Quick question

[Dynamic]

Is there a difference between an AirStill and Smartstill?

I'm looking the whole day for an Airstill and the only thing I can buy (from a trusted site) is a smartstill.
(I live in Belgium + not every site allows PayPal).

Greets

EDIT: Dumb question, sorry. I ordered one

[Icefever]

Hi & welcome to the forum Dynamic.....basically yes matey.. they look the same.
A basic pot still..there is loads of info on running an Airstill/Smartstill on here...spend a little time reading up on the best way to use them and you will finish up with a drink worth drinking..

We are here to help you get the best from your new hobby....what wash are you working on for your first run??

Regards.

Icefever.

[Dynamic]

Thanks for the welcome Ice

My first wash: Double Snake C24 (6 kg sugar, up to 14%)
Result: 10% Alc in 2 days.
Made some big mistakes:
- Sugar was not completely dissolved
- Didn't disinfect bucket

I know what to do next time!

Greets

[Icefever]

This is what it's all about mate.. you'll learn that 5kg of sugar is enough for a wash.

You only need about 8/10% for a wash...more is not the best when it comes to our hobby...

[Dynamic]

8%-10% for a wash? thats 2 - 2,5 liters alcohol.
With 14% you get 3,5 liters, I don't understand why less is beter

[Benoit]

Your taste buds will soon tell you why it's not such a good idea! Turbo yeasts have added nutrients which may even be excessive nutrient & can cause off flavour. Going too high with the sugar also stresses the yeast because of the harsher environment in which they are living and again causes off flavour. If you don't mind so much what it tastes like then use as much sugar as you like, most people don't use turbo yeast for very long though and I'm sure as you start to experiment with different recipes you will taste the difference for yourself. Patience is rewarded most in this hobby, I have found

[Dynamic]

Seems like an interesting experiment! I work at a chemical company, and yes, quality > quantity

[hampk]

Yup, and patience is a virtue and turbos yield a headache

[Easydrinker]

@Dynamic
It is so good to see some of my compardres coming in with advice here.
Your C.Eng background should see you workout some of the back stuff that you may have missed.
And welcome to a site that through the efforts of its members tries to help all.
Any more questions,then fire away.

Robert.

[Myles]

Yes glad to see you here.

Remember beer (grain) is typically mashed and fermented to 5 to 8%, because that is what works for the mashing process.

Wine might be fermented up to about 14% possibly a bit higher. You can drink fermented products to about 16% that taste ok when drunk as beer, wine or cider.

Distillation is a bit different because by removing the water it also concentrates other flavour compounds that you didn't notice in the fermented product.

In rum for example a typical fermented wash is 10 or 11%. It could be fermented higher but is deliberately not done so. As was mentioned previously, forcing a fermentation by any of several methods, generates unwanted flavours in the product.

The origional turbo yeasts (not true any more, but I still don't use them) were intended for FUEL alcohol production, so it did not matter what it tasted like.

[Mash]

Turbo yeast.
Carbon filtering.
Distillers conditioner.

The holy trinity of marmite subjects.

Try the kale recipe next. Really.

PS you don't have to eat the stuff

[Dynamic]

Right.. I forgot the conditioner with my previous order.. again 5€ transport costs
About that filter, is a funnel a good way to start? (I'm starting with basic products)

[Seagull]

Some people use butter instead of conditioner Dynamic.

Never have myself but could save you that 5 euros?

[chill]

Or a couple drops of cooking oil. It is really only needed with grain based washes that tend to foam up. Sugar washes should not foam. Molasses might.

[Easydrinker]

Right.. I forgot the conditioner with my previous order.. again 5€ transport costs
About that filter, is a funnel a good way to start? (I'm starting with basic products)

If you uae a large Stainless Steel funnel,coffee filter/Kitchen Roll and carbon,that is a simple way to start.

Simpler/more basic is the way I first carbon filtered.
Almost fill a glass bottle with a spirit <45% .Add a few spoons of carbon.
Keep two such bottles where you will pass them several times a day,at the sides of the chair where you watch TV from could be good.
Simply invert (tip upside down) several times a day.
After a few days, lay diagonally in a freezer for 24 hours before carefully pouring off through a filter paper of choice.
Exercise and alcohol, win,win

Robert