StillSmart

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-11T02:12:17+00:00

Great info thanx, i have a better understaning of equlibruim now and will give it a go next week on my 3rd run.

My first and second runs did give me 94% so thats not to bad, just trying to learn some good practice.

Statistics: Posted by Tasturbo — Fri Dec 11, 2015 2:12 am

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-11T01:48:59+00:00

@ EasyD: I didn't realize that equilibrium would be such a misunderstood factor. Perhaps it is one of the reasons why so many "distillers" need to carbon filter their product.

You state: i.e. You have vapour in the column, condensing and falling back down towards the boiler and not reaching the product condenser.

Almost correct - The vapor does reach the condenser. Necessary for it to fall down toward the boiler (a reflux still). This action of repeated trips up the column is what eventually gives you the cleanest possible product.

@Tasturbo: I have never used or even seen a T500. But it is a column still. To arrive at a good neutral, you will need to pack the majority of the column. As I said yesterday, the mesh is to maximize the surface area within the column but should not be packed so tight that the passage of vapor is restricted.

To be able to arrive at the highest possible ABV %, your still has to go through the process of achieving equilibrium. At that point, by very slowly drawing off the spirit and not disturbing equilibrium, you should be able to collect a very clean, 96% ABV product throughout the run.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Fri Dec 11, 2015 1:48 am

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-10T22:49:22+00:00

Best of luck with a google search for equilibrium.
As I understand it, here,in terms of reflux stills;-
It is the point at which the power supplied to your boiler,and the cooling power supplied to your column balance each other out.
i.e. You have vapour in the column,condensing and falling back down towards the boiler and not reaching the product condenser.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Dec 10, 2015 10:49 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-10T02:33:53+00:00

Very interest, google shall help with equilibrium.

So maybe i should get some more copper saddles as its hard to pack scrubbers in the top section around the cooling coil, so many varying answers. I am only doing nuetrals so i want the best set up for those.

Statistics: Posted by Tasturbo — Thu Dec 10, 2015 2:33 am

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-10T01:53:28+00:00

Reading through the above leads me to believe that the reasons people pack their column varies considerably. The primary reason for packing a column is to increase surface area. If you have a SS column, copper packing gives you the benefit of copper in the line.

The surface area provided by a mesh is so far greater than marbles, saddles or whatever. Increased surface area will allow for greater reflux. Reflux will lead to purity.

The column needs to be packed from top to bottom, but not mashed in there. You want the vapor to be able to move through the packed column. You don't want tight loose tight loose packing. Keep it as uniform as possible so you don't get turbulence in the column. The same with cold spots. Insulate the column.

Unless I am making a neutral for vodka or gin, I remove the all packing and do not use reflux at all. Reflux gives you a cleaner product, but that is not what you want in a rum or whiskey.

Configure your still for the product you intend to produce. For neutral I triple the length of my column and it is packed. I let it run for an hour until it has reached equilibrium before I take anything off. And then only very slowly so as to maintain equilibrium.

For rum, I use a short column with no packing and run it wide open.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Thu Dec 10, 2015 1:53 am

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-09T19:57:52+00:00

vino-tinto wrote:
Personally I leave the coil free and open, that way it cools more efficiently than if it were packed.

So half shouldn't be a problem, just haven't got my head around the science of reflux and the packing. thnx

Statistics: Posted by Tasturbo — Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:57 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-09T12:26:49+00:00

Personally I leave the coil free and open, that way it cools more efficiently than if it were packed.

Statistics: Posted by vino-tinto — Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:26 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-12-09T09:48:35+00:00

Old post but has what i need so dont think a new one will help.

As mentioned above i will be doing the copper top n bottom, at the moment i have copper saddles and ceramics in the coil and then all stainless scrubbers below cooling coil..

I want to drop in the copper saddles then add copper scrubber to touch cooling coil followed by ss scrubbers and a final copper scrubber.

when i stand it back up the copper saddles will fall to the first scrubber against the cooling coil and leave an air gap in the top.

Question ..... Is it ok to have this air gap or should i buy more copper saddles to fill it.

Statistics: Posted by Tasturbo — Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:48 am

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-04-03T06:16:02+00:00

What tool do you use to get the scrubbers back out from the column when you want to clean them?

Statistics: Posted by v4mpy — Fri Apr 03, 2015 6:16 am

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-04-02T19:36:51+00:00

i added my copper bits back too, and if you forget before you pack the column like i did, then you can shake them in the from the top takes a few mins longer but not too difficult to do.

Statistics: Posted by JOHN DOE — Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:36 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-03-31T18:49:26+00:00

i was going to put the copper ones that came with the T500 in first then copper mesh then ceramic saddles then some copper at the bottom to hold everything together.

Statistics: Posted by Jaggie — Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:49 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-03-31T18:46:56+00:00

Are you not putting back any of the copper bits that come with the T500?

Statistics: Posted by v4mpy — Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:46 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-03-27T22:35:50+00:00

thanks

Statistics: Posted by Jaggie — Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:35 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-03-27T20:40:18+00:00

prob 3 metres just for 1 or 2 scrubbers worth at the top

Statistics: Posted by JOHN DOE — Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:40 pm

Re: copper mesh mod t500

2015-03-25T18:41:40+00:00

how much copper mesh should i buy to put inside the top and bottom of the T 500

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reflux-Copper-Mesh-Still-Column-Packing-Moon-Shine-Reflux-Still-Copper-Packing-/271788032129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=570615477450&hash=item3f47d44081

Statistics: Posted by Jaggie — Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:41 pm