StillSmart

Re: New build

2018-04-15T22:20:04+00:00

I wondered if it was just me not being able to see images but it seems not...

Statistics: Posted by Maker — Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:20 pm

Re: New build

2018-04-15T18:27:06+00:00

why are non of the picture links working ??

Statistics: Posted by ninja_geezer — Sun Apr 15, 2018 6:27 pm

Re: New build

2018-02-23T00:00:44+00:00

download/file.php?id=73

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Fri Feb 23, 2018 12:00 am

Re: New build

2018-02-22T23:57:29+00:00

Thanks Robert, I'll make a note of that.

Myles, good ideas, I really should take more notes... I will try stripping with a packed column next time and report back with results.

I retested the alcohol content tonight now the liquid is at room temperature and the meter (Stevenson Reeves LTD) showed over 95% and the yeasty smell I found before has gone, I think I had the smell in my nose from being in the workshop and somehow associated it with the product, it just smells clean now, kind of a clinical clean smell.

I'm going to do a run of kale wash next and do some blind testing to see if I can detect a difference.

I'm also going to start reading about making whiskey and pot stillin so if anyone has a link to any articles worth reading or recipes I'm all ears, I follow a chap on youtube, Still it https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCThY8lOKKkVDd9HVBT59zCg he has some pretty good ideas, well I think so.

Statistics: Posted by Maker — Thu Feb 22, 2018 11:57 pm

Re: New build

2018-02-22T02:16:03+00:00

Maker wrote:
I removed the reflux condensor and had no packing in the column, so pot still mode I guess.

You don`t really need to do this. If you turn off the reflux condenser you will only get a minimal amount of natural reflux to start with. This is because the packing and column are cold.

Once the packing heats up, with no induced reflux it has negligible impact on your vapour speed, so you can do the strip run with it in place.

You have done one run with an empty column - try the next one with the packing in and see if you notice any difference.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Thu Feb 22, 2018 2:16 am

Re: New build

2018-02-22T00:43:06+00:00

Your numbers appear to be spot on
Volume (in Ml} x percentage, divided by 1000 = units of alcohol.
This works for wash and spirit runs.
Should keep you updated on where your at, at most given times.
HTH

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:43 am

Re: New build

2018-02-22T00:16:03+00:00

Myles wrote:
Maker wrote:Does just under 2L @ 70% in 40 minutes sound reasonable for a stripping run or am I pushing it too hard?

By stripping run do you mean with packing still in the column but with no water flow to the reflux condenser?

Provided you do not burn the wash you can throw as much power at it as your product condenser can cope with. You are just removing the bulk of the water out of the wash. The only thing to watch is if it foams up.

I removed the reflux condensor and had no packing in the column, so pot still mode I guess.

I ran the spirit run tonight, so would like some input on figures please.

The wash was 2x25L vodka star 6kg sugar washes striped to 8L@60%
The spirit run returned 800ml of heads still to be decided on and 4L of hearts @94% and 400ml of tails going down to 85% when I noticed a large bulge in the return tube from the deflag so aborted without finishing the tails.

Do the figures sound reasonable?
I'm still getting a yeasty smell that I can't live with, I have 50L of kale wash ready to start tomorrow,I hope thats the fix I need to find.

Statistics: Posted by Maker — Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:16 am

Re: New build

2018-02-19T06:23:35+00:00

Maker wrote:
Does just under 2L @ 70% in 40 minutes sound reasonable for a stripping run or am I pushing it too hard?

By stripping run do you mean with packing still in the column but with no water flow to the reflux condenser?

Provided you do not burn the wash you can throw as much power at it as your product condenser can cope with. You are just removing the bulk of the water out of the wash. The only thing to watch is if it foams up.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:23 am

Re: New build

2018-02-19T00:11:03+00:00

I ran the cleaning run last night and ran it fairly hard, no leaks and all went well, I wanted to know how good the product condensor is and forcing steam through the parrot seemed a good idea for cleaning so I turned the product condensor off and let it belch steam for a bit, turned the condensor back on and it took about 2 seconds to fully stop the steam so it must be working very well.

Today I loaded up 25l vodkastar and a few litres of old cider, wound it up to full power and waited, I should have timed it but forgot, I guess around 45mins to start producing so turned back the power to just over half and it settled down at 84.6 degrees (measured from the very top), dumped the first 100ml and started collecting, unlike my first still this one just gave a steady stream at 70%, I collected just under 2 litres in 40 minutes which is much, much faster than my first still, I had to switch off due to an emergencie so will finish tomorrow.

Does just under 2L @ 70% in 40 minutes sound reasonable for a stripping run or am I pushing it too hard?

Statistics: Posted by Maker — Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:11 am

Re: New build

2018-02-18T03:27:03+00:00

Should be fine. You might get a bit of splashing out the thermo port at high product flow rates but if that happens just add a bit of tube into the top of the T.

So long as the highest liquid point on your parrot is lower than the the branch of that T you should be fine. It needs to be lower so there is an air path into the bottom of the condenser. It does not matter if the Thermo port is higher, as that should have air in the top part.

You just want to make sure that the liquid level is lower than the T or you block the air path.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:27 am

Re: New build

2018-02-17T16:46:29+00:00

I have altered the dimensions and soldered the adapter on.

The top of the T fitting is open to vent pressure, does this all look like it will work?

Statistics: Posted by Maker — Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:46 pm

Re: New build

2018-02-17T16:06:15+00:00

Have I understood your plan correctly?

This will work - you just need to make sure that the open end of the thermo port tube is higher than the overflow point in the hydrometer.

If you connect onto the condenser just make sure that at that point there is an air path into the bottom of the condenser.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:06 pm

Re: New build

2018-02-17T15:36:46+00:00

I'm definately going to use mash's idea with the scrubber, it's clever.

I had not spotted the issue with the parrot, I was planning to add it to the bottom of the condensor via a 54-15 adapter so it would be a sealed fit, to allow excess pressure and surges to escape without bobbing the meter I left the top of the 'T' fitting open so I'll just use a longer pipe in the lower section, I think as it is now it would be full of alcohol and the first surge would have shot straight up out the top of the 'T'!

As for you 'reminder just for posterity' that was a light bulb moment, something I have been pondering for a few weeks, I wondered why would people spend thousands of pounds on a still that produced the same output as a T500 but I get it now, trouble is now there are thoughts of a newer, better build...! Need to finish this one first!

Statistics: Posted by Maker — Sat Feb 17, 2018 3:36 pm

Re: New build

2018-02-17T14:32:58+00:00

It is worth putting in this reminder just for posterity, as you are probably familiar with this anyway.

You can produce product on your packed column at 95.6% ABV but it may not be "neutral". It will just be 95.6% alcohol and that alcohol can easily be ethanol and other alcohols.

For it to be "neutral" it needs to be ethanol and water only. Or as close as possible. In commercial Coffey type distilleries there are several columns. The first one takes it to 95.6% ABV, the others separate out the other contaminants.

It isn`t unusual to do multiple runs on a packed column if you really need to get close to neutral.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Feb 17, 2018 2:32 pm

Re: New build

2018-02-17T11:33:07+00:00

What Mash said is good advice. I broke more than one hydrometer by dropping it into the parrot.

As for cleaning copper it takes time. There are a few cheats though. For small bits you can brush on normal plumbing flux and warm it up. The flux will do its job and clean it.

Often I will mechanically clean it if it is dirty with a satin finish wheel in a bench grinder.

Citric acid works, as does vinegar, as does pool ph minus chemical.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:33 am