36 replies to this topic

[bmckee56]

I agree 100% with Wine Thief. I started out with a hand corker, but after very few bottles, bought an Italian floor model. It's worth every nickel and you can always sell it on Ebay if you change your mind later and decide to get out of winemaking.

Happy Winemaking

John Z

Heavens no man! What say you about getting out of winemaking! Not possible!

I agree..... Buy the floor model! It will serve you well.

Salute!

[zscape123]

Heavens no man! What say you about getting out of winemaking! Not possible!

I agree..... Buy the floor model! It will serve you well.

Salute!

It was just a one in a million possibility, but even at that - bad odds on giving up this hobby!!!!

Salute and Happy Winemaking
John Z

[cutter]

I'll give up wine making when they pry my floor corker from my cold dead hand.

[Climber]

Okay, nobody hit me, but I'm going to defend the hand corker a little here.

If you have room to store a floor model...Go FOR IT!!! I would also if I had room. I almost put a floor corker on my Christmas list

I've managed fine with the Gilda hand corker for $36 from EC Kraus.

http://eckraus.com/Page_1/CKR120.html

When I'm not using it, it hangs on my pegboard wall hook out of the way. I usually bottle 5 - 25 bottles at a time.

There's lots of methods and difference of opinions on corking bottles and you'll find them on this forum. But these two tips make using my Gilda hand corker a breeze:

1) Soften the corks in boiling water for 1 minute so they compress easily. Don't overboil them.

2) Hang a wire on the inside of the neck before inserting your cork. This releases the pressure. The cork slips right in with a pfffffffhhh. Then just slip the wire out. Presto.

It would be great to be able to put corks in dry with a floor corker or to use synthetic corks, but if you are tight on space try the above.

Larry

[JoeD]

Yes, the Portuguese did the trick even though it left indents in my synthetic corks, ...

My Portuguese does the same thing and some of the synthetic corks have leaked. Anyone know a fix to stop the indentations?

[jagmanvdp]

Do you mean indentations in the end of the cork?...or creases along the length of the cork?

The creases are what cause the leaking..and I have found that it's the way the four "jaws" close in on the cork. (especially with synthetics)

The jaws are possibly "pinching" the cork as they close in on it and creating that crease. When the cork expands in the neck of the bottle, the crease is still folded over a bit and that creates a channel for the wine to escape form the bottle. Check the jaws to be sure they are closing evenly over the corks and sliding past each other without interference. THe local guy here that sells the floor corklers said he would "repair" mine if it did that, but it hasn't yet. I think some food grade lubrication in the jaws would help...they may be sticking slightly as they pass over each other

If you meant the indentation in the end of the cork, I have no clue how to fix that, though I never considered that a flaw persay....

Darren

My Portuguese does the same thing and some of the synthetic corks have leaked. Anyone know a fix to stop the indentations?

[cajunwine]

I also use a hand corker because of the storage space issue. I'm sure based on what I've read on this site that the floor corker would be worth its weight in gold but I really haven't had any real problems with my hand corker. I do mostly 1 gallon batches but I have done a few kits and aside from the occasional cork that protrudes an eight of an inch above the neck I have no problems. I will admit that I keep looking for a place to store the floor corker and I have a feeling that in keeping with the latest and greatest toy theory I will eventually find that space.

[mirthywvu]

just wanted to thank everyone for the advice and I bypassed the hand corker and bought the Portuguese one, can't wait to use it!

[cnfwine]

I also have the Gilda hand corker. I have only done a single 30 bottle batch, but it was so easy with the handcorker that I probably will never upgrade to a floor model. I also don't have the space for one in my tiny wine closet. It takes some practice with the Gilda to get them in right, but after 5-6 bottles we were corking like pros!

[Calamity Cellars]

I am still a year away from bottling my first batch but it is never too early to start buying toys. I am leaning to wards buying the Ferrari bench mount. I have plenty of workbench space to use and if I decide I want it out on the floor I can always build a support for it. Any thoughts?

[DungeonBrew]

The bench corker works great. You can put it at whatever height you feel comfortable with and have plenty of room on the bench for the bottles. My wine making area is a crawl space (the dungeon) with a gravel floor so I needed the bench for the bottles.

[Hammered]

I am still a year away from bottling my first batch but it is never too early to start buying toys. I am leaning to wards buying the Ferrari bench mount. I have plenty of workbench space to use and if I decide I want it out on the floor I can always build a support for it. Any thoughts?

You won't regret upgrading to the floor mount model.

[cutter]

The bench corker works great. You can put it at whatever height you feel comfortable with and have plenty of room on the bench for the bottles. My wine making area is a crawl space (the dungeon) with a gravel floor so I needed the bench for the bottles.

I have a floor corker and I have to stand up to get enough leverage to push the handle down. Do you have enough leverage to push the handle down with it on the bench? I thought about buying the bench corker when I was buying equipment.

[Crazy Run Ranch]

I think your personal height makes a difference here. I have used a Ferrari bench mount and Ferrari floor corker. These are basically the same corker w/o the stand. I much prefer the bench mount since I don't have to stoop to move bottles in and out. I am 6'2", my buddy that is about 5'7" prefers the floor model. Either way, don't forget the lubricated the pivot pin or it will begin wearing quickly, ultimately leading to poor function.

[DungeonBrew]

The bench my corker is mounted to is only knee high, I don't like lifting carboys. I sit in a chair when I bottle.