Demi johns/Damson wine q's

[finefencer]

The hydrometer....when your juice is at room temp, and befor you put the yeast in, if you put in your WINE hydrometer into the juice you will see that it floats....get reel close and take the reading, add your yeast and let it go. When your brew stops, use your hydrometer again, and take the reading....if your reading is..1.000 you have a dry wine....if you take the first reading, and the reading fdrom your finished brew, subtract one from the other and divide by 7 it will give you the % of your wine...
1.090.starting fig.....1,000. finished ....90/7=12%

I hope that is clear

[Rhona]

thanks so much for all the help.

I've now got about 4 gallons sitting in plastic demi johns. Both have been racked once - one a week ago; the other 3 weeks ago.

How long does the "wine" stay in the dj? We've been saving screwtop wine bottles here (doesn't take us long to build up quite a lot...) but unsure how long in dj before it spends months in the bottle. I want to rack again at least once but would like to have some idea of where I'm going for the next few stages!

On the plus side, it smells quite "winey" but also as though if you lit a match near it, it'd take your head off!

thanks again

[Two_Sheds]

How long does the "wine" stay in the dj?

Gosh, ours used to be in DJs for months & months, slowly bubbling away

[Rhona]

ok - I'll move them into the cellar then I think! When you say bubbling though...mine aren't bubbling... wonder what's gone wrong there. Blimey, I need a book or something don't I?

thank you!

[Two_Sheds]

If you want Demijohns cheaply, then go to Asda / Tesco/ Morrisons / etc. & buy their 5 litre bottles of (cheapest) water -... then [buy] rubber grommets to suit the air lock - drill the top of the water bottle, fit the grommet & airlock & there you are

Right, blonde question coming up.
I got my grommets, which need a 12.5mm hole ... and I don't have a drill bit that big. A new one will cost £8.

Can any of you brains out there tell me how to make a 12.5mm hole on the cheap? (I tried drilling the biggest hole I could and then melting it bigger with a hot match. It was a bit uneven. And black)

[Hilary B]

Right, blonde question coming up.
I got my grommets, which need a 12.5mm hole ... and I don't have a drill bit that big. A new one will cost £8.

Can any of you brains out there tell me how to make a 12.5mm hole on the cheap? (I tried drilling the biggest hole I could and then melting it bigger with a hot match. It was a bit uneven. And black)

If you want to melt a hole bigger, but still round, you really need a poker (or something similar)
You may be able to borrow a ½ inch (12.5mm) bit from a hire shop.
If it was me, I'd take the lids to the tool hire shop, to show them WHY I wanted a drill bit for just an hour or so. I would bet that someone there would drill the holes for me (it always seems to work for me on such things, sometimes looking helpless is an asset<g>)

[HeyWayne]

. Try 'Brewmart' at the bottom of Holme Lane as they usually have good beginners' kits, and if they haven't anything to your liking you'll be able to have a good look at various bits and bobs and choose what you think is suitable, but also ask for advice.

I think they've recently moved haven't they? If it's the one I'm thinking of, on the corner.