Home Bottling Questions

[dr galaga]

I picked up an old capper this week.  When we have parties, there are a few people that only drink diet pop.  I think I'll use a few 2 liters and fill up some 10 oz. Diet Coke bottles that I have.  8 oz. Diet Coke is not available in my area and I was thinking about picking up some 10 oz. DC at the Winona plant, but they will expire before winter hits (stupid diet stuff, that's why I like "regular" sodas :'> ).
I looked at some of the earlier posts that mentioned home bottling and I still have some questions:

• how do you connect a hose to a 2 liter bottle?
  
• should I chill the empty bottles too so it doesn't fizz that much?
  
• the cheapest place I have found for bottle caps is $3 for 144 caps (here).  Anyone know of any place that is cheaper?
  
• any additional tips?

Here's my new toy.  Yep, included the old piece of wood and the fresh chain-smoker smell!

[Pat Pixley]

Very cool brent, question for you shouldn't you have something
under that so you don't scratch up the Pac man game .  '>

 Put serious now could you use a funnel for the  10 oz bottles

Pat

[dr galaga]

The Ms. Pac-Man table is for "display purposes only" '> !  My workbench is a  '> -hole and I do not remember what the top of it looks like.  Cleaning it up has been on my to do list for...let's see...about a year  '> .

What I have read, you do not want to pour it in using a funnel because it will loose most of its carbonation through fizzing.  The two methods were use a hose attached to a 2 liter bottle and stick the hose all the way in the bottle so it is at the bottom (I think Dave does it this way).  A few others also mentioned pouring it down the side of the bottle (like pouring a glass of beer).  I think the hose sound less messy.
 '>

[ZMonet]

Your glass bottle website has been an amazing resource for me.  I'd be happy to send you 50 of these Coke 1 bottle caps if you want for free.  I checked, but I don't have any Diet Coke.  These are unused caps -- I wouldn't stick you with used caps...lol.

[collecture]

I'd use one of those syphon tubes from Checker Auto, Autozone, etc.
The kind with a the inline squeeze pump.
Extend each hose into the bottom of each bottle.
This should limit the loss of carbonation once you get it going.
I've heard that home bottled pop do not hold the carbonation long - a month maybe!
So bottle up only what you'll drink in a month.

[cormy]

I had mild success with a device used to add oil to car. It is a short plastic extension you get at auto stores. It has an on/off twist switch on the end and the end fits perfectly into the bottle you are adding to. Other end twists on the soda bottle. Trick is cold, slow delivery into bottle. Really isn't a way to not lose some "fizz" in the process.

[dr galaga]

PM sent.

Thanks for the advice guys.  I didn't know that the 2 liters had the same kind of cap as oil bottles.  I guess you learn something new every day.