Anyone else have issues capping small neck bottles ?

I do now and then. I need to get a bench capper.

 

I have trouble on stubbies most of the time and have quit using the style. For some reason they seal well but when I try to open the capper back up there's always resistance and an uneasy 'clack' noise. Other bottles are fine until you get into some of the pint sized and wine bottle (750 ml). They have a different sized cap.

 

She sounds too clingy and just can't let go.

 

Waxing the bell on the capper will cut down on this but it's a PITA and doesn't last too long. The real answer is a better capper but I'm cheap and use the same one as you, so I have the same issue.

 

She is sexy. I have the same one also, with the same problem as you. I just try to treat her real gentile, and she seems to treat me right.

 

You guys need to man up, let her go and hook up with miss bench capper. You have your orders.

 

I use SN bottles and that same capper all the time with no problems. maybe the bell inside your model is a bit smaller?

 

I don't know if this will solve anyone's problems, but my version of this capper has reversible jaws with different sized openings. See photo below.

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The shape of the bottle neck makes the difference. I don't use lagunitas bottles because they're a bitch to cap. Same with RABC bottles (which kinda sucks because I love their beer, however, see below). Stubby SN bottles are great, as are green flash, as are DFH. All bombers seem to be great for bottling, and personally I much prefer those, as they're heavier, always work with the capper, and you need to fill fewer of them.

Utahbeerdude's pic shows the reversible capper parts. My old one may or may not have had that feature, but it was getting worn, so I bought a new red one like that one. I don't know if it solves the lagunitas/RABC bottling problem or not, because I've just not been using those bottles, and have plenty of other bottle types saved up*, including many bombers. I might try one next bottling day just for the heck of it, but if I have to exert much effort, I won't bother.

I suppose I'll get a bench capper soon enough. I really don't mind bottling as much as some people do, and currently don't want to spend the money I'd need to spend to keep two or more ten gallon batches kegged.

*of course totally clean, completely dry and covered with a square of tinfoil, or they're rejected without reservation.

 

This happens to me also. Your Mona is fine and you don't need to get a bench capper if you don't want to. Someone's always got a better piece of equipment than yours, and they'll tell you all about it.

After you've crimped the cap and as you are releasing the jaws, push down with slight pressure on the capper/bottle. It should release smoothly. You can try it on an empty if you don't want to wait for your next batch.

Edit: the lip on Lagunitas and Founders bottles is slightly different than SN bottles.

 

The larger one is for champagne bottles.

 

They'll work. The bell housing is a continuous gradient (right word?) so as long as the cap isn't bigger than the bell housing, it will crimp it.