Corker suggestions please

Hi Jeff-

I've used the plastic jaw'd floor corker (Portuguese) and the brass jaw'd corker (Italian). Both do the job. Both are made of non- stainless metal so will rust. Both are easy to use and are a hundred times better than the hand corker (after doing 250 bottles in a session, trust me).

Both will set you back about 100$, give or take.

My wife bought me the Italian for two reasons: 1 it can insert champagne corks (and as it turns out, we're using plastic so it didn't matter) and 2) it had an optional metal beer capper that can put various crown caps on. I think that was an extra couple of bucks, but it's been worth it since she still likes to bottle beer.

If you want to use 'synthetic' corks (foam cored center etc) then you will want the plastic jaw'd one. I modified my brass one with some

400/600/1000/1200 grit papers and sanded a new 'channel' that got rid of the slitting action the jaws made when they'd close and a soft synthetic cork was inserted.

Bad news about floor corkers- it's tough to keep them from rusting.

The paint on the inside is only so good and the parts will rub. A couple of dollups of food-safe grease will help delay the inevitable, and I'm told the plastic jawed corkers don't rust as easily since the plastic itself wears out before the metal, but that's just conjecture- I have no direct experience comparing rust levels. Sometimes the corks get discoloured from the rust on the brass jaw- but I fix that with some wipedowns prior to bottling.

Either way you go it's an investment. I found I had to mount the other corker to a board to keep it from bouncing around. Mine didn't need that. I wish mine had a longer lever arm,or was slightly higher so I don't have tobend so much, but none of these impact their performance.

So... I'd tell you to spend the money and get a great corker. Who knows, you may suddenly find yourself wanting to make 15 gallon batches of Riesling- and 75 bottles at a time definitely requires a floor corker (or great muscles).

Good luck-

If someone gives you or lends you a lever corker, use it! Meanwhile, save up for the floor model; even on small batches, you'll welcome the purchase. Floor corkers are just that much better... We made do with a lever job for 6 years @ 20+ cases per year The cost was a major sticking point towards the purchase, but since I made the leap ( w/ a tax refund) I'm glad I did. Just MHO... regards

For the money and versatility the Portuguese is the best way to go. You can usually find them new for around $60 is the US and Canada. The Ferrari Gilda is the only hand corker that is worth anything, the only problem is it's better if you have 3 arms to use it and most of us have only 2. :) Seriously, that one works on natural corks too and is half the price. It will never compress a synthetic and that is a drawback.

Joe

personal opinion, portugese is where its at. Adjustable, reliable, low- tech, easy to use, requires no strength and little force. I have bottled with my son. He is four. Nuff said!