Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

Corking

750 bytes added, 16:04, 19 January 2018
added section "Adjusting Wire Twists"
====Cork Depth====
Inserting the cork too far into the bottle can result in a cork that is difficult to remove. It might be necessary to manually [[Corking#Mushrooming|"mushroom"]] the cork in order for the cage to fit. The first image below demonstrates a cork that was inserted about 3-4mm too deep, while the second image demonstrates a cork that was inserted with less depth into the bottle and mushroomed so that the cage will fit <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1920123874682484/?comment_id=1923456904349181&reply_comment_id=1923497444345127&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D Mitch Ermatinger. Milk The Funk Facebook group thread on cork depth. 12/18/2017.]</ref>:
Example photos provided by [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1920123874682484/?comment_id=1923456904349181&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Ryan Beal]:
Actual mushrooming of the cork can be accomplished manually by hand, though be aware that flaws in the bottle may cause the neck to break, which would be a very dangerous situation if you are applying the downward force by hand. It can more easily and safely be applied with a bench capper. Put the cage on the cork and compress both with a bench capper. Hold the bench capper arm in place with your shoulder/armpit, leaving both hands free to orient and twist the cage. Special cage twisting tools are available, though pens such as sharpies or some interchangeable screwdrivers are about the right size. You could also use twist lock pliers if you have them around. There are also machines available that will semi-automate this process for commercial brewers.
 
====Adjusting Wire Twists====
The wire cage needs to be tightened under the lip of the head of the bottle in order to secure corks from being pushed out by the beer's carbonation. Typically 4-5 twists are done with wire cages to prevent them from becoming brittle or inconveniently removable. However, with thinner bottle necks or longer wires, more twists may be necessary in order to tighten the wire around the neck under the lip. Modifying the wire cage tightener is a hack to work around this problem. See [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1959272164100988/ Andrew Holzhauer's post on MTF] for an example of how to modify the wire tightener to account for thinner bottles while still twisting the wire only 4-5 times.
===Cork and cap===

Navigation menu