[phillamb168]

Perhaps I should ask this on the BA "forum", but I've never had much luck with responses over there. I'm looking at a manual canning line (Cask, 2 head). How much do empty cans typically cost? MODS: I am NOT asking how much to sell these for, but just asking what the typical going price is for printed cans and tops from a manufacturer... 

[Thirsty_Monk]

I do not know the pricing.
All I know is that you have to buy a HUGE quantities (like truckload) of cans at once.

[morticaixavier]

didn't someone on here mention buying plain unprinted cans and plastic sleeves to shrink over them? Was that you Thirsty?

[Kit B]

Perhaps I should ask this on the BA "forum", but I've never had much luck with responses over there. I'm looking at a manual canning line (Cask, 2 head). How much do empty cans typically cost? MODS: I am NOT asking how much to sell these for, but just asking what the typical going price is for printed cans and tops from a manufacturer... 

If you contacted Surly brewing, they might help you out.
They use the large cans, but might be able to put you in touch with suppliers.

Surly Brewing Co.
 4811 Dusharme Dr.
 Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
 
(763) 535-3330

[tschmidlin]

Like Kit B said, you can contact some breweries to find out their suppliers.  Then contact the suppliers for more accurate pricing based on your location.

Some more small breweries that can:
7 Seas Brewing
Caldera Brewing
Two Beers Brewing

[pinnah]

I bet Sean T at Silverton Brewery can can a can story for you.  He is a member here (a10t2).  They use plain silver cans and paste a label on them.  He might be a bit busy trying to fill them right now.

[phillamb168]

I bet Sean T at Silverton Brewery can can a can story for you.  He is a member here (a10t2).  They use plain silver cans and paste a label on them.  He might be a bit busy trying to fill them right now.

That would indeed be interesting... I feel like empty unprinted cans are cheaper, and pasting labels will give a nice old-timey feel to it...

[a10t2]

By the pallet (4552 cans), we pay about $0.09 apiece, including the covers. Printed cans are actually not much more (and would be cheaper once you factor in the labor savings), but the minimum order is large for even a medium-sized micro. 12 pallets IIRC.

[phillamb168]

By the pallet (4552 cans), we pay about $0.09 apiece, including the covers. Printed cans are actually not much more (and would be cheaper once you factor in the labor savings), but the minimum order is large for even a medium-sized micro. 12 pallets IIRC.

Yeah, I finally got a quote from the Ball guys. Minimum is 200,000 for printed, and they only deliver by container as opposed to single pallet. Cost not including shipping is therefore way, way, way, way more than I can afford right now. Plus that fills up 2 and a third CONTAINERS. Gonna have a hard time explaining that one to the wife. "Well hey, at least we don't have to mow the lawn in that part."

Sean, it sounds like you only do single-pallet orders, is that right? Is cask.com / Ball your distributor for that as well? $400 per pallet, that's something I could afford. Do you do anything special for your labels (like wrap-around or something?) or are they just the standard 2/3 circumference sorta deal?

Edit to say, man canning seems to be a real cost saver. Bottles from Brouwland are 0.13 euro per bottle for 1,855 bottles per pallet. I bet those suckers are HEAVY too!

Sean one more thing, how heavy are those pallets of cans?

[a10t2]

Sean, it sounds like you only do single-pallet orders, is that right? Is cask.com / Ball your distributor for that as well? $400 per pallet, that's something I could afford. Do you do anything special for your labels (like wrap-around or something?) or are they just the standard 2/3 circumference sorta deal?

Sean one more thing, how heavy are those pallets of cans?

Yes, we get ours from Ball in Golden, CO. We typically get three or four pallets at a time, since that's all we have the storage space for. They're very light - two people can lift one. Probably 100-120 lb. The height makes them hard to move rather than the weight.

For labels, we use regular 3x6" stickers, printed on glossy stock with an adhesive back, and apply them by hand. There are probably a couple hundred online vendors who would do the same thing, but we use gotprint.net.

[phillamb168]

Sean, it sounds like you only do single-pallet orders, is that right? Is cask.com / Ball your distributor for that as well? $400 per pallet, that's something I could afford. Do you do anything special for your labels (like wrap-around or something?) or are they just the standard 2/3 circumference sorta deal?

Sean one more thing, how heavy are those pallets of cans?

Yes, we get ours from Ball in Golden, CO. We typically get three or four pallets at a time, since that's all we have the storage space for. They're very light - two people can lift one. Probably 100-120 lb. The height makes them hard to move rather than the weight.

For labels, we use regular 3x6" stickers, printed on glossy stock with an adhesive back, and apply them by hand. There are probably a couple hundred online vendors who would do the same thing, but we use gotprint.net.

Do you have a pic of the finished product you could post?

[a10t2]

Do you have a pic of the finished product you could post?

Not that I can get to right now, but Google turned this up: