Morning-

I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?

In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
wine and about tossed my back.

I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.

Jason

Maybe you could time it with rackings and get a long tube??? Sounds
crazy writing it I know but????

Joe

wrote:

> Morning-
>
> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.
>
> Jason
>

I thought about pumping it from the outside down into another
container- wouldn't be too hard to run PVC and sterilize it, but that
just seems like more work. Who knows- may end up that way anyway

> wrote:

> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.

Try brewing it downstairs or moving it in 5 gallon carboys.

Dick

I like Joe's idea of the long tube. It's cheap and easy. Since you're
going downstairs, you can create a simple siphon w/ the standard siphon
tool or your lung power. Hold the tube at the downstairs end and place
into the receiving containters. That'll work for juice or wine, but
not if the grapes are still in the juice. If that's the case, gentle
bucketing (1 - 2 gal buckets) should do the trick. Good Luck, -David

wrote:
> Morning-
>
> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.
>
> Jason

15 gallons? So youare looking at 120 lbs? Just pick it up and carry
it downstairs.


Try a furniture dolly. For our friends in the old country that is a
two wheeled cart used to move our large american energy wasting
refridgerators and washing machines.

It does seem the right way to go... SOme wineries are built this way
to eliminate pumping...

LOL @ Droopy.... You're one strong dude with incredible balance,
moving with a really steady motion.

When's the last time you carried a sloshing deadweight 120 lbs in a
(guessing) 20 lb bucket? That's a way unbalanced load. WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Five gallons, sure..... Fifteen, no way.

Droopy wrote:
> 15 gallons? So youare looking at 120 lbs? Just pick it up and carry
> it downstairs.
>
>
> Try a furniture dolly. For our friends in the old country that is a
> two wheeled cart used to move our large american energy wasting
> refridgerators and washing machines.
>

You just hvae to talk tiny little steps....and not care about spinal
compression.

I have been moving (racking) 50 gallons from the primary fermentor (in
kitchen) to secondary in basement every fall for several years.

I use a garden hose and a homemade siphoning cane(1/2 copper with soldered
elbows) fiitted with a connector for the garden hose. You must prime the
siphoning action by filling the hose while clamping the bottom end. Of
course sanitation is important.

Val

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Morning-
>
> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.
>
> Jason
>

I would buy another demijohn and some hose.. Then siphon it downstairs...



wrote:
> Morning-
>
> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.
>
> Jason
>

You've got it Gene- thats my problem. I'm glad I blanketed the 10
gallons before I moved it downstairs- it was flying all over the place
in the demijohn. Now, I'm not in the best shape either but I still
nearly thru my back out carrying it. Give me a volleyball set 5 feet
behind me where I have to jump backwards to hit it anyday- at least
that's spinal expansion

It's starting to look like siphoning is the way to go. It's either
that or I find some really cheap I-Beam and take down the ceiling
drywall (I'd get to fix the squeaky stairs then) and put it up as an
additional 'runner'.

Someone's seriously moved 15 gallon demijohns down stairs with a dolly?
Did you mod the front to be longer? How did it hold up to sloshing
and splashing?

make "skis" for the demijohn. Round off the ends of a couple of boards
(say 2x4's) that are at least as long as three steps are wide. Mount
on them triangular boards to match the angle of your staircase (doesn't
have to be perfect). Couple of boards across the top to set the
demijohn on and one near the bottom boards for strength, and just slide
it down along the edge of the stairs. Walk down the stairs backwards,
keeping the demijohn from sliding down too quickly, and there you go.
In fact, with a little more planning, you could have the demijohn on a
dolly, which would then rest on top of the contraption I described,
then at the bottom of the stairs you just have to slide the contraption
out of the way and keep going.

BTW, this is assuming you have someone helping at the top and bottom of
the stairs.

Rob

wrote:
> You've got it Gene- thats my problem. I'm glad I blanketed the 10
> gallons before I moved it downstairs- it was flying all over the place
> in the demijohn. Now, I'm not in the best shape either but I still
> nearly thru my back out carrying it. Give me a volleyball set 5 feet
> behind me where I have to jump backwards to hit it anyday- at least
> that's spinal expansion
>
> It's starting to look like siphoning is the way to go. It's either
> that or I find some really cheap I-Beam and take down the ceiling
> drywall (I'd get to fix the squeaky stairs then) and put it up as an
> additional 'runner'.
>
> Someone's seriously moved 15 gallon demijohns down stairs with a dolly?
> Did you mod the front to be longer? How did it hold up to sloshing
> and splashing?
>

Hey, hanging an I-beam from the stairwell ceiling is akin to how the
Navy moves heavy objects between decks which don't have those honkin
elevators. I just luv overhead trolleys. If it's good enuf for the
Navy, it's good enuf for me.
BTW... what kind of braking mechanism u figger on using to keep that
demijohn movin' kinda slow like Ole Uncle Joe of Petticoat Junction?

Gene

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Morning-
>
> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?

Why not just get a long piece of plastic tubing and rack it downstairs into
another container?

Your problem would be much harder if you wanted to move the wine _upstairs_!

Tom S

I'm in OK shape and have moved a 14.25 gallon demijohn down the strairs
by carrying but it was pretty harrowing; I woldn't recommend it and
won't do it again (no basement in the new house, either).

I'm liking the looooooong racking tube idea. Adding the overhead
trolley seems like your personal favorite but a boat load of work when
you probably want to move it _now_.

wrote:
> Morning-

> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?

15 gallons? Sounds painful. Get 20 feet of hose and rack it down
the stairs.


- WB

Pure genius!

lid wrote:
> wrote:
>
>>Morning-
>
>
>>I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
>
> 15 gallons? Sounds painful. Get 20 feet of hose and rack it down
> the stairs.
>
>
> - WB
>
>
>

I think the best idea is the siphon.
Gal

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> You've got it Gene- thats my problem. I'm glad I blanketed the 10
> gallons before I moved it downstairs- it was flying all over the place
> in the demijohn. Now, I'm not in the best shape either but I still
> nearly thru my back out carrying it. Give me a volleyball set 5 feet
> behind me where I have to jump backwards to hit it anyday- at least
> that's spinal expansion
>
> It's starting to look like siphoning is the way to go. It's either
> that or I find some really cheap I-Beam and take down the ceiling
> drywall (I'd get to fix the squeaky stairs then) and put it up as an
> additional 'runner'.
>
> Someone's seriously moved 15 gallon demijohns down stairs with a dolly?
> Did you mod the front to be longer? How did it hold up to sloshing
> and splashing?
>

Drink the wine and then slide down the bannister!!!! Presto - it's moved
downstairs!!


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Morning-
>
> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.
>
> Jason
>

> wrote:

> I've a problem: How do you move 15 gallons of wine downstairs?
>
> In the past I've just moved bags of wine downstairs at 6x8.8lb each,
> and while surviveable I just moved the 54L demijohn with 10gallons of
> wine and about tossed my back.
>
> I've contemplated building a rail system with a winch, a ceiling
> mounted steel rail with a winch, a 'sled' with a (you guessed it)
> winch, etc. I have a few cornelius kegs I could have filled with wine
> and then move those downstairs, then pump that into the demijohns, but
> that's more work AND would introduce additional oxidation.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. My back thanks you.

I know this is an old post to which I had previously replied. But
let's do it again because I understand back pain and shoulder pain.
When I get 60# of honey delivered to me, my 14 year old son has to
carry it downstairs.

1. Is this still a problem for you?

2. Why not brew downstairs and avoid the shlep?

3. If you have the ability to build a rail system, you have the
ability to drill a hole on the floor and run a tube downstairs.

4. Tell you wife you want to have another child to help you move
the wine. This will get you permission to drill a hole in the
floor. Always works for me.

Dick

*ROFL*

When we purchased must it came in 20L containers. Each one we moved
downstairs to brew and it wasn't such a bad thing, except for the tight
corner at the bottom.

Skipped on the rail system for now, even tho I'd like to fix the
squeeky stairs. I'll accidently push thru it next time.

The kid idea sounds good, but it would be our first and she's already
itching to have'em- don't need an excuse like that it would backfire.

How much does the honey cost you? We paid 33$ for 15lbs of buckwheat
and 30$ for 15lbs of wildflower this year. Didn't think I could get
much cheaper than that.

Brewing downstairs is the easiest way of doing things, it's just
getting all the liquid downstairs that is the problem. Still might
look at using a garden hose that's hot fluid rated or some PVC pipe,
even tho I do not want to keep PVC in contact with the wine for any
length. I may buy solvent-rated PVC as it would be more resistive.