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Cheapest source for bottles; label question
Hi, first off, I had a question on bottles. What is the cheapest source you guys are using, including shipping, for flipper-top bottles?
Second, for those of you doing custom labels, are you using the Design Studio software? Are standard 3 1/2x4 mailing labels you get at Staples OK? I found a good solution for taking labels off, but I am not sure what software and labels to use. And it seems that the Design Studio labels are mostly for wine??
uclajd wrote:
Hi, first off, I had a question on bottles. What is the cheapest source you guys are using, including shipping, for flipper-top bottles?
Yard sales. Usually pick them up at 10¢ a piece or even a milk crate full for 50¢.
uclajd wrote:
Second, for those of you doing custom labels, are you using the Design Studio software? Are standard 3 1/2x4 mailing labels you get at Staples OK? I found a good solution for taking labels off, but I am not sure what software and labels to use. And it seems that the Design Studio labels are mostly for wine??
I use a kodak software and print on regular printing paper. Use 3M spray on adheasive to make them stick.
Wild
So far I've just used Paint Shop Pro for my labels. I've been looking into other software but haven't found anything wonderful.
I print on normal paper, and use milk (yea milk) for my adhesive
The cheapest bottles may be at yard sales but I get plenty of bottles from just trying new beers........I use a water based spray adhesive if I end up making a label......PBW or Oxiclean will take any label off......
i get really cheap bottles from my local micro
I got a whole box full of swing tops for free from a bar downtown. Look around for a place that sells Grolsch or Kulmbacher or a similar beer in swing tops and ask them to save the bottles for you. If they're cool they'll help you out (it wouldn't hurt to get a couple drinks while you're in there asking either.....).
I use the gernerator at www.says-it.com
While not an actual beer bottle label generator I can make some simple and fairly nice labels with their free software.
I raided a handful of redemption centers and bought them back for $.10, did find a lot were ashtrays, only used about half. That and drank a ton of grolsch, cheaper to buy them full and drink them than to buy new empties.
Cool guys, good tips. I know I will be machine washing and sterilizing, but I gotta be honest, using bottles that some transient dug outta the trash gives me the heebie-jeebies, as I am sure it would my friends and family who will be partaking in my home brews. Just collecting the bottles and taking them home to wash is a hepatitis and other pathogens exposure risk, regardless of how clean I ultimately scrub them. Yes, I am a germophobe, but that is a good thing in a homebrewer, no?
The main thing about Internet sources is they are typically cheaper per unit than B&M stores, but the shipping charges may make it a wash. And there is the whole support-your-local-homebrew-store angle. Definitely want to support the local guys.
Looks like Microsoft Publisher (part of Office 2007, which I have) can do the label thing to some degree, although using Photoshop for images will likely be required.
It seems a lot of peeps are using straight laser paper then gluing (or milking, LOL), rather than using pre-glued mailing labels, which I'd imagine are harder to get off.
First bottling Thursday night!
Look at the midwestsupplies site... cheap bottle added $1.00 for 1ltr bottle per each kit ordered!!!! Now you can get a kit and a nice big bottle each time. Join the brew of the month and getem to set you up automatically for 12 for the year.
Also Grolsh is a great resource as well. Beer in a bottle and a bottle you say Brilliant!!!! (ok that's guiness)
I drink mostly sam adams and other beers that I can use for home brewing. If they're screw ons I don't drink em. I got more than enough bottles for at least 10 gallons of beer.
DC