StillSmart

Re: worth my while?

2011-09-04T04:28:58+00:00

Hi again. I approached my T 500 distributor, who was also very much annoyed that the fittings are not included with the purchase. The manufacturers sent a number of fittings overnight, so that was all good, but I questioned why they were not included as standard. There seems to be no response from the producers, more is the pity.

Statistics: Posted by kiwishiner — Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:28 am

Re: worth my while?

2011-09-01T08:04:56+00:00

all pretty much standard taps in my house (typical), so il have to convert the valve.

i wonder if a manual boost controller will work?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MANUAL-BOOST- ... 1267wt_907

Statistics: Posted by i dont drink — Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:04 am

Re: worth my while?

2011-09-01T07:50:03+00:00

I have a single column mixer with a "frother/mixer" on the end of the spout. That unscrews and the needle valve screws in

Statistics: Posted by lyonacre — Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:50 am

Re: worth my while?

2011-09-01T06:08:33+00:00

I did mention the tap thing in my first post

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:08 am

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-31T19:49:59+00:00

This any help ?

http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=480

Statistics: Posted by MrCat — Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:49 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-31T16:06:38+00:00

I use a double male converter and a washing machine pipe that fits onto a copper pipe tap.

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:06 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-31T15:11:55+00:00

all the taps in my house have the right screw fitting - I didn't realize there even was a screw fitting until I got started in this. I just unscrews the aerator from the kitchen tap and got going.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:11 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-31T13:19:06+00:00

well what a ball ache this is.... iv been to the shop to have a look at the needle valve water controll and it will only fit a bleedin tap? WHY?...

iv scoured b&q to try and find some kind of connector but come up with nothing..

how have you mannaged to connect the valve on your t500?

al.

Statistics: Posted by i dont drink — Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:19 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-30T17:18:29+00:00

lyonacre wrote:
I went straight out of the box. No problems at all

Ditto

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:18 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-30T15:45:29+00:00

I went straight out of the box. No problems at all

Statistics: Posted by lyonacre — Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:45 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-30T12:52:41+00:00

Well, my tuppence worth is that my T500 is the mutz nutz!

I started with the smart still, then graduated to a SS super reflux (now discontinued) and thought that was good for an off the shelf still. It took about 8 hours to run 25 litres of wash, giving about 85% spirit.

After reading the reviews, threw some money at a T500, and am glad I did. I now get 3.6 litres @ 94% from a 25 litre batch in 4 and a half hours.

Much cleaner spirit and that's from a single run.

I can't recommend it highly enough.

regards

P!

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:52 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-30T12:01:07+00:00

I started with an Air Still and graduated to a T500 which I am very happy with.

Major benefit is TIME!

The Airstill needed watching for each batch to take off the heads and stop it before you started getting rubbish out. I would also, quite often, filter the output and re-distill to get a cleaner, stronger final spirit. And you have to do this 6 times for the average bucket of wash

The T500 does 25L of wash in 4-5 hours, I only have to collect the first 100ml and then keep an eye on it till it's finished. The spirit is a consistent 95%. I cut it to 40% with distilled water, filter and drink it.

Statistics: Posted by lyonacre — Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:01 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-30T06:56:49+00:00

Hi 'I don't drink'.
Prior to purchasing a T500 here in New Zealand where they are 'produced and marketed, I tried one of its modern competitors. The T500 by comparison, uses a fraction of the water, (less than 100 litres, compared to several hundred.) Its water flow valve is far more accurate than ones laundry or kitchen tap, and in my experience, once set for a distillation, it requires virtually no further adjustment. I am on tank water and live alone, so my water flow is consistent, consistency is important for any water cooled still though. The water control, and dual temperature thermometers, mean that the T500 is simplicity to use. Set it up, sit with it, read a book, watch tv etc. and watch the glass demijohn fill up with spirit, so clean and clear, you can sup it straight from the still - with the appropriate amount of lemonade of course.
Here in lower NZ. it is winter, so I wrap my still boiler with some rudimentary insulation, and from turn on, to turn off takes 4 hours and some few minutes.
With the water flow set per the book, you needn't be concerned about yucky end tails, for the still simply stops producing alcohol, though you can obtain tails with water adjustment, but why would you?
A bonus of the still, is that the heating element is not within the boiler, so doesn't come in contact with the wash. It, the element, is also much simpler to replace when it dies, than in many stills. You will note from my previous posts, that I too have found the condenser develops a slight weeping of spirit. This is being rectified under warranty by the manufacturer. My distributor loaned me a new reflux column...I imagine any distributor worth purchasing from would do likewise.
For me, the T500 rocks.

Statistics: Posted by kiwishiner — Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:56 am

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-28T20:56:16+00:00

That looks suspiciously like one of the earlier SS Euro range:

A better and copper unit would be the go, my son just bought one of these: http://puredistilling.com/products/ and he loves it, easy to remove the packing for pot mode but I dont know how you would get it to UK etc.

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:56 pm

Re: worth my while?

2011-08-28T17:27:39+00:00

yeah i put that wrong... i cut to 35-40 ish then filter and its ok for me..

im still not over convinced at spending 350 odd quid on a t500 though..

i think i need convincing a bit more.

al.

Statistics: Posted by i dont drink — Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:27 pm