StillSmart

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-17T16:24:09+00:00

What you could do is take the first 1.5 litres in 1 jug then switch to another & make your decision after. All the bits you don't want you can still save & run later when you have a full still charge to play with, I wouldn't worry about it at the stripping run stage though because the spirit run is where you want to take the most care over cuts.
I'd run the stripping run to get the 2.5 litres that you think you can get, then deal with funny flavours etc at the spirit run. Its not something I've experimented with though, you might find you can get better neutral by taking cuts at both the strip and spirit run?

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Tue May 17, 2016 4:24 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-17T14:37:33+00:00

Oh and Benoit, in response to your comment about what my desired outcome is.
All I have to start on is I got a few bottles of essences so just looking to make a neutral, obviously want as much as I can get but I don't want to drink anything dodgy.
If I took 2.5 l from every run instead of 1.5l, I could end up with an extra spirit run from every wash but will it compromise the quality? I dont know but this guide I tried and tested so I don't want to take risks yet, I can do that later when I am more experienced. And have a bit of stock

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Tue May 17, 2016 2:37 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-17T14:27:47+00:00

Thanks Benoit, I've seen that site mentioned before on here I've bookmarked it now. Looks good
Thanks Robert, I have those links printed out, I have been studying them for a while and think I got my head around it now. Its just cos its my first go, anything that isn't the same as the guide, I start thinking I'm doing something wrong but I understand every wash can be different.
This forum has been amazing to gain knowledge and pick the brains of experienced guys such as yourselves who are happy to help. Hopefully one day i can be on here advising people.
I've made beer and wine from kits for years but loving this new venture already, next step is sort out my big shed and get a proper set up. I think the Mrs is getting a bit fed up with a fermenting bin and still on the kitchen worktop.

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Tue May 17, 2016 2:27 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T22:04:34+00:00

It will be fine,get the rest stripped,read this download/file.php?id=60 and this viewtopic.php?f=3&t=765, and have some fun.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon May 16, 2016 10:04 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T19:13:42+00:00

The HD Calcs page can help, I guessed that you made 23 litres assuming you were using a normal home brew bucket. Looks like you got yourself a 15% wash

You could strip to even lower than that if you wanted to mate, a flavoured drink like a whisky wash you can strip to 20% or maybe even lower. It all depends on where you think your desired flavours sit & how much energy you want to put into the still Vs the deminishing returns of ethanol. A lot of folk here seem to set 30% as the bench mark for cut off, I usually follow although I go to 20% for peated whisky because I follow Roberts method for recycling feints (thank you ED for the guide)

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Mon May 16, 2016 7:13 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T14:46:21+00:00

Used 6kgs of sugar, how would i work it out?
Just finished first strip, marked the jug at 1500ml as that was where I planned to stop collecting. Seemed to take ages. I then realised I've messed up my mark was actually at 2.5l. Don't know what I was thinking. Spirit hydrometer says about 40%. It will be ok wont it? As its going to go through again anyway.

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Mon May 16, 2016 2:46 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T13:55:56+00:00

Do you know how much sugar you started with? You could still calculate it

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Mon May 16, 2016 1:55 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T12:17:27+00:00

Thanks for that I was just reading about the calcs actually, I have used them before when making beer but forgot to take sg before fermenting and was trying to use spirit hydrometer to get abv but struggled, one minute it looked about 13%, then it looked more like 20%. Makes sense now about it not working very well until its put through the still. I've just got my second wash Started and made a note of sg (1.095) so hopefully will remember to do that in future. Thank you

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Mon May 16, 2016 12:17 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T11:53:43+00:00

paulf wrote:
What do you all use to measure abv, I've seen people post on here things like its 13.5%, how can you read that accurate??.

You can't read abv of a wash with a hydrometer, it has to be calculated.

And you can't read abv of a wash with a spirit hydrometer because any residual sugar in that wash will give you a wildly inaccurate reading.

With a conventional hydrometer you need to measure the Original Gravity or OG of your wash and then the Final Gravity or FG when you think fermentation has finished.

With 6kg of sugar in 24 litres of wash my OG is usually 1.090 and using Vodka Star yeast I expect it to finish around 0.984

Get rid of the decimal points and subtract the FG from the OG

1090 - 984 = 106

Divide that by 7.36

106 ÷ 7.36 = 14.4% abv

Or search for an online calculator, enter your numbers and hit the ‘go’ button.

Statistics: Posted by GrunthosTheFlatulent — Mon May 16, 2016 11:53 am

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T08:03:27+00:00

Thanks, Il keep an eye out for something better.
Wash looking clearer today, just put the still together and started my first ever strip run.....woohoo, here we go

Mrs at work and im not in work til tonight so Think Il start another wash....

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Mon May 16, 2016 8:03 am

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T07:00:56+00:00

Temperature, clarity of the brew and the fact the digits are really close, will make this inaccurate. Don't worry but treat it as a guide not a definitive statement.

There are more accurate hydrometers.

1463382379715-1648435675.jpg

You can also use refractometers which are easier to use and less easily broken.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon May 16, 2016 7:00 am

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-16T06:19:51+00:00

Using this, it was sent free with the still

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Mon May 16, 2016 6:19 am

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-15T19:07:45+00:00

paulf wrote:
... Also tested strength and its so difficult to read as the lines are so close together but its between 15-20%.

What are you testing on... A hydrometer?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun May 15, 2016 7:07 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-15T17:17:35+00:00

Wow that's a high abv wash! What was your original gravity Paul? I use a hydrometer, spirit hydrometers can come in a shorter range which makes them more accurate hence some people giving a half degree measure. Different ones have different ranges, it all depends how good your eyesight is I guess! Some people are very clever / fortunate & have digital parrots which can give a 0.1 degree accuracy.
.990 is almost certainly done mate yes, get it in there!

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Sun May 15, 2016 5:17 pm

Re: wash not cleared

2016-05-15T12:35:45+00:00

Thanks for the reply all. Just put some in a tube to test gravity and it stopped right in and went off the sale, lowest reading on it was .995 and its floating at about .990. So should be good yes????? Also tested strength and its so difficult to read as the lines are so close together but its between 15-20%.
What do you all use to measure abv, I've seen people post on here things like its 13.5%, how can you read that accurate??.
Thanks for all you replies, feeling more confident noe

Statistics: Posted by paulf — Sun May 15, 2016 12:35 pm