StillSmart

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-20T00:06:12+00:00

after all the posts on the topic of cleaning the column or not...I've decided that I am going to not worry about how clean the still is for stripping runs but will do an acid wash before each spirit run to clean the copper...unless that is a no-no?

would a citric acid wash in the column with a good rinse afterwards affect the taste of the product during a spirit run?

Drewzy

Statistics: Posted by Drewzy — Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:06 am

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-17T14:14:56+00:00

Being blessed with the lazy gene, I let the T500 clean itself. From turn on, it is ready to produce 1.25 hours later. I start with way too much water flow so it is in full reflux. What is a better cleaner than hot alcohol vapour?

At 1.5 hours from turn on, I wind the water flow down and start the run. Haven't seen inside the column since the day I did my first run with it.

Statistics: Posted by John51 — Tue Dec 17, 2013 2:14 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-16T02:39:14+00:00

they are both great sources of information, along with many others on this site.

I'm glad I found this place.

Cheers!

Drewzy

Statistics: Posted by Drewzy — Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:39 am

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-16T01:24:17+00:00

Nice job Brian. I don'tknow if you have ever described equalibrium on here before but I have noticed that you and AM have to answer the same questions, with a slight variation perhaps, over and over again. I acknowlege your generous contributions to the art and science of distilling. Its all great reading.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:24 am

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-15T14:34:32+00:00

YHB,

that's the first time I've had heads compression/equilibrium explained to me and it actually makes sense!

YHB wrote:
If you can reach "equilibrium" with the amount of heads being produced equal to the amount of spirits being removed then you will have a smaller amount of heads which will have been "compressed" or "compacted" and a larger amount of cleaner hearts.

that verbage above is golden.

Cheers!

Drewzy

Statistics: Posted by Drewzy — Sun Dec 15, 2013 2:34 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-15T03:58:03+00:00

My way of thinking about this goes something like;

Running a reflux still results in the vapours stacking up in the column with the lowest temperature elements at the top.

For this description lets call the stuff at the top "heads".

During the initial part of the run the reflux action of the still will cause the heads to stack up at the top until all the heads have been removed.

If you take off the product quicker than your still is capable of stacking up the heads than you will start and pull a mixture of heads and hearts. resulting in either a larger amount of heads that need to be cut out or hearts that are "smeared" with heads. If you can reach "equilibrium" with the amount of heads being produced equal to the amount of spirits being removed then you will have a smaller amount of heads which will have been "compressed" or "compacted" and a larger amount of cleaner hearts.

If you start taking product too early then you will only have a thin layer of heads at the top of the column which is easily depleted and will result in smearing. If you leave it in 100% reflux for a longer period then you will have a larger amount of heads as a buffer and reduce the risk of smearing.

Hope that helps.

Statistics: Posted by YHB — Sun Dec 15, 2013 3:58 am

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-15T02:05:52+00:00

rumjohn,

I'm going to imagine that to reach equilibrium you have to run the still in 100% reflux...but what exactly is reaching equilibrium? is that what they call compressing the heads?

I may be way off but I'm trying.

Cheers!

Drewzy

Statistics: Posted by Drewzy — Sun Dec 15, 2013 2:05 am

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-15T01:05:13+00:00

The question relative to how to set up the still for a spirit run versus a spirit run is a no brainer. Although having said that - you can do it any way you want. But why would you. AM hit it on the head as he usually does.

A stripping run is spimly that. You start with your beer/wash and remove the solids and colour and most of the water and finish with a "low wine" that will be fairly clean, drinkable for some and ready for a spirit run. Run the still wide open with no packing. No point in having any kind of reflux during this run.

Always rinse the still out after any run. Every few stripping runs, break the still down and clean. I just use water and those green 3M scubber things. Off taste and smells will start coming over if not clean.

For the spirit run it is essential to have a clean still, not one that has had a strip or two run through. As for packing and reflux - it depends on what you are trying to arrive at. For rum and cachaca I use a short column (30 cm) with no packing. Also run wide open. For neutral (95%) I use a packing and extend the column to 90 mm.

To get 95% ABV of a clean product that does not need filtering, the equipmet must be clean and the still must have reached eqilibrium before you start taking off any spirit. I let things eqilibrate for an hour. And then I take the spirit off very slowly so as not to upset eqilibrium.

I like to let the high wine sit around and breath for a month at least.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Sun Dec 15, 2013 1:05 am

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-14T19:23:56+00:00

I smelt the column and even though it didn't smell squeaky clean, it wasn't overbearing. I think I'll rinse with cold water though after a strip just to rinse out any residual dunder water caught up there. I'm planning on doing citric acid bath every few runs anyways. I would imagine it is good practice to keep the equipment clean.

went to the store today and got a 10gallon fermenter. I'm going to try my first non turbo wash today since it's snowing like mad outside.

thanks for all the help and discussion here guys, I appreciate the support.

Cheers!

Drewzy

Statistics: Posted by Drewzy — Sat Dec 14, 2013 7:23 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-14T17:51:40+00:00

In my defence I always considered I was being a lazy git too by just rinsing with cold water as I dismantle the bits and pieces

I've a lot to learn

AM

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:51 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-14T17:44:34+00:00

John51 wrote:
Me too, no problems as yet.

My Motto is: Always try the least effort option first, just in case it works.

I don't have any motto, I'm just a lazy twat who wants half decent booze for the least amount of effort and £'s

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:44 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-14T16:36:35+00:00

Me too, no problems as yet.

My Motto is: Always try the least effort option first, just in case it works.

Statistics: Posted by John51 — Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:36 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-14T14:59:05+00:00

aidanmac wrote:
I've found a good rinse of all vapour affected parts, with plenty of cold running water, from a hose, after every stripping run and spirit run does the trick

AM

Whereas, thus far, I haven't washed out my column at all. I haven't even bothered to dis-assemble it to check the insides, and had no problems at all, smell, contamination or othewise.......

S'pose it's a case of "you pays yer money, and takes yer choice"..........

If you want to clean/sterilise/whatever between runs, then fine, if it works for you that's great I'll still just take the lazy way out until I get problems

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Sat Dec 14, 2013 2:59 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-13T15:28:33+00:00

I've found a good rinse of all vapour affected parts, with plenty of cold running water, from a hose, after every stripping run and spirit run does the trick

AM

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:28 pm

Re: An update on my journey......

2013-12-13T15:12:11+00:00

can you rinse the column with regular water or do you have to do a citric acid bath to clean the copper properly and get rid of contamination?

I will post my results from last night on my first ever striping run with the essentia, but it basically took me over 5 hours.

it makes sense what you said big mac.

there's always a reason for doing things that have been done for decades past, even if it's not obvious immediately! lol

Cheers!

Drewzy

Statistics: Posted by Drewzy — Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:12 pm