Hey Toolbox,
Great looking bottle of mead.
I have two bottling wands -
http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/fullsize/bottle-fillers.jpg - the Fermtech & Phil's Philler.
Phil's Philler leaks where the smaller tube enters the larger, dripping mead on and around the bottles. It's also designed to drain when removed from the bottle, because of this you must guess at how much headspace to leave in the bottle and stop filling at that point. Being stainless steel makes sanitizing easier and it works a little better in punted bottles.
Fermtech uses a gravity pin to stop the flow of mead, if the tip comes in contact with the bottle prior to being inside the neck, a gush of mead is let loose, it can be difficult getting the flow started in punted bottles and at times can cause foaming. With this tool, you fill the bottle to the top of the neck. Because it does not drain when removed, the volume displaced by the filler becomes the headspace needed for corking, its exactly the same time after time.
Have yet to get and test the new spring tip filler, I have hopes it will be better then the fermtech gravity design.
How do you fill the bottles?
Anthony
Now don't say you can't swear off drinking; it's easy. I've done it a thousand times. ~ W.C. Fields