StillSmart Home distillation made easy! 2012-08-06T05:38:30+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/feed.php?f=15&t=1066 2012-08-06T05:38:30+00:00 2012-08-06T05:38:30+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9253#p9253 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]> Statistics: Posted by chill — Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:38 am


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2012-08-03T08:27:18+00:00 2012-08-03T08:27:18+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9234#p9234 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]> Residual sweetness was often a problem with distillate from the Airstill but as I was making a Bourbon-like spirit it was not a problem for me.

With my 50lt pot a sugar wash, fermented dry with VS came out absolutely neutral - not even a hint of sweetness. ;D ;D

I have a friend who wanted a bigger still and he converted a Cornielius Keg with a kettle element. It holds 19lt (he runs 15lt each batch).

For me the big advantage to a bigger still, apart from the obvious size, is the short time it takes to process a wash - relative to the Airstill. To strip 40lt; Airstill = (10 X 4lt) 40 hours; 50lt Pot Still = (1 X 40lt) 5hrs 15mins ;D

Don't get me wrong, I love my Airstill and it will continue to be used for small or special test batches but the superior quality and efficiency of the output from a larger pot still is all the justification needed to upgrade whether you build or buy.

AM 8)

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:27 am


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2012-08-01T03:49:49+00:00 2012-08-01T03:49:49+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9210#p9210 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
I'd be very interested in your thoughts on taste differences between product from this still and your AirStill. In particular the sweetness of things distilled from sugar washes or molasses, if you ever make rum. I am feeling the need for a bigger, better still and trying to justify it. Not that I need to justify a cool new toy...


Chuck

Statistics: Posted by chill — Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:49 am


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2012-07-31T22:42:08+00:00 2012-07-31T22:42:08+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9209#p9209 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]> Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:42 pm


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2012-07-30T23:06:36+00:00 2012-07-30T23:06:36+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9204#p9204 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
AM 8)

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:06 pm


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2012-07-30T18:57:01+00:00 2012-07-30T18:57:01+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9203#p9203 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
What is the actual ABV of the wash you're going to run, and how much are you putting in the main boiler?

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:57 pm


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2012-07-30T18:41:06+00:00 2012-07-30T18:41:06+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9202#p9202 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
AM 8)

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:41 pm


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2012-07-30T18:09:38+00:00 2012-07-30T18:09:38+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9199#p9199 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
Steam heating is very efficient, your 20oC wash would hit the maximum of 3.45l after 9 mins (with an ABV of 15.6% and BP of 90.4oC), and the 50oC would do it in 5 mins (with an ABV of 13.6% and BP of 91.3oC), so very little difference in reality.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:09 pm


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2012-07-30T08:45:37+00:00 2012-07-30T08:45:37+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9195#p9195 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
I can tell you that the output is noticeably purer and the cuts were much simpler to make. ;)

Flooding was a worry and this is why I wanted to see the volume of liquid in the thumper at the end of the run but was thwarted by physics and my stupidity for not disconnecting the thumper from the boiler as soon as I cut off the power. ::)

The VS was just to allow me test and experiment because I didn't want to waste the flavour of a Corn wash by making some silly mistake(s) running the new setup.

When I'm running the Corn wash, next Wednesday, I'm going to run with 3lt of Corn wash in the thumper but I'm going to pre-heat the thumper charge as I believe the vapour from the main boiler adds considerably to the volume of liquid in the thumper as it condenses while heating up the liquid charge to boil temp but I'm not nerdy enough to know how to calculate how much vapour will condense in the process of bringing the thumper charge up to vapour temp. ??? ??? ??? ??? Does that make sense?

I'll let you know how the Corn wash run goes.

AM 8)

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:45 am


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2012-07-29T18:46:00+00:00 2012-07-29T18:46:00+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9193#p9193 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
I was a bit worried about such a small thumper flooding and puking, good to know you ran without incident.
Out of interest, was running the VS wash just for learning, as I've always thought of thumpers as being for flavoured washes, imagining it would smear the nice tasting feints into the hearts - but this might not work for going for a more neutral wash. Never ran one, so I'm interested in what you think about this.

I think charging that with some nice corn heads and feints will make a big difference to the flavour.

Ordered a new grain mill that can handle the maize, so will be venturing that way in the next few weeks. I'm not a big bourbon drinker, so might be edging towards converting the grain with some barley, and only adding minimal sugar, as I can live with lower returns. But will be interested in how yours turns out, that might change my mind.

Cool!

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:46 pm


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2012-07-28T20:04:50+00:00 2012-07-28T20:04:50+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9189#p9189 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]> Image Image

The difference between running the pot head on its own as against with the Thumper is massive. (Hey CC, note the changed angle of the dangle on the Liebig - whatd'ya think?)

The new Thumper charged with 4lt of mixed late heads and early tails from previous VS washes with an av ABV of 53%. The boiler was charged with 40lt of stripped VS at 30%.

Switch on at 14.31; First Output at 16.23 - 1hr 52mins.
Discarded 250ml as Foreshots. Discarded 250ml as smeared Heads
Jar 1/3 - 300ml each - these turned out not to be useable and were recycled.
Jar 4 - 500ml - a little too much heat on tasting after 48hrs - this was recycled.
CUT ;)
Jar 5 - 750ml (85%) - Heads ended very early in this jar so kept with Heart
Jar 6/17 - 750ml each (85%-75%) pure Hearts
Jar 18 - 750ml (73%) Hearts
CUT ;)
Jar 19 - 750ml (71%) ?Tails
Jar 20 - 750ml (67%) Tails
Jar 21 - 750ml (62%) Tails
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Change to Parrot & DJ - 2lt tails collected down to 50%

The run ended at 19.50 - total running time 5hrs 19mins

Image


The Thumper definitely stabilised the output with the first 7.5lt being output at greater than 80%ABV and I thought the output from the larger pot was clean but after the Thumper it was pure nectar. ;D

My Corn wort is cleared and ready to run and this is the one I've been waiting the use the Thumper for. BTW my 'Thumper' didn't - thump, that is! In fact it was quiet as a baby. If I got really close I could hear the vapour from the boiler bubbling through the charge in the Thumper but that was it.

One lesson learned was to disconnect the Thumper as soon as I turn off the power to the boiler because with the heat removed the liquid left in the boiler immediately began to contract. This loudly sucked liquid from the thumper, through the submerged vapour pipe, back to the main boiler. This was not really a problem but it meant that after the first use of this equipment I don't know exactly how much liquid remained in the Thumper at the end of the run. ???

When I opened it at the end there was only 2.5lt and for pig-iron I cooled a bit to 20oC and threw in an alcometer - it measured 4%ABV and it smelled really vile. :P

I think with more judicious control of the power input I should be able to fine tune the output as I feel the thumper was running a little too hot but I'll experiment with that on the next run.

Definitely recommend the use of a thumper with a potstill. ;D

AM 8)

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:04 pm


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2012-07-23T21:23:08+00:00 2012-07-23T21:23:08+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9150#p9150 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
With the thumper, you can charge it with feints to let some of those good flavours come across with the hearts, that's how the Caribbean rum guys go it, they normally have 2 thumpers, one with tails, then one with heads before the condenser. If running one I would put a mixture of heads and tails in there (from the same type of wash your running).
Also heard of folks putting more fruit and low wines to push the flavour on fruit brandies, so thinking corn feints and a bit of wash might be a good thing to try it out with.

I've also read it is more like 1.5 times distillation rather than a double distillation, also be prepared for it to be really noisy on warm up. I've heard of folks hiding behind the door as it was so unnerving ;D

I have 2 x 9 ltr stainless fire extinguishers that I'm looking to try and convert to a double thumping rum still - but can't see me getting to it this year, got a few other things on the go, so watching with interest.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:23 pm


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2012-07-23T20:04:50+00:00 2012-07-23T20:04:50+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=9148#p9148 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
This is mainly to run my Corn Whisky but I can't see any reason no to run it for other washes too. 8)

Here's the pic - all comments, suggestions welcome.

Image

The initial distillate vapour from the boiler is fed to the modified pressure cooker which contains 2.5lt of tails. The pipe feeding the vapour from the boiler has holes drilled in the in the final two inches to allow the vapour to emerge in the liquid, BTW the end of the pipe is also open. When the liquid in the doubler gets to the correct temp, heated by the entering vapour, and alcohol reaches saturation in the liquid it will produce a cleaner distillate vapour which then leaves the doubler via the lower pipe on the left and on to the liebig condenser where it is collected in 1lt jars.

Thing is, I haven't run it yet so I can't post anything as to it's efficiency - yet ::)

However, I do have 85lt of real Corn Wash which has finished fermenting and is just about ready to go. I can't wait to get that run and onto some nice American White Oak I've been seasoning since last year.

The maiden run will be 40lt of stripped VS @ 30%ABV which is sitting in my holding keg.

Watch this space - I'll post the details of the VS and Corn runs.

AM 8)

P.S. The brass fittings you can see on the modified pressure cooker do not have contact with the distillate vapour.

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:04 pm


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2012-06-14T17:16:13+00:00 2012-06-14T17:16:13+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=8637#p8637 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
Admiral Toad wrote:
At present simply running on standard 1.8 kw until I get my power cotroller sorted which is fine for stripping I guess


It will be great for stripping - depending on the ABV going it you can turn it all into low wines in a little over 2 hours after warm up.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:16 pm


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2012-06-14T10:49:34+00:00 2012-06-14T10:49:34+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1066&p=8634#p8634 <![CDATA[Re: New Pot Up and Running]]>
At present simply running on standard 1.8 kw until I get my power cotroller sorted which is fine for stripping I guess

Then its time for recipes

yours humbly
AT ;)

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:49 am


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