Cork Issues

[Bill Lawrence]

I am having trouble with loss of carbonation when putting up beer in the Belgian 750's. I think what is happening is that the beer carbonates up just fine but then slowly leaks out over time. I am using the proper corks for those type bottles and wiring them down. Also, they do not come out easy, I generally need to pull the corks out with a corkscrew. I do however store them upright just like they seem to do in most stores. Anyway, my question is, what am I doing wrong?

[Brewboy]

Bill, are you corks going in wet? I always soak mine in a sulfite solution before installing. I havn't had any problems yet. Just checking, you are using the agglomerated corks and not natural corks correct? If by chance you're using natural corks the bottles will have to be stored on their sides to keep the corks wet.

[Bill Lawrence]

Yeah, I put the corks in wet. At the risk of seeming stupid (but then most people know me so any uncertainty in that regard has long since past) what is an agglomerated cork? They look like regular corks to me, you know, made of real cork wood and not that wierd looking plastic stuff.

[Brewboy]

http://www.cork.pt/agglomerated-cork-stoppers.html

Bill the aggolmerated cork stoppers are fused cork particles the adhesive particles tend to allow less breathing than natural corks that must be kept wet to stay sealed.