StillSmart

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-11T06:26:08+00:00

Cos the normal T500 column is a reflux design and what with moulded plastic parts and a few other bits, making one that's looks the same wouldn't be easy.

Yes. Plastic bits aside, I like the simple design and the positive feedback. Just wondered if someone had cloned it in a shed.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Fri Dec 11, 2015 6:26 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-11T04:02:27+00:00

Metal spinning?

Ever watched those boys at their art?
Pretty impressive. I'd not be too good at it as I'd be stopping often to do a finger count......

Statistics: Posted by packapoo — Fri Dec 11, 2015 4:02 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-10T22:29:34+00:00

The alembic head would probably call for panel-beating skills?

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Dec 10, 2015 10:29 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-10T19:08:04+00:00

Mash wrote:
I was hoping to copy the T500 head? Is it very hard ?

What, like the copper domed lid and matching leibig condenser ?

Cos the normal T500 column is a reflux design and what with moulded plastic parts and a few other bits, making one that's looks the same wouldn't be easy.

Though, there's plenty of designs for reflux columns that you can make.

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Thu Dec 10, 2015 7:08 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-10T13:44:59+00:00

Icefever wrote:
Mash wrote:Has any one made a T500 column?

Yup.... I followed Vino Tinto's build...Here

Vino's post is Here

I was hoping to copy the T500 head? Is it very hard ?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu Dec 10, 2015 1:44 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-10T09:31:05+00:00

Mash wrote:
Has any one made a T500 column?

Yup.... I followed Vino Tinto's build...Here

Vino's post is Here

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Thu Dec 10, 2015 9:31 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-10T05:42:44+00:00

GrunthosTheFlatulent wrote:
I think the beauty of the airstill is that, for stripping runs, as long as you use conditioner and ceramics or copper offcuts in the pot and have de-gassed the wash, then you can leave it on a timer and let it do its own thing.

I still like my little droid for stripping runs or recycling past-their-best or disappointing wines.

I agree with you.. I never bother with the conditioner or degassing though.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu Dec 10, 2015 5:42 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-10T05:38:57+00:00

Has any one made a T500 column?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu Dec 10, 2015 5:38 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-09T21:53:20+00:00

GrunthosTheFlatulent wrote:
T500 is the mutt's nuts when you've sussed the water control.

Seems that the easiest way is to use one of those "caravan water pressure valves" on the mains, then the needle valve. Otherwise, with mains pressure straight into the needle valve, the tiniest of adjustments creates quite wide swings in temperature of the column (depends on yer house plumbing set ups too - the shower temperature change if someone flushes the bog thing).

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:53 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-09T20:19:41+00:00

mikew41 wrote:
Double distilling a 25 litre wash with the Air Still took 10 days or so doing 1 or 2 runs per evening after work and was becoming a real grind.

I think the beauty of the airstill is that, for stripping runs, as long as you use conditioner and ceramics or copper offcuts in the pot and have de-gassed the wash, then you can leave it on a timer and let it do its own thing.

I still like my little droid for stripping runs or recycling past-their-best or disappointing wines.

T500 is the mutt's nuts when you've sussed the water control.

Statistics: Posted by GrunthosTheFlatulent — Wed Dec 09, 2015 8:19 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-09T16:41:55+00:00

mikew41 wrote:
I got a T500 earlier this year after 3 years with the Air Still. What a difference. Double distilling a 25 litre wash with the Air Still took 10 days or so doing 1 or 2 runs per evening after work and was becoming a real grind. The T500 takes it all through in around 3 to 4 hours and the stuff that comes out is really smooth after a quick poke through the filter. I'm not an expert on the ins and outs of flavours....I tried and failed at the gin a good few times but the T500 for me is well worth the money.

Concur. Many of our US cousins moan like hell about it, but it seems they're trying to do stuff it wasn't built/designed for i.e. flavoured spirits like corn whisky etc. And yes, I'd agree. It's designed for neutral/vodka, which IMO, it does.very well...........

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Wed Dec 09, 2015 4:41 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-12-09T14:39:11+00:00

I got a T500 earlier this year after 3 years with the Air Still. What a difference. Double distilling a 25 litre wash with the Air Still took 10 days or so doing 1 or 2 runs per evening after work and was becoming a real grind. The T500 takes it all through in around 3 to 4 hours and the stuff that comes out is really smooth after a quick poke through the filter. I'm not an expert on the ins and outs of flavours....I tried and failed at the gin a good few times but the T500 for me is well worth the money.

Statistics: Posted by mikew41 — Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:39 pm

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-11-12T05:14:16+00:00

For the lazy and/or unskilled amongst us, the copper lid is currently listed @£142 and the liebig condenser is £112.

So no cutting, drilling, soldering etc.........

Just the pain of freedom for the wallet moths.........

Statistics: Posted by Phantom — Thu Nov 12, 2015 5:14 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-10-10T08:45:29+00:00

firstly I concur with others and make hassle free neutral with Vodka star and 7 kg sugar. Works for me
As to whisky these days I only use the T500 for the spirit run having stripped the wash in the keg boiler. That said the 500 can do this too.
Sorry if you already realise this but with the alembic head you don't use the T500 column so you need some sort of condenser.I think Still spirits make one or there will be a how to somewhere on here.

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:45 am

Re: Back to the grind, t500?

2015-10-09T22:19:59+00:00

Distillingchris wrote:
Yes that's my problem but think I might bite the bullet so I can drink cheap at Christmas haha, I think the purpose is that the reflux strips all flavour and just gives a basic plain spirit, and the alembic lid is like a pot still and keeps some of the flavour and can be used for gins and whiskey as I believe, anybody feel free to correct me il not sure

You got it right.
The alembic lid should make the still that was built for reflux act more like a pot still.
Good for any flavoured spirit.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:19 pm