StillSmart

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-15T00:03:07+00:00

It seems to be consuming all my free time and all my spare cash at the moment

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:03 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-13T23:55:41+00:00

Try to remember that you had a life before this!
Whatever it was.
If you do not take care,then you will devote your life to this hobby and spend all your free time online talking to your distilling buddies.
You have been warned

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Mar 13, 2016 11:55 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-13T15:57:20+00:00

So when I emptied the column to replace the ceramic saddles with the stainless steel, I found that the top of the column had copper saddles in it. I wasn't expecting that in the copper column version. Because of this, I decided to put my 100g of new copper saddles in the top and fill the rest with the stainless steel. Doing this, the 500g bag of stainless steel was more than enough to fill the column.

I found the temperature variations a bit harder to control to begin with using the stainless steel. But that might just be because I'm still very much learning all this. But I had the hang of the temperature control by the time I had discarded the first 100ml output.

Since then, temperatures have been easy to control. About an hour from the end of the run now.

Damn I love this hobby!

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:57 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-12T08:15:18+00:00

Cool. Thanks Myles. Will do that.

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:15 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-12T07:54:09+00:00

Just pop into any supermarket and buy a few stainless scrubbers to top up the column if you don't have enough packing.

You will always use them for something.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:54 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-12T07:50:08+00:00

I hadn't considered that Myles but certainly am now. I only use the supplied ceramic raschig rings with SS conditioner in the boiler at the moment but I've read lots on here about the benefits of using 1p and 2p non magnetic coins. I can never seem to find nin magnetic ones!!

So that's what I'll do.

Gutted that I've gotta go out today now and won't be in a fit state to run a still when I get back so now gonna have to wait until tomorrow. D'oh!

Thank you.

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:50 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-12T07:38:49+00:00

Its just an idea but have you concidered just putting the copper saddles directly into the boiler?

Copper packing has two main uses.

You can put it just above the boiler and over time it gets horrid, needs to be removed for cleaning, and occasionaly replaced.

Or you can put it right at the top, in the vapour path above the reflux condenser(in a CM) as a catalyst.

I remember some time back that Odin was discussing uses for a full copper packed column but can't remember what it was. Generally better with stainless and save the copper for specific functions.

I have a 3" roll of copper mesh inside the column connector at the botton of my column so I can remove it for cleaning without disturbing the packed column.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:38 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-03-12T06:44:03+00:00

So this weekend I'm excited to be trying out the stainless steel saddles for the first time.

My T500 column is the copper version but it came pre-packed with ceramic saddles. When I saw the stainless steel saddles available I thought I must try them - they sounded like a sensible upgrade to a novice numpty like me. But my concern was that the 500g bag was designed mainly for the stainless steel column which I believe has a mixture of copper and ceramic saddles.

So when I ordered the stainless steel saddles, I also ordered a 100g bag of copper saddles as I thought 500g of stainless steel might not fully pack the column and I didn't want to bulk it out with ceramic.

Would it be best to put the copper saddles at the top of the column and then fill up with the stainless steel, or should I just mix the copper throughout the column?

I'll also be running my first dextrose wash this weekend so excited to see how that turns out too.

Thanks guys.

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sat Mar 12, 2016 6:44 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-02-05T23:36:17+00:00

GrunthosTheFlatulent wrote:
Coke works well as a metal cleaner because it contains phosphoric acid.

Isn't it amazing what some people are prepared to drink.

You have it there,GTF, but vt appears again as a font of knowledge...

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:36 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-02-05T16:43:47+00:00

Coke works well as a metal cleaner because it contains phosphoric acid.

Isn't it amazing what some people are prepared to drink.

Statistics: Posted by GrunthosTheFlatulent — Fri Feb 05, 2016 4:43 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-02-05T16:26:39+00:00

In my opinion stainless steel is non absorbent, not like the grey ceramic saddles that were.
If you reflux at 100% for the first 15 minutes of every run @ 78C the alcohol acts as a cleaner, that is all you need.
In the restaurant business it is often practice to soak SS cutlery in clear spirit to clean and disinfect them.

Statistics: Posted by vino-tinto — Fri Feb 05, 2016 4:26 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-02-05T15:56:27+00:00

I was in Lovebrewing a week or two ago, I was looking at the new stainless packing but I couldn't work how much I needed and there was still a chance my SPP would turn up from Poland, lucky for me It did turn up the day or two after.

I think I'll try the coke idea to clean my SPP

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:56 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2016-02-05T15:13:55+00:00

We bought a T500 in September last year from Love Brewing and the S/S saddles came included and fitted into the condenser, they recommend removing them after every 5 runs and soaking them in Coke and they come up as good as new.

Statistics: Posted by brummie boozers — Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:13 pm

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2015-12-17T07:37:50+00:00

Tasturbo wrote:
vino-tinto wrote:
Tasturbo wrote:Whats best way to clean ss scrubbers ?

A 100% reflux for 30 minutes will clean them. .

Just for clarification that is turning water up so nothing comes out production line.

Yes, at the start of every run, I find it the best way to run a reflux still.

Statistics: Posted by vino-tinto — Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:37 am

Re: Anyone used the T500 Stainless Steel Saddles?

2015-12-16T23:50:56+00:00

vino-tinto wrote:
Tasturbo wrote:Whats best way to clean ss scrubbers ?

A 100% reflux for 30 minutes will clean them. .

Just for clarification that is turning water up so nothing comes out production line.

This would be pointless after a run as i would have acohol out by then ?

Flushing with hose after a run and then 100% reflux at start of run would suffice.

Newbie

Statistics: Posted by Tasturbo — Wed Dec 16, 2015 11:50 pm