Ideas Wanted: Moving 15 gallons down the stairs

Maybe you could time it with rackings and get a long tube??? Sounds crazy writing it I know but????

Joe

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote:

I thought about pumping it from the outside down into another container- wouldn't be too hard to run PVC and sterilize it, but that just seems like more work. Who knows- may end up that way anyway :)

Try brewing it downstairs or moving it in 5 gallon carboys.

Dick

Try a furniture dolly. For our friends in the old country that is a two wheeled cart used to move our large american energy wasting refridgerators and washing machines.

It does seem the right way to go... SOme wineries are built this way to eliminate pumping...

LOL @ Droopy.... You're one strong dude with incredible balance, moving with a really steady motion.

When's the last time you carried a slosh> 15 gallons? So youare looking at 120 lbs? Just pick it up and carry > it downstairs.

You just hvae to talk tiny little steps....and not care about spinal compression.

I have been moving (racking) 50 gallons from the primary fermentor (in kitchen) to secondary in basement every fall for several years.

I use a garden hose and a homemade siphoning cane(1/2 copper with soldered elbows) fiitted with a connector for the garden hose. You must prime the siphoning action by filling the hose while clamping the bottom end. Of course sanitation is important.

Val

I would buy another demijohn and some hose.. Then siphon it downstairs...

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote:

You've got it Gene- thats my problem. I'm glad I blanketed the 10 gallons before I moved it downstairs- it was flying all over the place in the demijohn. Now, I'm not in the best shape either but I still nearly thru my back out carrying it. Give me a volleyball set 5 feet behind me where I have to jump backwards to hit it anyday- at least that's spinal expansion ;)

It's starting to look like siphoning is the way to go. It's either that or I find some really cheap I-Beam and take down the ceiling drywall (I'd get to fix the squeaky stairs then) and put it up as an additional 'runner'.

Someone's seriously moved 15 gallon demijohns down stairs with a dolly? Did you mod the front to be longer? How did it hold up to sloshing and splashing?

make "skis" for the demijohn. Round off the ends of a couple of boards (say 2x4's) that are at least as long as three steps are wide. Mount on them triangular boards to match the angle of your staircase (doesn't have to be perfect). Couple of boards across the top to set the demijohn on and one near the bottom boards for strength, and just slide it down along the edge of the stairs. Walk down the stairs backwards, keeping the demijohn from sliding down too quickly, and there you go. In fact, with a little more planning, you could have the demijohn on a dolly, which would then rest on top of the contraption I described, then at the bottom of the stairs you just have to slide the contraption out of the way and keep going.

BTW, this is assuming you have someone helping at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Rob

Hey, hanging an I-beam from the stairwell ceiling is akin to how the Navy moves heavy objects between decks which don't have those honkin elevators. I just luv overhead trolleys. If it's good enuf for the Navy, it's good enuf for me. BTW... what kind of braking mechanism u figger on using to keep that demijohn movin' kinda slow like Ole Uncle Joe of Petticoat Junction?

Gene

Why not just get a long piece of plastic tubing and rack it downstairs into another container?

Your problem would be much harder if you wanted to move the wine _upstairs_!

Tom S

I'm in OK shape and have moved a 14.25 gallon demijohn down the strairs by carrying but it was pretty harrowing; I woldn't recommend it and won't do it again (no basement in the new house, either).

I'm liking the looooooong racking tube idea. Adding the overhead trolley seems like your personal favorite but a boat load of work when you probably want to move it _now_.

- WB

I think the best idea is the siphon. Gal

Drink the wine and then slide down the bannister!!!! Presto - it's moved downstairs!!