equipment advice??

[Jax]

Hi there,

I would like to make some homemade wine. I have been looking at kits for the equipment and I was wandering if I can recycle stuff from around the house. i have seen a kit that has a fermentation bucket and what looks like a big juice bottle with an airlock and syphon tube? White Country Wine Making Homebrew Starter Kit 6 Bottle on eBay, also, Beer Wine Making, Food Drink, Home Garden (end time 11-Jun-09 13:28:23 BST)

Is this possible? Or should I just get a kit? Also what else would I need I keep hearing about campden tablets and pectalose? Advice would be very much apreciated as am really enjoying all this homemade stuff

[shirlthegirl43]

That kit is a little expensive for what it is in my opinion. Do you have a Wilkinson's nearby? They do a starter kit (2 one gallon fermenting buckets, hydrometer, syphon tube) along with the ingredients - except sugar and wine bottles - to make your first 6 bottles of wine, all for £20.

It will give you a good basic grounding in the process of making wine then, along with a copy of CJJ Berry's First Steps in Winemaking, you will be quite confident to tackle country wines of all types. The CJJ Berry book will explain all about campden tablets and their purpose along with pectolase, acid and all the other stuff you will collect (mostly inexpensive)

If you don't have a Wilkinson's then the kits can be bought online here... Wine Starter Kit 6 Bottle

[Jax]

Yeah i was looking at the wilkos kit just didnt know if I could use anthing that would normally be chucked out with the recycling and then get the airlocks etc

[Jax]

I have read somewhere I can get a flavouring kit with all of the yeast in and just put them in large water bottles with an airlock in the top is this true???

[Two_Sheds]

Jax, I just looked at that eBay kit. I wouldn't use a plastic juice bottle, I'd go for a proper glass demijohn. Stronger, and glass doesn't absorb smell/flavour like plastic does.

Also, I've never needed a bucket - do without.

[Two_Sheds]

I have read somewhere I can get a flavouring kit with all of the yeast in and just put them in large water bottles with an airlock in the top is this true???

Whatever vessel you use, it must be thoroughly sterilised.
Also, airlocks are designed to fit demijohns ... I'm not sure you'd get a good enough seal on a water bottle.

[shirlthegirl43]

Yeah i was looking at the wilkos kit just didnt know if I could use anthing that would normally be chucked out with the recycling and then get the airlocks etc

I have read somewhere I can get a flavouring kit with all of the yeast in and just put them in large water bottles with an airlock in the top is this true???

Okay, so you want to make a brew really inexpensively? Check your local freecycle for demijohns. You will need to give them a really good clean and sterilise with Milton or similar. If you don't do that, your wine may be spoiled by gubbins left in the dj's. Airlocks cost next to nowt. For a really inexpensive cider, purchase five litres of value apple juice (ensure it has no preservatives and is pure apple juice), put four litres of this into your sterilised demijohn, add one teaspoon of brewing yeast and shake. Insert airlock and wait - when the initial ferment has died down (it can be vicious) top up the demijohn to the shoulder with more apple juice (should take about half litre). Wait for it to clear then enjoy flat or prime clean bottles and allow to stand for two weeks)

Similarly inexpensive 'wine' can be made using fruit or grape juice but these can lack body.

This...http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ine_18686.html makes a lovely wine for little expense.

Hope that helps you

[Jax]

Thats brilliant thanks