Bench Cappers

[daveyk]

Hi,
I've heard great things about bench cappers. Apperently (cause I've never tried one) they are easier to use, more reliable than a 2 handled one, faster?. What is everyone else experience?

Also I tend to do my bottling in the kitchen. I don't think that SWMBO would be very impressed if I screwed it to the kitchen worktop. What does everyone else do? Screwing it to the bench in the garage sounds a hassle to carry all bottles back and forth.
What abuout screwing to an off cut of kitchen worktop and putting that in the kitchen when required?

OR

Do you need to fasten them down at all?

Dave.

[sparky Paul]

Do you need to fasten them down at all?

I haven't had mine long, but it seems to work perfectly well without screwing it down. The biggest advantage of a bench capper is that it will cap virtually all bottle types - a two handled capper struggles with certain bottles, particularly Wychwood ones.

[Jerry Cornelius]

I haven't had mine long, but it seems to work perfectly well without screwing it down. The biggest advantage of a bench capper is that it will cap virtually all bottle types - a two handled capper struggles with certain bottles, particularly Wychwood ones.

I agree. I haven't screwed mine down, and it's fine. I haven't met a bottle it won't cope with. Just make sure that you use the same size bottles (or group in sizes) because you have to adjust the height to suit.

[Birdy]

I found it moved to much free standing so i hold it down on my B&D workmate

[mysterio]

I'm a big fan of the two-handed capper personally, never had a problem with it. Never tried a bench capper though so maybe I don't know what i'm missing.

[Birdy]

I had a two handad one then moved to the bench capper and never looked back, get someone to buy you one for a crimbo prezzy, they are fab.

[Jim]

I switched to a bench capper from a 2 handled one and find it much, much easier to use. I just use it freestanding on the bench without any problems.

[wmfd]

I haven't had mine long, but it seems to work perfectly well without screwing it down. The biggest advantage of a bench capper is that it will cap virtually all bottle types - a two handled capper struggles with certain bottles, particularly Wychwood ones.

I agree. I haven't screwed mine down, and it's fine. I haven't met a bottle it won't cope with. Just make sure that you use the same size bottles (or group in sizes) because you have to adjust the height to suit.

Same here - mine lives in the garage most of the time then sits on a worktop (or the floor) when I come to bottle. Much easier than the two-handled variety.

Agree with Jerry about the bottle heights, I've also found they need sort in into groups so you're not adjusting the height of the capper between each bottle.

David

[Ingieuk]

Seems like the bench capper is much more popular! Are the two handed variety that much harder to use?

[Northern Brewer]

The two handed versions rely upon being able to grip and lever against the bottle neck to provide the downward force, whereas the bench cappers produce this without needing to form a grip. If your bottle has a non-standard neck, then it can be impossible for the capper to grip it. I also found that my two-handed one would sometimes crimp only half of the cap properly; hence I would need to rotate the bottle and repeat the capping exercise. A few leakers would also slip through the system.

My bench capper alleviated all of these issues. I would probably prefer to have mine bolted down, but I continue to use it free standing. I suspect that SWMBO would object to me drilling the kitchen worktops

[Jerry Cornelius]

I also found that my two-handed one would sometimes crimp only half of the cap properly; hence I would need to rotate the bottle and repeat the capping exercise. A few leakers would also slip through the system.

That's the reason I bought mine. I found that some of the caps could just be pushed off with my thumb. No wonder the beer was flat.

[garwatts]

Yep the dogs danglers - never had a problem with mine since I swapped The two handled variety restrict you on bottle type. Plus I had about three bottles break when using it
So if anyone one want a piece of cheap cr*p.......

[Northern Brewer]

Plus I had about three bottles break when using it

Yes, me too. I'd forgotten about that additional downside! Crushed glass is an unusual adjunct

[garwatts]

Plus I had about three bottles break when using it

Yes, me too. I'd forgotten about that additional downside! Crushed glass is an unusual adjunct

Not to mention the period of mourning for the loss of good beer

[AlexCricket]

Going to add my 2p worth to the support of the bencher. I think it is a great piece of kit and makes life so so easy. I went straight to it as I found out that it would struggle with some of the bottles I was collecting.

I now - despite the perpetual rinsing etc - am moving towards bottling all my beer as I can't be doing with any more keg issues.