StillSmart

Checked the first lentil wash that's been sitting out in the cold for the last week, clear as a bell...
So the first 4lts is now in the still, I warmed the wash up in a large stock pot, at the same time poured a kettle full of boiling water into the still to pre-warm it, trying to cut down on the time it takes. Done this with my last spirit run and it knocked about 20/25 mins off.

While waiting I've checked on the 2nd lentil wash and that's down to just under 1.020, so a way to go yet. The 2nd has been a lot slower for whatever reason??? PH..nutrients...I'm still learning.

Got to get this 4lts finished as I'm off to pick up the copper tank this morning..

Edit at 07:10 Just had a look and it's running already, that's about 20 mins.. so well worth a quick warmup.

Got the 2nd strip run going, ye god this take for ever. ..can't wait to get a big un.

Good updates. My first split pea potion is still pounding out particulate on the porch. Temps have been running around 0C during the day, -6 or -7C at night. I'll give it a couple more days, then go all Pomplona on it (or it, me).

The 2nd generation has generated a comforting krausen after a couple days. I find that reassuring, since aidanmac mentioned how it protects your ferment from inclement elements. I do not want to have to abort another slime baby.

This one seems to be stomping along about as quickly as it's older sib did. I wonder if that's because I adjusted the ph?

Question, for you or others at large: Do you use your dunder off a "lentil" wash to backset anything? And by that I mean, add to a percolating wash for... nutrient? character? efficiency?

cherry yidaki wrote:The 2nd generation has generated a comforting krausen after a couple days

Now mine didn't...it's fermenting away in the kitchen at the moment...I also didn't check the PH...maybe next time I will..

cherry yidaki wrote:Question, for you or others at large: Do you use your dunder off a "lentil" wash to backset anything? And by that I mean, add to a percolating wash for... nutrient? character? efficiency?

I haven't done that as yet, as I'm new to all this. When we went to Aus for chrimbo we had a meet & greet with one of our Antipodean cousins and he showed me a bucket of dunder. Then explained what it was and what use it was in adding to a wash.

I was using the term wrong - and the wrong term. heh By "dunder" I meant the stripped wash left behind in the still once the alcohol has been coaxed free down to 20% ABV. I remember seeing posts saying something about using this waste to... something. I'll try to backtrack and figure it out. Not that I'd shun any hints - or out-and-out explanations. heh

Yes, I remembered that the fermentation process acidifies your wash, so checked it after adding new water and sugar to the split pea soup in the bottom of the bucket. The reading was about 3.2, which I thought too far below aidanmac's recommendations, so I added a tbs of baking soda (which made it a touch high, but I decided to call that "buffer.") I had good activity in the bucket within an hour or so.

What a difference a couple of degrees make! Just wanted to report that, since the weather has turned colder, the wifey turned on an electric heater in the back room where I have my kit going (and the desktops are set up). Usually it's a balmy 70F-73F (21C-23C) back there. The heater bumped things up about 6 degrees. I checked my 2nd generation split pea wash and the krausen had doubled in thickness. I mean it is double even what the 1st generation achieved. And it heaves and ripples like a honeymooner's duvet with the violence of the action going on beneath.

Goodness! I'm glad I left the headspace I did. Makes me consider the brew belts I've not been using as worthwhile again.

Also, just pulled the 1st generation pea soup off the deck; it didn't seem to be clearing more, though the temp is now 5F (-15C). Seems I have a giant bottle of slushy on my hands. Once thawed I bet it will drop the extra crud like tears of St Lawrence on a hot summer night.

The stuff left in the boiler after stripping the wash is just slops and not dunder. The only use I've ever found for the slops of a sugar wash is to clean copper parts of my still because it's quite acidic.

When I head someone talk about Dunder I assume it is from a Molasses wash for making Rum.

AM

Dunder is also known as backset in whiskey making and is used in sour mash whiskey. But for a sugar wash... down the drain. Or clean your copper bits as Aidan says.

Chuck

THREAD HIJACK!
OK,asking a question of more experienced distillers here.
I throw a large handful of copper pieces into the (SS) boiler of my still every time I use it.My condenser is LOTS of copper.
I only ever strip clear wash,and spirit runs are obviously clear.
Every second run I see the the need to clean said Cu pieces with citric acid,as they are very mis-coloured,and it works.
Two runs later and they are dirty.
How does anyone use backset/dunder as a copper cleaner?
I am genuinely baffled.
Happy with my product,but would welcome someone-else's take on this.
Robert.

Just to stay a little on thread;
Yes,the lentil wash worked for me too,but coming in several days behind half packs of purported turbos,not really worth the cost saving.
Horses for courses and all that I guess.

After all,'tis only the finished product that matters...................

Hi new to this could u please tell me if you use clearing agent is so which one?

I use a half pack of Turbo Clear to each 20/25 litre wash,Can get messy as it is two small sachets of liquid.
Works for me every time,in two days.
I have a 1lb bag of Sparkolloid which I may get around to testing soon.
Robert.

william913 wrote:Hi new to this could u please tell me if you use clearing agent is so which one?

When I was using the SS triple distilled turbo yeast and carbon, I just used the SS brand finings.

I now use vodka star and don't bother with carbon, so I just use the yeast which usually drops out fine. Equally I always use boil enhancers of some sort, whether ceramic rings, small discs cut from a copper pipe or even pieces of broken glass sanitised. Also a capful of distillers conditioner as an anti-foaming agent.......seems to work fine........

Easydrinker: "I throw a large handful of copper pieces into the (SS) boiler of my still every time I use it.My condenser is LOTS of copper.
I only ever strip clear wash,and spirit runs are obviously clear.
Every second run I see the the need to clean said Cu pieces with citric acid,as they are very mis-coloured,and it works. Two runs later and they are dirty.
How does anyone use backset/dunder as a copper cleaner?

Sir Robert, I'll assay a response to this cupric query. As per aidanmac (and I may have misread, but I think not) I'm only putting copper in my wash for the stripping runs and leaving it out of the spirit runs. So far, the copper comes out of the hot dunder gleaming bright. Not looking polished to militarily reflective glinting, though. More of an internal glow, almost chalky or slightly waxy; sunrise through fog - better yet, like the lipstick of a hippy girlfriend I had in the 70's. Gad, Kelly had a gorgeous mouth. Kissing her was like eating a marshmallow that ate back. So sweet and unctuously supple, her lips. And that copper-colored lipstick against her doeskin complexion... bestill my heart - and bestir my... other heart. heh

I haven't checked the ph, but I'll take aidanmac's word that the dunder is very acidic, which does the job on the copper. I've noticed too, however, that dunderized copper seems to air tarnish quite quickly. Perhaps the "softness" I notice is a weakening of its tegumental integrity caused by the acid. If I applied a bit of friction and force, perhaps it would yield to a true polished shine and not turn grey-and-black within minutes. I may have to try it and see.

william913: new to this could u please tell me if you use clearing agent is so which one?

New to it as well. I've used nothing more than sand through the hourglass and an algid lanai clear mine so far. Time and temperature do the job quite nicely. Good luck in all you do and brew!
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Update on my split pea exploits: Yesterday was spent stripping from noon to well after midnight. I had a 5 gallon Better Bottle full-to-the-brim with faintly floral wash that, at a little over 3 hours a run, dribbled out enough stiff liquor to water down for 2 30% spirit runs. Spirit run 1 went nicely today and I collected 19 little bottles (100ml in each) of nectar, which I dotingly diapered and set on a shelf to air for a day or 2 before I try my tongue and tastebuds with another cutting exercise. The other jug got a hit of baking soda and will have to wait a few days before getting put through the liquor-wringer; I currently only have enough little glasses and jars for one run at a time.

Meanwhile, split pea Sally, the daughter of my current distilling diversions, is still actively honeymooning beneath her thick quilt of krausen. She shakes and spits like she's going through an exorcism when I peek under the bucket lid. Which also reminds me of the girl with the copper-colored lipstick...

I think you nailed it there Cherry,strip runs not doing much to the copper,spirit runs doing the dirty.
Thanks,should have thunk it through myself.
But would never be able to describe the process as lyrically as yourself.
I think for now,I will stick with the copper in the spirit runs,as I figure the pieces must be hoovering up muck,(sulphides?) from the run,and 'tis easier to clean said Cu pieces than the condenser.

I hope split pea Sally continues her machinations,and yields as much joy as your hippy girlfriend did!

Robert

I leave mine in on the spirit run as (a) it is less work than removing them and (b) they can help to prevent surge boiling.

Chuck