StillSmart

Re: Newbie with a T500

2017-01-24T22:55:33+00:00

That will do until you decide to "tweak" your product in your own fashion.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Jan 24, 2017 10:55 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2017-01-24T21:45:28+00:00

cheers, spot on instructions...ok to just keep 50% hearts for drinking and save the rest for next spirit run,

Statistics: Posted by guest5234 — Tue Jan 24, 2017 9:45 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2017-01-24T21:38:51+00:00

Hi I am doing the same, do you make cuts on your spirit run through the reflux or do you keep the lot?[/quote]

I do collect in 3or400ml jars or what you have.
Are you doing just one wash ?
If so put another 1 or 2 on strip and add to 1st.
If you have a full boiler @ 30% more fun!!!
1st 80ml of each strip. So 8o 160 or240mls Foreshots
Not good for anything but cleaning windows.
Then 30% heads 50% hearts 20% tails (rough figures)
Let the jars breath overnight and do your cuts next day.
If you run a parrot on the strip runs you will see
the percentage doesnt really drop, but near the end
the flow will slow to a drip.
If you started with a 30% charge in a full boiler, you
will have about 7.5ltrs of alcohol to come off.
Have a read on here about putting your still into
full reflux to try and compress the heads.
Take your time run steady trickle after the Foreshots.
Have fun

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Tue Jan 24, 2017 9:38 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2017-01-24T19:36:08+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
I am not going to try and give advice about running a T500 or grainfather, I own neither.
I do know that many T500 users double distill for a neutral product.
I can only suggest that you try both methods.
Personally I strip with a pot still and reflux distill the strip.
And then I Carbon filter.
Because I can.
And because one of my reasons for doing this thing is to be in control of what I drink, not just cheap alcohol.
What I do works for me.
Until you have tried a few things, you may not know what suits you.
Have fun finding out.
Stay safe.

Robert.

Hi I am doing the same, do you make cuts on your spirit run through the reflux or do you keep the lot?

Statistics: Posted by guest5234 — Tue Jan 24, 2017 7:36 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-15T22:44:49+00:00

[quote="Biggles

From what I have read on here so far quite a lot seem to use a pot still first for the stripping run then a reflux for the rest of it for a neutral spirit. What advantages has the pot still got for the strip run.[/quote]

Seagull beat me to it, speed.

And why fill your packed column with muck or take the time to unpack?
If you can stow/afford extra gear, it buys you extra time/saves time.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Nov 15, 2016 10:44 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-15T05:39:06+00:00

Biggles wrote:
From what I have read on here so far quite a lot seem to use a pot still first for the stripping run then a reflux for the rest of it for a neutral spirit. What advantages has the pot still got for the strip run.

I use the alembic dome and condenser on my T500 boiler for stripping then the reflux column for the spirit run.

With no plastic parts to melt on the dome and condenser, I can run the still hotter and faster on the stripping run. This allows me to strip a fully charged boiler in about 2 and a half hours. That makes it an after work evening job and leaves weekends free for the long slow spirit runs.

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:39 am

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T21:58:01+00:00

inspector gadget wrote:
You can purchase the Still Dragon glass version from the UK, mine arrived in just three days from ordering it. I do tend to use mine with great care and am ever mindfull if anyone gets near it , it is very light but does the job fantastically well as you can see the percentage much easier than with the copper one, having said the the copper one will take more knocks and it does look the part...

gadget

That fast, wow. Definitely worth a look. Last thing I ordered from abroad was a bluetooth hydrometer/thermometer from the US. The tax and duty was a killer. At least there shouldn't be any duty to pay on the Still Dragon while we are still in Europe.

Statistics: Posted by Biggles — Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:58 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T21:54:32+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
I am not going to try and give advice about running a T500 or grainfather, I own neither.
I do know that many T500 users double distill for a neutral product.
I can only suggest that you try both methods.
Personally I strip with a pot still and reflux distill the strip.
And then I Carbon filter.
Because I can.
And because one of my reasons for doing this thing is to be in control of what I drink, not just cheap alcohol.
What I do works for me.
Until you have tried a few things, you may not know what suits you.
Have fun finding out.
Stay safe.

Robert.

From what I have read on here so far quite a lot seem to use a pot still first for the stripping run then a reflux for the rest of it for a neutral spirit. What advantages has the pot still got for the strip run.

Statistics: Posted by Biggles — Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:54 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T21:30:54+00:00

You can purchase the Still Dragon glass version from the UK, mine arrived in just three days from ordering it. I do tend to use mine with great care and am ever mindfull if anyone gets near it , it is very light but does the job fantastically well as you can see the percentage much easier than with the copper one, having said the the copper one will take more knocks and it does look the part...

gadget

Statistics: Posted by inspector gadget — Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:30 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T21:25:33+00:00

I am not going to try and give advice about running a T500 or grainfather, I own neither.
I do know that many T500 users double distill for a neutral product.
I can only suggest that you try both methods.
Personally I strip with a pot still and reflux distill the strip.
And then I Carbon filter.
Because I can.
And because one of my reasons for doing this thing is to be in control of what I drink, not just cheap alcohol.
What I do works for me.
Until you have tried a few things, you may not know what suits you.
Have fun finding out.
Stay safe.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:25 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T19:04:59+00:00

Like a permanent trial jar. Very clever. It looks fragile and not available in the UK as far as I can tell. I did find an alternative here which looks a bit more robust http://www.distillingdominoes.co.uk/copper-parrot/
Not sure how you would get a reliable reading though unless peering down the spout is close enough.

Statistics: Posted by Biggles — Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:04 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T18:41:02+00:00

A parrot goes between the output of your still and your collection jar with a spirit hydrometer in it, so you get an up to date measurement of the strength of alcohol currently being produced.

https://www.stilldragon.eu/en/product-collection-parts/409-baby-product-collector.html

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:41 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T18:09:56+00:00

I did notice the earlier versions of the T500 had another temperature probe at the top. I am curious why they removed it. I can't be cost, surely as it wouldn't cost much at all. Possibly to stop any confusion? As for a Parrot, is that an addon or an alternative to the T500.

Statistics: Posted by Biggles — Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:09 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T16:11:33+00:00

Biggles wrote:
Cheers for that Vino. I hope I don't get it to the point of tripping the Grainfather as if I have then by the sounds of it I will have already probably melted the seals at the top of the column. So if I keep the outlet water flow temperature below 65degC then I should be safe ?

Unfortunately Imake decided to get rid of the old T500 column that had a temp sensor in the vapour path as well, then it was easy to know what was going on.
The water outlet temp probe would when normal, indicate 55 to 65 when running, the better way is to regulate the water flow until your spirit comes off at a slow trickle regardless of what the temp is. Running it with a parrot is better still, that way you can see the % that's coming off in real time.

Statistics: Posted by vino-tinto — Mon Nov 14, 2016 4:11 pm

Re: Newbie with a T500

2016-11-14T16:00:44+00:00

Cheers for that Vino. I hope I don't get it to the point of tripping the Grainfather as if I have then by the sounds of it I will have already probably melted the seals at the top of the column. So if I keep the outlet water flow temperature below 65degC then I should be safe ?

Statistics: Posted by Biggles — Mon Nov 14, 2016 4:00 pm