StillSmart

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-07-13T23:43:44+00:00

Don't start me off again, I am top of the slope, with the Eddie "The Eagle" homemade skiing specs. on.....

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:43 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-07-14T16:49:15+00:00

packapoo wrote:
This is the opposite then Robert, to your earlier 'off piste' post

Nope. It's clearly [been] 'on the piste'

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:24 am

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-07-12T21:45:55+00:00

My post above is totally due to too much alcohol.
Sorry to bore folk, but I tend to get here late at night, after a drink or three.
Then, my attempts at coherency can sometimes go off at strange angles.
Love me or not.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:45 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-07-12T21:30:19+00:00

This is the opposite then Robert, to your earlier 'off piste' post

Statistics: Posted by packapoo — Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:30 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-07-12T00:10:43+00:00

I will have to blame this old thread resurfacing due to my imbibement of fall-over juice.
A really bad scan of new posts highlighted it.
IT knowledgable people may always be welcome here.
Or not

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Wed Jul 12, 2017 12:10 am

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-02-19T00:23:55+00:00

Glad to hear that you weren't having a dig at me!
I got all excited to see my old thread dragged up from the depths, only to feel let down by feeling that it was a slight...
I don't think that I could distill much more safely without building a concrete bunker and doing it by remote control; it would be cheaper to buy from the supermarket!
It might not taste as good though
I would never disdain anyone's personal take on safety, if you have the ability to run, let alone build a still, then I believe that you are smart enough to consider personal safety.
Your own level may exceed mine, that is your choice, but everyone should feel and be safe.
May you live long and prosper.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:23 am

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-02-18T19:48:41+00:00

Hi Robert

I didn't pick your thread for any particular reason, I was a little tipsy and seen Mash's comment above what became mine mentioning "Unatended"

So in my infinite wisdom I decided to tell my tail before I fell asleep, seems a few of us have had the odd close shave, most of the time it's a jar overflowing, but it could be a lot worse if we don't take appropriate countermeasures.

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Sat Feb 18, 2017 7:48 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-02-18T07:49:38+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
........ a large fire extinguisher ...... kept by the bed has caused some comments!

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sat Feb 18, 2017 7:49 am

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-02-18T07:47:22+00:00

Anavrin wrote:
"SHIT THE FUCKING STILL IS RUNNING"

LOL. Been there. I have a smoke detector above it. An 'OFF' timer. Stainless steel tray to catch anything and a webcam.

But I am not babysitting it. Thats one of the reasons I like the VSS still idea so much.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sat Feb 18, 2017 7:47 am

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-02-17T23:57:08+00:00

I am a little unsure why you chose to post this on this thread
My logic tells me that a domestic extractor fan, has a long life, and in the event of a power supply failure, my boiler goes off along with my condenser.
I am fortunate in being able to still so close to my normal,chosen home position/seat, and am virtually always present.I would hear if my cooling failed, due to the lack of noise!
I will admit to occasionally falling asleep during a run, but am a few strides away from the action, with a large fire extinguisher just inside the still room, and several others in-between.The one kept by the bed has caused some comments!
For a while now I have collected both strip and run over a larger 3 litre vessel to allow for overflow.
I have on occasion forgotten to tighten something down properly and walked into a room so filled with alcohol vapour that it makes your eyes water...
Good thing that I gave up smoking!
I agree totally that it is easy to become complacent, and within reason, it is our duty to keep ourselves and others safe.
Some of us may have more reasons than others.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:57 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2017-02-17T22:58:13+00:00

Not so long ago, I was striping a run, got distracted by the kids and family stuff while the boiler was heating up, only to suddenly remember

"SHIT THE FUCKING STILL IS RUNNING"

I ran to the garage to find the parrot full of liquid and steam (alcohol vapour!) blasting out of my surge breaker just above the parrot!

I turned the water tap on the wall and within a second or two it was panic over, I recon it could have only been boiling a minute before I caught it, but it was a big wake up call!

I've since decided to run my water cooling (not metered) at the same time as I start my boiler, also when stripping I now use a large 15 litre stainless pan to collect everything in, I'm not saying this is ideal, or perfectly safe but we all lead busy life's these days and it's easy to get complacent, a spirit run is a totally different story, I baby sit the hole time, at leat I time a few jars so an alarm always goes off a good few mins before a jar needs changing, works for me :-)

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:58 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2016-06-20T06:10:48+00:00

For me unattended has always been a big deal. As long as you get a quality product, a long run doesn't matter (within reason). But a long run holding the sky up is not acceptable.

My strip takes 3 days! 99% unattended in the freezer.

Keep up the good work we only learn stuff by trying bonkers stuff.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon Jun 20, 2016 6:10 am

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2016-06-19T23:58:10+00:00

My creation and I have spent a little more time together, and there may be some good news here.
I have reached a point that I can fiddle about a bit and then go away and leave the unit unattended for 30 minutes to an hour, before checking and changing collection vessels.

That is good, as the standard time for initial warm up, + an hours full reflux, + heads collection and around 4 litres of (now) 95% ish hearts is 10 or 11 hours, I don't collect tails with this one, - the ambient air temps., an uninsulated boiler and everything else leaves them sitting in the boiler, unless I leave it another hour or two, in which case it really is some of the worst stuff you have ever smelled, or foolishly tasted.

This may yet become the choice tool for a quality neutral.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE EASIER WAYS!

(Repeatable) Stillin' by numbers is what appeals to me here.

I'm still playing, no pun intended, and may report back.

Robert.

Did I mention yet that I am as daft as a box of frogs?

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Jun 19, 2016 11:58 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2016-05-23T23:34:15+00:00

Myles,
Having just written a response to you,I realised that I was answering the wrong question.I am going to leave that as part two. and answer what you actually asked.

Yes and Yes and yes and yes.

The product condenser.
About 22.5 metres of 10mm pipe ,a double coil,in a bin.
I use this to strip at around 1350 Watts.
And spirit run with the Silly Still at 1250 Watts.
This regime works.
And with indoor ambient air,and has, year round for a couple.
Why I chose to experiment further I know not

Part two (the reflux condenser of the Very Silly Still)
It will reflux all at around 570 Watts to the boiler,just a nudge more power and it is hard not to get a litre/hour at 92%.
With some fine tuning of the power input, and the domestic freezer or fridge not needing to kick in for a cool down,I can get 94% at a slower take off rate. Electrickery is tired by the time it gets to me, switch something on and it affects everything else.
The beast is running as I tap this, giving slightly different numbers to the last run,700ml/hour @ 93%, 620 watts going into the boiler.
I have just switched on the George Formby grill to cook tonights dinner and so expect things to change.
TBH, I think that I have built a slightly bigger, more bonkers and out of control version of the last thing that I saw Riku post.
I believe that a MUCH bigger reflux condenser would negate the need for a product condenser and may help with control.
Maybe I will find time to play with that.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon May 23, 2016 11:34 pm

Re: Air Cooled Reflux column, - AKA The Very Silly Still.

2016-05-23T09:28:59+00:00

Robert is your product condenser a coil in some sort of container with an extractor fan mounted at the top? Air in at the bottom and out at the top?
How is that working and what power level is your boiler?

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Mon May 23, 2016 9:28 am