user 23602
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Bench Bottle Capper
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I don't own one but know some have different size attachments for different size caps are you using right right one?
Adjustable Height Counter Top Capper for 26mm and 29mm Crown Caps Homebrew Beer Cider (Red)
- They are also supplied with a free crimping cup so that you can seal 29mm crown caps commonly used on the larger cider bottles. Simply unscrew the silver cup at the base of the coloured section (being careful not to dislodge the springs) and replace with the larger cup.
user 23602
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I've tried both fittings and neither of them secure the cap properly. Think I may just take it back.
You do need to put quite a bit of pressure on the lever but as @Chippy_Tea has said it may depend on your capper which should have a 26mm and 29mm capper.
MyQul
Chairman of the Bored
Maybe your one is faulty. These type of bench cappers are pretty generic. Many of us on the forum have one and are very happy with it
Are they both the same by any chance?
A uncrimped cap shouldn't fit inside the smaller one
A uncrimped cap shouldn't fit inside the smaller one
user 23602
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The fittings included are both different sizes. And I'm response to the force suggestion, the handle does go all the way down, but still nothing.
Hi, I bought a "adjustable height counter top capper for 26mm and 29mm crown caps homebrew beer cider (red)" online a few weeks ago - it looks like your photo. When I tried it on a sample empty bottle - nothing. The empty bottle stuck to the mechanism and I had to apply a really frightening amount of downward force to free it. I then pulled another test bottle towards me, on some whim (about the 10th I tried) - it came free immediately with no problem. I have since bottled 2 brews and it works a charm. I reuse commercial real ale beer bottles (kept over the years) so they are all of different shapes and sizes. I drop the arm - pull that round silver thing out under the upright mechanism - until it makes contact, add the cap the the magnetic thingy then try some pressure. after a bit of practice you will "get" when it need a bit more adjusting or it has "bitten". I'd point out then in the 2 brews bottled, I used just about every style and size of glass beer bottle possible. For 60 odd bottles I adjusted - 20 times? - with no problems.
Don't be a wuss about pressure - I was, the device and the bottles will take it (if you're nervous, do what i did when experimenting and wrap in a towel and wear oven gloves - I was in bust it or fix it mode). You will soon get a sense of when it "clicks" - THEN PULL THE BOTTLE TOWARDS YOU, NOT DOWN".
Job done - if this is the same device I bought, looking at the reviews etc, its unlikely its bust. It just needs a combination of simple technique and use. But it is an otherwise excellent tool (which will probably last forever) that needs a precise technique or it will not work.
(and i'd add, if you're using a stack of different style bottles, sort them first into same-style groups so you only have to adjust the capper between groups. And when you have a brew in bottles, you do feel as though you've made real beer, even if the bottles are all different sizes and with different labels!)
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As has been said, you do need a surprisingly huge amount of force to begin with - when mine was new i had one hand on the black cap on top, the other on the lever and putting almost all my weight on it!
Seriously, you'll be thinking "Jeez this bottle neck must be about to snap!" But keep going and eventually it'll just click as the anvil slips down properly over the bottle cap.
I had quite a few practice goes until i got a feel for it - over time and 5-10 batches it seems to bed in a bit and it does get easier
Seriously, you'll be thinking "Jeez this bottle neck must be about to snap!" But keep going and eventually it'll just click as the anvil slips down properly over the bottle cap.
I had quite a few practice goes until i got a feel for it - over time and 5-10 batches it seems to bed in a bit and it does get easier
user 23602
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I did it! You'd all be so proud lol. It was quite scary, the amount of force I had to apply, practiced on some empties, but works a treat now. Thank you all for the reassurance.
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Also make sure you aren't too high to reach the neck of the bottle
Gulpitdarn
Regular.
I find it helps to clamp the capper to work top, also a smear of vaseline around barrel help cap to fit smoothly.
VW911
Landlord.
Surprisingly, these cappers are easier to use on full bottles, rather empties...
user 23602
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Well I managed to get it to work on empty bottles, so when I bottle again in a few weeks, we shall know!
Good work fella!
Like I said, surprising how much force you have to use and yet the bottle doesn't break.Now you know where you're at, you should find with a bit more use the tool beds in a little and it gets a little easier.
But now you won't have to faff about with wing cappers that slip or just don't work on some bottle types
