I recently purchased this…
http://www.monsterbrew.com/Prod_CarboyHandle.cfm to use with this carboy…6 Gallon Glass Carboy Fermenter - Beer Brewing Equipment
While the handle fits well and seems to work, there is some play on the carboy neck. Is this normal or should it not move at all?
A bit of play is OK. WARNING: DO NOT lift a full carboy using these handles. There have been more than a few cases of the neck of the carboy snapping off. You can get badly hurt. Use the handles only for lifting empty carboys.
Thanks!
A lot of us have moved away from glass carboys due to the hazard they pose. I’ll go out on a limb and say that I wouldn’t recommend them at all; as any purported benefit is outweighed by the hazard they pose.
Handles are good, milk crates are better for moving them. I have many in milk crates with handles, so they can be pulled out for cleaning.
I’ve been using these lately and really like them. http://morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html?site_id=9
Handles are built into the sides and are real sturdy. A little pricey compare to plastic carboys, but some great advantages as well.
Now that looks really interesting! How easy are they to clean?
I was just looking at them. Not sure how the spigot construction can be airtight though.
The are very easy to clean! The opening up top is easily wide enough to reach in an clean all around the inside if you need. All the parts of the lid and spigot come apart to clean also.
The lid on top and the spigot have rubber gaskets to make air tight seals. They also come with a cap, whcih has a rubber gasket also, to use on the bottom if you didn’t want to use the spigot.
Can you see the beer at all?
The plastic is not as clear as the carboys so all you can see is the level of the beer.
I use my carboy handles to carry full carboys all the time. I know I shouldn’t. I also use glass. I know one day i’ll have the accident that makes me go to plastic and these http://www.midwestsupplies.com/the-brew-hauler.html
in the mean time, i’ll probably be lazy and keep using my handles.
I think some sort of a mesh sock, kinda like those gloves that chefs use so they don’t lop their fingers off, that would slide over the carboy to contain the shards of glass in the likelihood of an “event” of the sentinel variety- could go a long way towards preventing many nasty injuries.
I use Brew Haulers. After buying one I liked it enough to buy more.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-brew-hauler.html
Two advantages besides being strong - Suspending the carboy from the handles is more stable, so less sloshing when carrying finished beer. Also, two people can each grab a handle to split the load.
I always lifted my glass carboys by the handle, but would also try to get a hand underneath as quickly as possible for better support. It’s moot, as I stopped using glass somewhat recently when I cracked a carboy (not while lifting, but nonetheless). Just not worth the risk any longer for me.
As to play in the handle, they make different size handles for different carboys. If you have an acid carboy with the narrower neck, you need a smaller handle. The smaller one that I have is brown, not orange.
The good news is that the orange handles fit perfectly on Better Bottles for when you switch over.
I have the two different size carboy handles for my different sized carboys and there is really no play with either. As others have said, you shouldnt be using them with full carboys so a little play shouldnt matter. The only thing I use the handle for is as something to hold the wet empty carboy in place during my cleaning. As far as carrying full carboys, my wife bought me a brew hauler for Christmas this year and it’s one of those things I wish I had sooner.