Design Fault Perhaps

[vino-tinto]

I decided to strip down my T500 column to see if there is something I can improve, in doing so I found a design feature that could be effecting the refluxing.

There is a space, 3mm wide running all the way up from the water outlet to the top black cap between the copper pipe and the wall of the column, it is too narrow to be filled with sadles so therefore vapour must pass the packing, some will be cooled and return downwards, but there must be a percentage that gets past, IMHO, it could also cause a surge up this space if the packing is too tight.



I am going to wrap the pipe with SS scrubber that I pulled into a long strip before refitting it to see if this improves

[vino-tinto]

I have just completed a spirit run with the tube wrapped with SS scrubber and although I didn't get a higher ABV, I certainly got better refluxing.
I had to run at 61 - 63C to get an output whereas I used to run at 50C. I have done several tastes and in my opinion it is better, I'll leave for a couple of days then have another taste to see if it needs carbon filtering.

[Voddy]

I wish you were my neighbour....

How would I go about stripping mine? Mini-Tutorial? (please!)

I'm very interested in your results and replicating them.

Thanks for your post - they are worth it's weight in ... neat alcohol!

[vino-tinto]

How would I go about stripping mine? Mini-Tutorial? (please!)

As requested

[Icefever]

I said it before...a picture is worth 1000 words..
Now I know what's inside a T500...if you wanted to it would be so easy to make it up yourself.

Thanks VT...

Icefever.

[Voddy]

A super-thank you, vino.

[vino-tinto]

I have just completed a spirit run with the tube wrapped with SS scrubber and although I didn't get a higher ABV, I certainly got better refluxing.
I had to run at 61 - 63C to get an output whereas I used to run at 50C. I have done several tastes and in my opinion it is better, I'll leave for a couple of days then have another taste to see if it needs carbon filtering.

I can confirm that NO carbon filtering was necessary on the above.
Also there was NO smell left behind in the column (unlike ceramic saddles).

I have just completed another run with my mod + 2 copper scrubbers under the coil, the rest with SS scrubbers. I used a lentil wash, pieces of 8mm copper tube as boil enhancers and rapeseed oil as an antifoam.

The result was between 94 & 96% and on tasting, no carbon filtering is needed.

Without a doubt, a worthwhile mod

[fuf]

Thank you Vino. It's my first day on here and the info is great. My T500 arrived this morning, I was thinking of not using the ceramic saddles and replacing them with SS scrubbers instead. It would be easier for me to do that instead of stripping the unit down. What do you reckon?

[Capt-Cudellez]

Its a 5 min job - don't sweat it. I'd try it with the saddles first to set a baseline before you start trying to make improvements. Else how will you know if it is actually better.

[fuf]

[b Thank you for your reply. I trust you because you have tried and tested the T500, but as you suggest I will try the default setup first and post the results. The wash is bubbling with some gusto, but a week or so before I have a result.[/b]

[Capt-Cudellez]

Ooops - I meant to hit quote, but edited your post by mistake. They shouldn't put those 2 buttons that close to each other - sorry for any confusion fuf. I'll fix the posts

[Icefever]

I did read this post VT at the time...but did you ever decide to make or change that black plastic??

[vino-tinto]

I did read this post VT at the time...but did you ever decide to make or change that black plastic??

No, I built a Boka instead, but once the warranty is out on the T500 I am going to re-craft a 54mm end cap to see if I can.

[v4mpy]

vino-tinto - my column has a silver water outlet which doesn't seem to budge.
Anyone managed to get the silver water outlet off thier column?