StillSmart

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-08T01:27:38+00:00

PS

I tried to Pm him but the message wouldn't send for some reason

thanks
Steve

It may simply be that his inbox is full, you sometimes need to remember to clear it out, and if you are as wary as me, to back the old messages up first.
No-one will ever catch me out with a copy of a post that I cannot challenge with authenticity.
I sometimes think that it is sad world that I now inhabit.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Mar 08, 2016 1:27 am

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-08T04:04:24+00:00

Pm should work..I Pm'd him on Sunday....try again...he'll see this anyway..

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:13 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-07T11:52:30+00:00

Hi Guy's,

Thank you all for your replies, a lot of help and info there for me to move forward with.

Ha! just thought, this is just for getting equipment, wait till the fun begins, more questions?

PS
Was about to buy a baby crystal dragon when I noticed Anavrin's videos, I see he's used the baby crystal but has since changed to the 4" dash, this got me second guessing as to, was this the way to go lol.
Just wondered what his & anyone else's thoughts and advice would be on buying the baby crystal.
Just don't want to make a mistake on any purchase.
I tried to Pm him but the message wouldn't send for some reason

thanks
Steve

Statistics: Posted by Sportyone — Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:52 am

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-06T02:30:30+00:00

@ Sportone: I would have thrown my opinion in sooner but I have been travelling. Arrived home yesterday and ready to get back into it all.

A 50L boiler is an ideal size. Once up to temp will take 3-3.5 hours to do a stripping run, and 4-4.5 hours on a spirit run - for rum. This is subject to change depending on volume, final SG and ABV pulled off, etc. Just giving an idea. For a neutral, the spirit run will be a lot longer

A 2" column still is all you need for a 50L boiler. I do not use any packing when making rum. You do not want any reflux. You need the characteristics of rum to come across. Whether you decide on a pot or column you will push the still hard and fast for rum.

Neutral, or vodka is a whole different story. If using a column, it will take 2-2.5 times as long to do a spirit run. This is after you have got up to temp and then let the still equilibrate for at least 30 minutes. You will need to use a fully packed column, and in my case it is 3 times the length of the column I use for rum. But then I don't accept a vodka that is not tasteless and odorless. I don't believe in having to use a charcoal filter. If you make it right you will not need to.

Hope it helps. Cheers.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Sun Mar 06, 2016 2:30 am

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T23:54:12+00:00

I have to agree here.
There is no one and only method.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Mar 05, 2016 11:54 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T21:04:27+00:00

To be honest there are no correct answers. If you put a good pot stilled rum against a good reflux column rum, you probably couldn't tell much difference. It is personal choice.

A lot of folks make very good rum with a detuned packed column. Set up a packed column to make neutral and it is very difficult to make it produce anything else. You need to introduce inefficiency to get flavoured product.

There is a problem with mixed plated/packed columns. They both have their own ideal vapour speed, so you might need to put a 3" packed section over a 4" plated section.

I would honestly recommend that you split tne still. Use a pot or plated still for flavoured product and run diluted high wines (nearly neutral) through a packed column to finish cleaning it to your desired quality.

If you want neutral it really is worth investing in a packed column specifically for that product.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Mar 05, 2016 9:04 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T17:47:17+00:00

Thanks for all the replies guy's

I know I mentioned a preference for Vodka in my earlier post, having said that, the final result for me would be mixed anyway so doesn't really pose that big a problem, though I imagine if you wanted to clean it up further, just run it through the still again until your happy with the result, is that right?

Being a novice though and not having tasted a final result from an experienced hobby distiller, I have always read that their finished product always compared to, if not bettered what you would find locally on the shelf, unless of course they're all telling Tails

Anyway back to the column, bit confused now lol, should I go for a 2" or a 4" column, after reading, I had imagined a 4" with 3 or 4 bubble plates and a packed section above that, but am now unsure if that's the way to go after reading Myle's post above.

On a personal note my choice of tipple would be a spiced Rum, though all my friends drink Vodka, so for me perhaps a hybrid column that does both is the way to go. Pot Still(for flavoured spirits)& Reflux (for Vodka & neutral). Or am I wrong and being overly optimistic?

I think I'm beginning to overthink this and should maybe just stick with a standard reflux column.

Statistics: Posted by Sportyone — Sat Mar 05, 2016 5:47 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T13:43:45+00:00

The SD milk can is a nice boiler. Vodka though introduces a potential problem. Do you mean a real clean neutral or do you mind a bit of residual flavour? For mixing or sipping neat?

If neutral is your game then a packed column is the real solution, but 4" is too big for a 50 litre boiler. A few folks have tried but most have regretted it. A 4" packed column needs a bigger boiler.

4" plates on a 50 litre boiler? You still need multiple runs to get neutral. There is a reason why folks run combined rigs that include plates and a packed section - they can't put in enough plates.

Even guys running 10 plates or more tend to do at least 1 pot still run followed by two plated runs.

If you run a 3" or 4" packed column and want to get clean neutral in a single spirit run, then you need to really reduce your product rate. Lots of reflux and slow down to no more than 1 litre per hour on a 4" rig.

I don't actually drink neutral, for me it is just feedstock for gin. I do however drink vodka, 3x distilled on a pot still, and will be making it on the new plated column when I get round to building it.

But it isn't neutral. I like a bit of flavour and it is usually recycled feints from a fruit based fermentation. I can see grain vodka in my future.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Mar 05, 2016 1:43 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T13:28:18+00:00

Then if your pockets are deep enough Sporty...go for it matey.

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Sat Mar 05, 2016 1:28 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T12:42:56+00:00

I think primarily I would be looking at off the shelf, I know there can be great satisfaction in building your own, however for this project I think I'll go for a professional build.
I have been looking at Sd columns as I do like the idea of a modular system for its adaptabilty in configuration & versatility.

Statistics: Posted by Sportyone — Sat Mar 05, 2016 12:42 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T10:03:46+00:00

I had the one from Amazon delivered on Thursday, only ordered it Tuesday! Can't complain for less than £15, be aware they measure the whole thing in the description so a 14" element only has about 11" inside the boiler & probably less than that by the time you have put it in the guard kit & clamped into a ferrule.

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Sat Mar 05, 2016 10:03 am

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-05T02:56:30+00:00

The question now is...do you wish to build your own?? or buy one off the shelf??

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Sat Mar 05, 2016 2:56 am

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-04T23:04:09+00:00

Thanks guy's
Hopefully that's the elements sorted, now for the column!
Still none the wiser lol

Statistics: Posted by Sportyone — Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:04 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-04T22:14:13+00:00

Oh Chinaland, How you help me when I am not in a hurry!

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:14 pm

Re: Novice Advice needed please....

2016-03-04T21:54:21+00:00

One here....From China

Another one Here again from China.

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:54 pm