 'mature' (#2) not clear and I haven't got around to dealing with that

 

[Kirk]

If it a racking from the first DJ where it fermented to a second then I would put an airlock on it. Doubt that it has completed fermenting at that time.

Until you stabilise it then best to presume that it will produce pressure even slowly.

Oldbloke, have you tried the 2 part clearing stuff from Wilkinsons ? (If there is a store near)
I did for the first time, when the second lot went in everything drops out in front of you. Bit disconcerting to be honest but sure did clarify mine.

 

[stevie1556]

Personally I would use a airlock or safety cork. I haven't matured any for for then 6 weeks so far, so I've used an airlock. If I were to mature them for a long time, I would use a safety cork as then you don't need to worry about the water in the airlock evaporating.

 

[Moley]

If I were to mature them for a long time, I would use a safety cork as then you don't need to worry about the water in the airlock evaporating.

That's a good point about airlocks drying out, they do tend to if you forget to check them from time to time.

However, I'm a tight-arsed git. Safety bungs are around two quid, big corks are 15p, when you've got 30-40 DJs that's a big difference.

But, my wines are usually going to be 3-6 months old, stable, completely clear and racked again or possibly filtered before they get solid stoppers.

Rubber bungs tend to weld themselves to the glass if left for a long time, and some people claim they can taint the wine.