On May 23, 12:42*pm, Joe Sallustio > wrote:
> On May 21, 5:04*pm, "bobdrob" > wrote:
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> > we've always erred on the conservative side; two thirds of the
> > primary/barrel's volume is our headspace rule. *So, the low 20's would be my
> > belt & suspenders limit on headspace with grapes. *Coming down to the
> > basement at 5:30 AM in my pjammies & finding "must overboard" isn't a
> > pleasant way to start my day... We've never just juiced it, so no experience
> > there. *just MHO * regards, *bob
>
> > "Wayne Harris" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > > Well, I just invested in four 32-gallon Brute barrels that will serve
> > > as my primaries.
> > > Today i am testing my new diaphram pump from Morewine, and marking my
> > > barrels for volume.
>
> > > And generally playing in my wine cellar. * * *:-)
>
> > > My plan was to use them to hold 25 gallons of juice each. *But in
> > > filling them with 25 gallons of water, I noticed that i only have
> > > about 6 inches of headspace. *The barrel is about 20 inches in
> > > diameter. I would esitmate that the proportion of wine in the barrel
> > > is about 85% full. *This gives me only 4.3 cuft of headspace.
>
> > > Depending on fermentation rates, 80% full 5-gallon buckets can get
> > > full when full-on fermentation.
>
> > > Having never fermented this large of a batch, i don't know what to
> > > expect.
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> > > Is this too little headspace? *Should i back it down to 20 gallons?- Hide quoted text -
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> > - Show quoted text -
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> Oh yeah. *I have overflowed too many primaries, it's messy. *I like
> 2/3 to 3/4 as a rule. *I do the same with beer.
>
> Joe- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I am buying a 5th barrel and thus taking my 32 gallon primaries from
25 down to 20 gallons per. That will give me about a 30% free
headspace..
Thanks all.