To dilute or not to dilute?

[biopro]

Hi all,

Some advice would be great. I'm using the Airstill. I've read all the advice on double or triple stilling, but don't feel I need to go quite that far.

Out of a 4 litre wash, I collect around 700 mls at and average of 60%. This takes 2 hrs 15 mins.

I then run for a further 45 mins and collect a further ~500 mls which tends to average 35%.

I then run a further 30 mins, which gives a tail of between 10-20% which I add back the the next wash.

Once I have collected enough tail at the 30-35% I still it a 2nd time to collect it at 60% plus further tails.

The question is, would you still the 35% tail as is, or would you add water to dilute it to "wash" it? I have noticed that the lower the strength the less yield you get at 60% and I don't want to restill tails again and again to recover everything.

Apologies if this has been answered before.

Many thanks

BP

[YHB]

You appear to be trying to wring the most alcohol possible out of a wash regardless of quality, that is one approach.

Another approach is to go for a better quality product, have a read of this document it explains how.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1216

You state "and I don't want to restill tails again and again to recover everything." if you don't want to, don't do it.

[Almanac]

Looks like you're trying to re-invent the wheel

With the Airstill, keeping it simple is best and the link provided by YHB is the way to go. Of course you can define your own methods but the answer to the question you asked is in the link.

AM

[biopro]

Thanks YHB,

Its not so much quantity, but I'm not sure my palate is good enough to tell the difference. I've tried some of the recommendations on the site such as tomato paste and to be honest, I can't say that the turbo's are bad in comparison. Both times the TPW took over a month to ferment through and the time loss does not compensate for any smoothness, if I can actually tell it.

I expect to put some of the TPW through gas chromatogaphy soon to see what's in it.

So its not a simple as quantity, but you might as well get as much as you can.

I have a turbo wash ready to go, so I will follow your protocol and feed back what I find.

Thank you for compiling it and sending me the link.

BP

[YHB]

I only provided the link, Aidanmac did all the work.

[John51]

Hi biopro, I use a power controller on my airstill. I run at 175w, not cleared or degassed but I do have 50 bent copper washers in there. The product is more than drinkable and has had compliments from those that rejected my previous efforts.

Timer is set to 5 hours fifteen minutes and at that low power there are no hissy fits from the airstill. Collects about 700ml. I pour 250ml of product into a litre bottle and top up with red grape juice from Aldi. Inner city sherry.

I do notice a difference from not binning the first 20ml but it really is slight. Much much less than what commercial product does to me. I found a German design for an automatic foreshots remover, yet another project on the waiting list.

[biopro]

I am currently running the distillate through its 2nd stilling. The diagram isn't completely clear as when to stop the tails and what you add back to the next wash. It says to stop tails at 30%, but is this used to dilue the Heads and Hearts, or to add to the wash?

[chill]

Once the tails ABV gets down to 30% there is so little alcohol left in the still that it is not worth the time and cost to continue. Whatever is left is the still should go down the drain. The tails portion (after the hearts, use taste not ABV to determine) goes back into the next wash. You don't want to be drinking that.


Chuck