T500 First run

[gaza the instructor]

First of all thanks.
I mean thank you to all of you,great advise,recipes etc.
Had an Air Still for about a year and you put me on a new path with that.
By that i mean double running with heads,hearts etc.
What a difference in quality WOW !!!
First run with T500 today.
Again going on advise read here, success And very happy.
Stripping run 4 hrs just over, 3.5 liters @ 91% .
Another strip tomorrow and spirit run Sunday.
I see what you mean about tiny adjustments to water flow guys.
Really I looked at flow rate more than temp,most of run about 62 C ish.
When I do final run will try to run a bit slower.
Dont know if this is reverent, the column came ready packed with s.s.
Only thing thats a pain is the alcohol outlet tube,
its got a mind of its own.
Just so i had something to play with today, I used some 48hr turbo.
Wont be doing that again, back to w.w.w and lentils for me.

[Jaggie]

i put the outlet into a demi john so it cant go anywhere also i hot-glued a nail to the top of the adjustment knob so its easier to adjust. A water flow regulator help alot too

[gaza the instructor]

Early days for me on this machine,
But thanks for sharing your knowledge Jaggie.
Going to have a play first.
As I said 48hr turbo is rank but at least
I have some ammo for practice.
Now I know what to by the mother-in-law
for xmas. A Still Spirits 48hr stink bomb !! >:D

[gaza the instructor]

Results from 1st run, does this sound about right.
2*24ltr stripping runs.
1st 3.5ltrs @ 91% = 10.6ltrs @30%
2nd 3.6ltrs @ 92% =11ltrs @30%

Spirit run.
21.5ltrs @30%
Run slowly took 6.75 hrs.
Produced :
250mls fores (thrown)
900mls Heads (500 and 2*200)
4000mls Hearts ( 2000 and 4*500 )
1375mls Tails (7*200 0

Next morning smelt and tasted then added jars 1&2 to hearts.
combined heads & tails watered to 30% from 93%
4lts into Air Still, saved rest in jar.
Using our tried & trusted Air Still guild
Here we go again.
I love this, what a hoot.

[Easydrinker]

I don't have a T500,but your numbers seem about right to me,well done!

Robert.

[Icefever]

Looks ok dude....I more or less did the same yesterday. I had strip 1 x 5 lts...strip 2 x 4.3 lts.

I've not counted up yet it's all in mason jars...it was smegging cold sat out in the brew house yesterday, I was glad to get indoors..

Just one thing about the 500 matey, not sure if you know of this...but it's not recommend doing strip runs with the 500...I saved this statement a while back.

"the manufacturer states quite clearly that the T500 should not be run in pot still mode due to those synthetic components... Vapor temperatures above 185F/85C should not be exceeded due to potential damage to the synthetic components and contamination of your spirits... You are endangering yourself as well as shortening the lifespan of the T500 by disregarding the warnings given here as well as by the manufacturer"

I made a pothead that I strip with so I run hotter....I don't use the 500 column for the above reason...

[gaza the instructor]

Thanks Icefever,am saving to get my copper kit.
When i said stripping run, i kept temp under 70 c,
my only other means is my Air Still and only have 4
days off, dont think i could run 50lts in that time.
Very pleased with results nice neutral.
Going to use some today in the Air Still & make some gin
question for all you gin lovers,do i have to water down
to 30% to run and is it ok to put botanical loose in the still????

[Easydrinker]

I use my Smart still with spirit at 45% to make gin.
You can put the botanicals in there (be careful,I FCUKD my attempt at that), or try Mash's idea of a "sputnik".
Try an on forum search for details.
HTH

Robert.

[gaza the instructor]

Success Air Still gin and very nice too.
there is a wealth of knowledge on this
forum,and some very gifted,friendly and
helpful members.
I have only just started to understand
a lot of terms and terminology used,but
look what im doing now.Good quality
neutrals,double distilling ,making my own
gin from scratch.
Going to treat myself to a copper dome
and condenser next month, then i want to
try some rum.
Can anyone recommend a simple recipe
to start with please.

[Benoit]

It would almost be rude for someone to ask for a rum recipe & not be diverted to RumJohn's cachaça thread, not a true rum as I'm sure I'll get jumped on for not mentioning but it's easy as hell to make & everything you need comes from the supermarket.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2743&hilit=Cachaca+cane

Tastes great, you can get away with pretty wide cuts & is good after a few days airing but better after a few weeks on wood.

[gaza the instructor]

May thanks now will have a good read
tonight, all 18 pages !!