StillSmart

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2017-01-04T13:20:42+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
I have not yet used the £1.42 model that I bought last year.

Robert.

Having checked. Mine was £3.95 including delivery from China. I only picked that one as on ebay it appeared to have a graduated sticker round the knob, so I feel hard done by as said sticker was not included.

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Wed Jan 04, 2017 1:20 pm

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2017-01-03T23:17:02+00:00

Well when she found out she didn't know, did she live to spread the word or did the Coroner?

Statistics: Posted by packapoo — Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:17 pm

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2017-01-03T22:43:58+00:00

I have not yet used the £1.42 model that I bought last year.
The £10ish model that I have used for years works well, but does eventually melt the socket or extension lead that it is plugged into,and has been replaced once. As has one switched socket and one power meter.
And unlike the the local CID lassie that keeps a horse here,I do know that Red/Brown is the live wire.
Really, when people don't know shit, how can they investigate shit?

Rest safe folks, knowing that the police won't catch you, they can't even wire a plug!

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:43 pm

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2017-01-03T06:58:58+00:00

Finally received delivery of one of the £5 or whatever power control knob thingies from China. Now I just need to dig out a spare extension lead to cut up and fit it onto.

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:58 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-12-17T23:54:26+00:00

It is the end result that matters!

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:54 pm

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-12-17T21:01:27+00:00

Curmudgeon wrote:
Yes Robert, even with only half a charge, I was shocked at how quick it was. I knew I'd want a power controller, but not how badly I'd need one.

And yes Vino, it was 2 (half charge) stripping runs done yesterday (only mentioned briefly, 1st post now clarified) and then the spirit run done today and detailed. I used the copper coins in the absence of availability of any other boil enhancers.

I'm glad you mentioned vegetable oil. I'd considered using a drop or two like when cooking pasta, so will give that a go. It certainly was a fun trial with new toy.

I did my spirit run at 500w on the grainfather, took over six hours for 2x25litre stripped washes but turned out really well

Statistics: Posted by guest5234 — Sat Dec 17, 2016 9:01 pm

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-23T02:58:53+00:00

2nd spirit run

Tomato paste wash approx 10 litres at 30%abv after stripping

advance thoughts

My 1st tpw. It smells more strongly of heads (acetone?) than anything else I've done after stripping.

Without copper dome and just using standard T500 lid, I suspect my temperature readings are a degree or so higher than they would be with the copper dome?

On 1st run, intended collection "safe" hearts collection was between 85 and 90C. Based on 1 run only, 85 seemed right, while 90 seemed very conservative.

I still don't have a power controller and the lack of it combined with only using half a charge mean I'm running way too fast and will get excessive smearing, particularly between heads and hearts.

the run

1.10am 17.5C vapour temp. power on.

1.30 50C power on.

1.35 86C first 150ml collected

1.42 87.5C 150ml x 3 collected

1.56 90C 1 litre collected

1.59 91C 200ml collected, 70% abv

2.05 92.5C 150ml x 3 collected, last was 60% abv

2.10 94C 150ml x 2 collected, last was 58% abv

2.13 94.5 150mnl @ 55% abv, switched to tails bottle

2.20 96.5C, 45% abv

2.27 98C, 30 abv

post run thoughts

I'm not good at finding start of tails, hence my wish to find a safe cutoff via temperature, even though the guys on home distiller forum are belligerent that temperature control is not doable. Compared to airstill, there is much less tails smell even before airing. I suspect I'll be stopping hearts collection at around 92C with this setup.

NB I am not wanting to either fully automate or run a still unattended. My brewroom/mancave is just across the hall from my distillery (bathroom) and goal is pid controller reaching and holding temp at just below transition from heads to hearts and giving me an alarm. I'll then closely monitor that phase and re-set pid controller to take heat to just below transition from hearts to tails and notify me when that's been reached.

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:58 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-21T22:18:03+00:00

Curmudgeon wrote:
Update :

Yield was 4.5 litres at 42%(ish) plus whatever I drank from hearts last night (300mls perhaps).

A man after my own heart

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:18 pm

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-21T00:26:30+00:00

Update :

Important to clarify that my temps are vapour temps.

Last heads jar was a tiny bit "burny" after a day of airing but went in for flavour and a little bite. Still much smoother than shop vodka.

3 of 4 tails jars went in and I imagine all 4 and then some would have been fine.

Yield was 4.5 litres at 42%(ish) plus whatever I drank from hearts last night (300mls perhaps).

24 litres at 14% would equate to 6 litres at 56% total alcohol, so I'm reasonably happy with 4.5 - 5 litres potable at 40-45% with 750ml of fores/heads for fuel/cleaning and a load of strong tails for next stripping run.

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Mon Nov 21, 2016 12:26 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-20T02:27:38+00:00

I'm following that and VT's previous work with temp control closely.

I realise the limitations of temp control, but am interested from the perspective of slowing/controlling temp increase.

Odin's kit where heads, hearts and tails go to different collecters is very clever. I was most amused to find a post from a couple of years ago when the regulars on a certain site told Odin he was a newbie upstart who needed to read more and type less.

For now, I'll settle for an alarm telling me to go to small jars as the times are changing or getting close to.

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:27 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-20T02:12:34+00:00

I recon you could use the new Grainfather controller that VT has just bought on an T500, you would need to replace the plug with a male kettle style plug and fit a thermowell for the temp probe but it sounds like a good bit of kit to me, especially if it has some distilling programs you can use.

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:12 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-20T02:03:23+00:00

Thoughts on viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3904&start=30#p40066 Please (I didn't want to start another thread)

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:03 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-20T01:54:25+00:00

Loving each users "takes" coming in here, and seeing no reason to disagree with any of them.
Put them in the mix and be sorted

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Nov 20, 2016 1:54 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-20T01:49:05+00:00

Anavrin wrote:
I agree with Robert, that seems like a super fast spirit run, plus I wouldn't bother with boil enhancers, you shoudnt need anything for a spirit run but if makes you feel better use Crisp n Dry cooking oil in your stripping runs, it's rapeseed oil with an added antifoaming agent.

What are you actually trying to make by the way, if your pot stilling, your looking for flavour from a wash made from grain, molasses or similar, a sugar wash won't give you any flavour and make a poor Neutral on a pot still.

Yep, way too fast. I'll get a power controller asap. Vino-Tinto somewhere suggested 1400 watts compared to the 2000 the T500 boiler supplies (can't recall if it's here or what Robert calls the dark side).

I'll mostly be making rums and cachacas. I ran the sugar wash through as a experiment/possible sacificial run as it was both ready and disposable (and yes, I cleaned the still, then "steam cleaned" it, but no, didn't do a vinegar run)

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Sun Nov 20, 2016 1:49 am

Re: 1st run (still spirits alembic pot head)

2016-11-20T01:36:05+00:00

I agree with Robert, that seems like a super fast spirit run, plus I wouldn't bother with boil enhancers, you shoudnt need anything for a spirit run but if makes you feel better use Crisp n Dry cooking oil in your stripping runs, it's rapeseed oil with an added antifoaming agent.

What are you actually trying to make by the way, if your pot stilling, your looking for flavour from a wash made from grain, molasses or similar, a sugar wash won't give you any flavour and make a poor Neutral on a pot still.

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Sun Nov 20, 2016 1:36 am