Smart Still overboiling

by **Yeoman23** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:21 am

I think I had better bring something to your attention. I am using the larger packet of charcoal as advised but have suffered loss of product through leakage. Not on every occasion but often when good quality 2nd distill is taking place (often running quite quickly) On occasion flooding the area with liquid...... Hard to understand why - perhaps I had put too much carbon in plastic holder? Not so: nothing made much sense until I tried moonlighting to monitor it closely.

The wet carbon in its holder, irrespective of amount, is relatively heavy and forms a reasonable although not perfect seal allowing liquid to pass into the container which builds up (not necessarily to a large extent) and gives off fumes within container. This causes minor compression where its escape route is confined to the liquid entry hole. It lacks the power to lift the charcoal unit or get round side of same. Result is upward pressure in charcoal compartment restricts flow and causes flooding. This was monitored very carefully with top sections of plastic charcoal container removed. Sure enough space repeatedly flooded to top but allowed contents to go into container as soon as I lifted unit up to allow air flow. After much thought and loss of sleep the answer became obvious. Make a hole in the top of the bottle to provide an easier access out for the pressure. It worked. No more flooding. Did not drill because that is a bit dodgy on that material but heated a very fine steel meat skewer and made a few small perforations.

The problem with leaks like this is that you can never be sure when they will happen. Sods law would say around 0350 with the timer clicking in the background while an invisible flood of highly volotile spirit covers the area. and what leaks is next to invisible.

There has been no repetition of this flooding since. The SS is great as is the advice you provide. Best wishes and \"up spirits\" Yeoman23

by **125neil** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:59 pm

Yep, I had the same thing happen to me, SS dripping well, no \'burping\' etc and spirit going through the filter. Then noticed a large pool of spirit inder the container, though it had sprung a leak somehow but no, it was coming out of the filter somehow. Think I might put a hole in the container also, makes sense in a way.

by **Phantom** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:33 am

Well that\'s a new one on me!
I understand that they changed the carbon bag holder, and now it\'s some sort of funnel type arrangement.
I haven\'t had any problems with the one I have - it\'s the one of white plastic that looks like a piece of 2 inch pipe, but with a lid on it (the lid has the hole that the spirit runs through).
If all else fails, then make your own filter, just run the still directly to the collector can/bottle/whatever and then filter it later.