Essencia still vs Still spirits T500

[Crusty]

Hi all,

After being away from distilling for a few years, the bug has got hold of me again & it\'s time to travel the moonshine highway again. I previously owned an Essencia express still which consistently gave me 89-90% final ABV, great still. I am now looking at the new Still spirits T500 which claims to achieve consistent 92-94% ABV. Anyone on here using one of these or seen one in action tell me which is the better one to go for.

Cheers,

Brian

[Opus 27]

Hi Brian

Have a look at Andy\'s post under \"Types of still\" T500 and Me I think it is.

I get a consistent 92% ABV from the standard SS Super Reflux after a few simple mods.
Opus 27

[Crusty]

Thanks Opus,

I sent Andy a PM, waiting for his reply, but it seems he\'s the only one on here using one of these. I also contacted a few home brew shops that sell them here but because they are still fairly new, I couldn\'t find anyone that\'s used one. Heaps of the retailers have them in stock.

What is your still & what mods have you made to achieve that ABV? The Essencia I had in the past was great, just like the look of the new T500 & consistent ABV claims.
Brian

[Opus 27]

Hi Brian

I have the Still Spirits Super Reflux. I replaced the ceramic saddles with stainless steel pan scourers and installed a pulse switch between the power supply and the still this means I can lower the power of the heater once the still is upto temperature. I find that it works. best if I drop power from 1400 to 750-800 watts. Getting the packing right with the scourers took a fair amount of trial and error. A SS Super Reflux retails at around £200 (GBP)

[Kred]

Brian,

I borrow a mates super reflux and never achieved any more than 80%. My local homebrew shop in Aus doesn't stock the Essencia still. I'm about to buy a still tomorrow and the choice is the supper reflux, the Fuselex still (which is a good still from what I read) and the Turbo 500. They have tested both and the owner now uses the Turbo instead of the Fuselex still. He also gets 95%. I will be getting the Turbo and have a batch ready to do for the weekend.

I think being able to control the water temp is a big advantage.
Keith

[Crusty]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I am leaning towards the Turbo 500. From everything I\'ve heard, it\'s a pretty awesome bit of gear & 92-94% is supposedly pretty standard with this still.
Cheers,

Brian

[Crusty]

Just an update guys,

Spoke in length to the manager of a Queensland home brew store who has taken the unit home & has run 3 batches through the T500. He achieved consistent 92-93% ABV, extremely pure spirit & can\'t praise the T500 enough.

That was enough for me.

I ordered mine today & it will land at my place on the 29/4.

Very excited,

Cheers,

Brian

[Andy]

Sorry guys, been busy with life.

PM replied Crusty.

The T500 is my first reflux so I cant compare with anything.

My results have been very consistent 95 or 96%

The trick is to run the temps on the lower side 50-55 deg c

I have gone back to filtering with carbon due to the finished spirit having a slight smell to it but nothing as bad as the air still.

Brian, if your close to me (south side Bris) you could come and try some :-)

[Crusty]

Thanks Andy.

I am about 3.5 hours south of you, half way between Ballina & Coffs Harbour. My wifes cousin lives in Wavell Heights on the north side ( Brisbane ) & we get up there quite a bit. Next visit I will drop you a PM & maybe we could catch up.
Brian

[Andy]

Sounds like a plan Brian, we could trade recipes LOL

[bluecap]

Hi Opus I have replaced the ceramic saddles with stainless steal scrubbers, the purity has gone from 82% to 86%, you say getting the packing right with the scourers took a fair amount of trial and error, what did you find works best?

[Pyro]

Can anone give me a UK stokest for the T500
Regards
Pyro

[Jimmy]

Hi Pyro, thanks for coming by! It\'s not currently available in the UK, will be about September from the sound of things.

[optic]

I did get in touch with Richard at Wineworks a while back and he reckons he should have them as Jimmy said around september time,roll on I say ive got to have one,think somehow the first shipment will sell out quickly.
Optic

[short2]

Turbo 500 are now in the UK. I ordered mine yesterday and should have it next week at the latest. Cant wait to ge into it. Can any of you guy that have this machine tell me if it can distill water as I have not heard that advertised as in other stills. Thanks Short