Screw cap bottles

simonb · Post by **simonb** » Thursday May 05, 2005 1:24 pm

Has anyone had any problems with capping bottles that the screw thread at the top of the neck?

Do these give as good a seal as non-screw cap bottles?

I have always used non-screw cap bottles (long-necks) that I bought from my HomeBrew shop, but want to switch to using some left over Coopers stubbies that I have saved up.

peterd · Post by **peterd** » Thursday May 05, 2005 1:32 pm

no particular problem if you use a bench capper.
I dont use them much (and then only the longnecks), because I want to be able to age some brews into the years, and I am not as confident in the long-term sealing cf. the crown seals.

peterd

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thursday May 05, 2005 1:53 pm

I have been using Carlton Mid stubbies recently, and have noticed they can be difficult to remove from the bench capper. No failed seals as a result, though.

Tony

Post by **Oliver** » Thursday May 05, 2005 2:37 pm

I agree.

No problems if using a bench capper (a great investment whether you use screw-top or crown seal bottles). Some people have trouble with screw-tops cracking or smashing if using a lever capper.

I have also noticed when helping friends bottle that screw tops are sometimes difficult to remove from the bench capper.

Oliver

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Thursday May 05, 2005 3:12 pm

I have this bottle-getting-stuck problem...you've just gotta "snap" the bottle out by tilting it sideways. Done over a hundred bottles and never had a problem with poor seals or breakage (all my bottles are longneck twist tops).

Benchcapper = Jay's best investment/present for quite some time

Cheers,
Jay.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thursday May 05, 2005 3:57 pm

Oliver wrote:No problems if using a bench capper (a great investment whether you use screw-top or crown seal bottles). Some people have trouble with screw-tops cracking or smashing if using a lever capper.

I don't think it's the fault of the twist-top with a lever capper - more the fragility of modern bottles. My brother-in-law used to use a lever capper, and was having trouble. The lever capper works by gripping the "ring" moulded on the bottle below the twist thread, and in modern bottles, this is quite thin, and so the lever capper just pulled straight through it.

Vote 1 for the super-automatica, I say. Incidentally, Brewer's Choice at Chapel Hill in Brisbane has then for $46.00 at the moment (or did a few months ago when I bought mine).

Tony

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Friday May 06, 2005 10:40 am

I use a bench capper to cap stubbies - haven't had any problems except some tend to jam and need to be twisted out. Easing off on the capper before it gets to that point prevents this problem

DoubleChevron · Post by **DoubleChevron** » Friday May 06, 2005 11:08 am

I've been using a variety of twist top stubbies and long knecks for a couple of years now. Since I have got the lever action capper I've *never* broken a bottle. If anyone is still using those hammer on cappers, seriously, go down to Big W and spend the $46bux for a lever action bench top capper. It'll be the most worthwile $46bux you have spent in a long time.

I don't even really have a problem with the screw top jamming in the capper, if they do just ease the sideways on an angle and they drop out. I've even used those really fragile looking VB stubbies that are super light weight for about 1dozen brews without breakage.

I've never had a bottle loose pressure due to an ill fitting cap, so I see no issues with long term strorage.

Go for it !!!!

seeya,
Shane L.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Saturday May 07, 2005 10:40 am

I have always used screw top long necks and have never had a problem with them. I had over 600 at one stage, most of them have now gone to new brewers who still use them. I now keg and only need a few bottles each brew for long term storage.

For those of you who are having problems with them getting stuck in the bench capper you are not capping them properly!!!! If you apply more pressure to the capper you will feel a second crimp then the bell of the capper will lift away cleanly. The bell is designed to hold the cap and bottle until you hit this second pressure. Eat more wheaties and give it a bit more the bottles will not break!

Post by **Oliver** » Saturday May 07, 2005 1:38 pm

Shaun,

I put a hell of a lot of force into it when I bottle, but some of them still seem to get stuck.

They are sealed perfectly, but just don't seem to want to let go of the capper!

Oliver

peterd · Post by **peterd** » Monday May 09, 2005 9:42 am

I agree with Oliver: some just seem to get stuck.
With my capper, all screw tops, plus Crown stubbies, need a bit of sideways force to unstick them. Could differ from capper to capper?

peterd

Post by **Oliver** » Monday May 09, 2005 1:38 pm

peterd,

Do you have a Superautomatica capper, like I do? Maybe it's a problem unique to them?

Oliver

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Monday May 09, 2005 5:07 pm

My capper has black plastic parts and made in Italy with a symbol like a pine tree on it, forgot the brand. It only grips the bottle and cap if I have not applied enough pressure, there may be a difference between brands? I have noticed the one with the orange plastic parts is more common but I have not used this brand.

Antsvb · Post by **Antsvb** » Monday May 09, 2005 6:02 pm

My capper sleeps in my bed with me

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Monday May 09, 2005 9:02 pm

Antsvb

Do I want to know?

Dogger

Post by **Oliver** » Tuesday May 10, 2005 10:47 am

The orange and steel one is the Superautomatica

Oliver

Antsvb · Post by **Antsvb** » Tuesday May 10, 2005 1:13 pm

Damn, looks like my capper's been sleeping around. Why Oliver?

Dogger,

Whats wrong with a bit of love between a man and he's capper?

Beer Krout · Post by **Beer Krout** » Tuesday May 10, 2005 4:55 pm

I should send a picture of my capper.
I inherited it from a flat mate who gave up brewing and bought it off someone who borrowed it off someone else. I'm sure it's got a long history. Maybe back to gold rush times

. If only it could talk.
Will take a pic tonight and post it here.

BK

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Tuesday May 10, 2005 9:06 pm

Nothing I suppose,

After all, sheep are very nerrrrrrvous over here.

Dogger

grabman · Post by **grabman** » Tuesday May 10, 2005 9:06 pm

isn't that in New Zealand where sheep are nervous???