Just a technical analysis of tipping at the time of racking or while the
stuff is settling.

This is not easy without pictures, but the sediment will settle to the
bottom and form a level layer. If you tilt before hand, then it will still
form a level layer, it will just be tilted with respect to the carboy. In
other words the sediment will settle level with the horizon, not the carboy.

Now when you rack you want the siphon tip to be a half inch or so above the
level of the sediment so it does not draw any into the tube. If you
pre-tilt, that means that when the surface of the liquid gets to the bottom
of the carboy, it will be 1/2 inch above the sediment over the entire
surface. This is the same as it would be if you did not tilt at all.

But if you do not tilt until you are ready to rack and you tilt the side
opposite to the tip of the siphon hose up by 1/2 inch then the surface of
the liquid will reach the surface of the sediment on the opposite side and
still have 1/2 inch at the siphoned hose tip. This will cut the liquid left
by 1/2.

I general tilt a little more than 1/2 inch and find that not too much
sediment is stirred up as the liquid surface passes the surface of the
sediment. But if you tilt it too much you will get some.

I hope this is at least somewhat clear. If there is a flaw in my thinking,
let me know.

Ray


"Greg Cook" > wrote in message
s.com...
> On 3/25/04 6:45 PM, in article ,
> "Nick Ruchalski" > wrote:
>
> > Does anyone else tip their bottle when racking?
> >
> > I've been sliding a little 1/2 inch wedge(piece of wood) under one
> > side to tip my carboy a bit when racking. I was just wondering if
> > this is a standard practice among the group. Most of the sediment
> > stays pretty close to the bottom and doesn't seem to disturb by it. I
> > usually do it the day before I'm racking in case I shake things up a
> > bit.
>
> Nick,
>
> Great idea - I always tip, but never prepare for it. I am always
scrambling
> at the end to find a bag of corks or something else to prop my carboy up.
I
> should just get some dedicated wood shims for this. It sure would be
easier.
>
> --
> Greg Cook
> http://homepage.mac.com/gregcook/Wine
>
> (remove spamblocker from my email)
>