Possible to get new foam cap inserts?
Hey all, like most of you I sterilize and use brand-spankin' new screw-on plastic bottle caps with the flattened foam inserts in them when bottling, ditto inserts when using Mason jars.
But as my collection of bottle caps in a bag marked 'used' grows, and my supply of caps marked 'new' dwindles, I can't help but wonder why they simply can't be re-sterilized and re-used.
What exactly is the issue? Is it the little foam inserts that are the reason new caps are supposed to be used each time? If so, can't we just buy those stupid little foam inserts on their own and use them with previously used caps?
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup