StillSmart

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-13T22:08:07+00:00

All q's should be covered in this old post of mine.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3027&p=19792&hilit=robert%27s+malt+whisky#p19792
That is my way.
There are others I am sure.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:08 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-13T15:59:43+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
You do not throw anything away from a strip run.
You do need to make cuts on the spirit run, only the hearts are for drinking.

I do not throw anything away from a whisky spirit run,- eventually the fores,(fores and heads are not distinguished in whisky distillation) and feints (Tails) reach equilibrium in the feints receiver.
Any harmful higher alcohols are passed to the fairies, and propanol and other lower alcohols which make up the tails are eventually broken down and converted through many still passes.
Or so I am informed by a new good buddy, who happens to be Technical Engineer for a Malt distillery.

Robert.

Robert can you elaborate please?
I.e. What do you do after the strip......step by step please i.e. How do you cut the fores and particularly the bit about not chucking the fores........how do you keep the 'feints'. Uncovered ? Is this how the methanol goes to the fairies etc

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Wed Sep 13, 2017 3:59 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-11T22:14:49+00:00

No I'm just swapping over the same original one at the moment

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:14 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-11T19:21:08+00:00

H12rpo did you buy a column nut or did you find a alternative?

Statistics: Posted by Brewhunter — Mon Sep 11, 2017 7:21 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-11T04:45:25+00:00

Reflux strips flavour.
You need power control.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Sep 11, 2017 4:45 am

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-10T14:51:25+00:00

Sorry it's me that's adding the confusing element.

The wash was foaming (a lot) causing the white cloudiness. I could see that when I took the head off for cleaning. I've run it again and it was clear and tasty.

The copper packing issue.
I was thinking that a small amount of packing would cause a small amount of reflux and thereby a) slow down the run and b) keep the flavour........however I can see that maybe I'm on the wrong track and perhaps just need a power controller?

Anyone wanna buy a couple of metres of copper mesh :-)

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Sun Sep 10, 2017 2:51 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-10T13:54:09+00:00

Are you sure? I read it as about the boiler and the foaming issue.

No matter.. sorry if I got off topic.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Sep 10, 2017 1:54 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-10T13:48:00+00:00

@Mash: He asked about packing. Both the question and the answer were relevant.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Sun Sep 10, 2017 1:48 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-10T06:28:20+00:00

This has nothing to do with the head.

The boiler needs some copper shrapnel copper coins and pipe offcuts. Someone else mentioned big-head copper tacks.
Ignore marbles not relevant to the boiler.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Sep 10, 2017 6:28 am

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-10T02:27:59+00:00

As EasyD said, you dont use packing in a potstill configuration. I only use packing when making a neutral (95 or 96% ABV). For a neutral, my column is 3 x the length as that used for rum, shine, whiskey. Its a different process.

As for glass marbles, they dont give you sufficient surface area. I use high quality, restaurant grade SS pot scrubbers. You get a far greater surface area which will give a much cleaner product providing your still is set up correctly, you reach and maintain equilibrium, and your cuts are made at the right time. This is a simplified response.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Sun Sep 10, 2017 2:27 am

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-09T22:49:05+00:00

I believe that we have had this conversation.
It is a pot head still.
No reflux,no packing, implied.
No-one, to my knowledge has bucked the conventional wisdom and done so,and admitted it.
Knock your socks off and give it a go.
Let us know how it goes.
I am struggling to see the logic of making a pot head to replace a refluxing head and then filling it with refluxing material.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:49 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-09T13:50:46+00:00

I'm thinking the same
I've just a spirit run and it still came out pretty damn quick
I'll get some copper mesh type stuff........has anyone tried glass marbles for packing /reflux. I seem to recall my mate using them in his home made stil, in the 80's :-)

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:50 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-09T13:21:13+00:00

H12rpo wrote:
Just took the pot head off to clean and empty the boiler and can see why my strip is cloudy......all around the top Tim and the underside of the lid is covered with what was foam from the wash,, !

I would try some copper in the bottom and or reducing the power. I am guessing you are running it a bit too hard.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:21 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-09T12:30:03+00:00

Totally clear .......but have reserved that for lighting the bbq

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Sat Sep 09, 2017 12:30 pm

Re: Vino tinto pot head for t500

2017-09-09T10:57:31+00:00

When you did the sac run how did that look when it came out?

Statistics: Posted by Brewhunter — Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:57 am