Newbie

[optic]

Hi Guys

Iv just got a smartstill and the first wash has been chugging away happily for five days now,so should be able to do my first run soon.

[bluecap]

Well done, you are about to embark on the best hobby in the world.
It might be a good idea to run some water through you still first to get the feel of it, well that’s what I did.

[HangOver]

welcome.......

have agood read and ask any questions that come up, once you do one or two runs its childs play.

Are you using a turbo yeast?

How much sugar?
You gonna hate me for saying this but I leave each wash for about two weeks to stop fermenting then throw in the turboklar/clear and leave it another week to clear properly before distilling.

[optic]

Good evening bluecap & hangover

good idea bluecap i was thinking along the same lines to have a test run with water,i was well in to homebrew till about 15 years ago, i did have a home made still 20 years ago it was very heath robinson and not very efficent this new kit looks more like the real mc coy.

Hangover i used ss triple distilled and six kilo of sugar,and yes i hate you ,lol,i checked the sg of the wash tonight and it was 990 so ive just put turbo clear in, i was gonna do a few runs on friday as ive got a day of work,have i cocked up already ?

dare say i will be peeing you guys off with questions for a while

[HangOver]

if your getting 90 should be good to go.

I always distill the spirit twice then filter two to three time, improves it probably 90%
If you had a still a while back you probably know most of it anyway but good luck anyhow.
Also check out the tomatoe wash, (listed on this site) for your next batch not as much spirit but tates better IMO but others may say different

[HangOver]

if your getting 90 should be good to go.

I always distill the spirit twice then filter two to three time, improves it probably 90%
If you had a still a while back you probably know most of it anyway but good luck anyhow.
Also check out the tomatoe wash, (listed on this site) for your next batch not as much spirit but tates better IMO but others may say different

[optic]

Hangover

the turbo clear has been in 24 hrs now the wash has cleared a fair bit,it wont be ok to do a few runs on friday as i hoped.

will it fall cristal clear?,i seem to remember years ago making prohibition liquer kits that used a carbon in the fermentation and they never seemed to clear and always needed filtering.

[Phantom]

optic,
It won\'t be \"gin clear\" but will be like looking into water liquid glucose i.e. yes it\'s clear but with a very slight translucence to it.
When you actually run it, I\'d strongly suggest that you make sure you put the rashig rings in the bottom of the still and also get some \"distillers conditioner\" - it only needs a capful (about half a teaspoon) per run.
Also, I\'ve got into the habit of collecting the distillate as per the instructions i.e. 800mls from 4 litres, but then leave the still running to collect the \"tails\" - that\'s kept separate from the main part - I collect right down to between 5 and 10 % ABV - then the tails are added to the next batch for re-distillation.
If you\'re using the filter kit that should have come with the still then once it\'s been through that, at least once then the spirit is ready for drinking/flavouring (note that SS seem to infer that it\'s Ok to filter it straight out the still - whereas Gert Strand, in his \"carbon book\" seems to prefer to let the spirit down to 40% and then filter it - try both and see if you can taste any difference).
Oh and I\'m like Hangover, and tend to leave the wash for about a fortnight, then add the turbo clear stuff and leave that for like a week - some of that\'s \"arse covering\" some of it\'s to fit it all in round my weekends.

[optic]

Phantom

Thanks for the info, yes i have got the rings and conditioner that came with the kit,i may try a run in the morning its just i was worried about the posts ive read about boil overs which seeem to be partly caused by a cloudy wash,the turbo clear has been in mine just over 24hrs it still seems full off gas although i stired the f@ck out of it and the sg is990 and its got a grey tinge to it,but i can see the bottom of the fermenter quite clearly.

Perhaps i might be better racking it of in the morning and giving it another week,you probably know how it is im dying to do a first run....but like they say patience is a virtue!!..lol

[bluecap]

Hi optic
For what its worth I’m more impatient than other posters and never noticed any difference between leaving it 24 hours to clear or a week, mine has all distilled the same in fact I can safely say I have never distilled a completely clear wash ever, its always had at least a haze to it.
Now the law of gravity says it’s going to be clearer at the top so just carefully jug or siphon the top 4 litres out and go for it don’t forget the distillers conditioner and it is a good idea to put a few sharp bits of broken cup in before you start.
Good luck

[optic]

Hi bluecap

ive got a run going now its been going 1 1/2hrs got 400mls so far no probs so far, i put the wash in a 5ltr bottle and shaked the sh#t out of it,it was flatter than a witches tit,by the time i had finished perhaps that helped.

cheers

optic

[optic]

Hi Guys

first run done took 2 hrs got 700mls 60% ok for a first run i suppose,run 2 going now

[bluecap]

Nice one optic, if you dilute 700mls @ 60% up to 1 litre it should end up a nice drinkable 42% ish

[optic]

Hi bluecap

iv done just that its going through the carbon filter now, the rate its going through its gonna take hours,i didnt tighten the carbon realy tight so cant see why ,any suggestions?

optic

[bluecap]

What type filter do are you using?