OVERBOILING - your experiences

by **Jimmy** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:55 am

Hi all,
This thread (suggested by pi55ed) is for you to share what happened when your still 'burped' and slopped wash all over the place. Please can you tell us as much detail as possible so we can all try and work out what is causing it?
Things like whether you used rings, bits of copper, whether you cleaned the still, how much degassing you did, if you used distillers conditioner, etc.
So far I have not heard anyone have a problem with distillers conditioner, but if you can prove me wrong then that helps everyone - cheers!

by **bluecap** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:03 am

Hi Jimmy
I have come to the conclusion that all smartstills are female, most of the time they are ok but every now and then just blow there top for no reason, i haven't managed to stop it but i have done away with the white filter top and just use a upside down cut down schweppes bottle as a filter funnel, cut so the spouty thingy is in the funnel, this stops any loss of the good stuff if the lid lifts, but degassing defiantly helps.

by **pi55ed** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:17 am

Mine has overflowed twice, both times i hadnt degassed/whisked the wash before putting in the smartstill, i had rings in both times, and the lid opened on the (LEFT) side both times throwing wash everywhere, i am thinking of placing my machine on a metal grill over a big steel pan, so any wash may be saved and reused in the next batch..

Although dont know if it would be sterile enough????

Would also help finding the mop!

by **umpa** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:34 am

This sounds like a bit of a problem, I have not had this (yet) can you tell me how old your still was before this started. I have a theory.....
My lid has quite a tight seal on it, infact the mrs needs to hold the metal body while I twist and pull the head off, perhaps with time this seal becomes less strong ?
Regards
Ian..

by **pi55ed** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:01 am

Mine is new, i have only done 5/6 batches through it,i just done another tonight didnt even here it, as i really shook up my wash, the gas isnt good for them thats for sure..

( Shake it !! before we make it!! ).....

THE WASH THAT IS!

by **125neil** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:08 pm

I have a theory!! Mine blew the other night, popping away like mad, rings in the works. But I had the outlet spout in the supplied white plastic filter hole, which I think causes back pressure.
If the outlet is restricted by the carbon teabag filter flowing too slowly then that surely is going to cause a problem?
I tried it again, rings in etc and it popped away like mad, but took the top off the filter housing so that the outlet freely dripped onto the filter bag and it didn\'t overflow.
You\'re heating a liquid which causes an increase in pressure within the pot and also if there\'s additional co2 still in the liquid then that will add to the problem. If the pressure gets too much and there\'s no means of escape (i.e. a restricted outlet) then it\'s going to blow the top off.
Just an idea.

by **bluecap** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:18 pm

Hi Neil
Just break an old cup and put about 6 or7 pieces of small sharpish bits in before you start the still, that sorted my overspill problem out, I know it works because the one time I forgot them it was spuing all over the place. Donâ€™t worry about them rattling about in your still when it heats up I checked mine every time and there is not even a scratch on the inside.
As for the white top I did away with that, I now just use a old cut down Schweppes bottle cut to a size where the small overhang on the outlet of the still just fits over the top of the bottle with the carbon bag pushed tightly in to the neck or you can put some wet cotton wool in the neck and just use loose carbon, just make sure the cotton wool is not to tight as to flow slower than what your still is producing.
Mick

by **Phantom** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:25 am

Ok, so the 2 boiler overs/burps that come to mind.........
The worst experience...I was re-running some 80% spirit that I\'d done through my 25ltr super reflux. I\'d come out cloudy.
Anyway, it was about 4 litres so I just chucked it into the smart still and switched it on. After a while, my partner had just walked through the kitchen, when she told me that it had spluttered a little bit, so I went in and just as I was leaning over it to switch it off, it erupted big time! I leapt back, but not quick enough, not to get showered in hot alcohol.
I was only lucky to get a \"sunburn scald\", because of the chemical properties of alcohol and that when it\'s flying through the air as almost a mist/fog, it dumps the heat very quickly. It was a complete PITA as it covered most of the kitchen cabinets, walls, floors etc etc. By the time it had run down the cabinets and pooled a bit, it was already cold.
The only saving grace, is that 85% alcohol is one hell of an impressive kitchen cleaner.
On the second occasion that comes to mind, I was running some cider. When the still burped.
Now on both occasions, I\'m certain this issue was related to the stuff going in, not being cleared enough, even though to me, it was.
The first one above, I should have filtered it but thought it would be Ok - it wasn\'t. The second occasion, the cider was clear, but not \"gin clear\" (except cider coloured of course).
Yes, when I run the smart still, I just the small white plastic \"carbon teabag\" holder. I haven\'t had any issues where it seems to block up in anyway - as far as I can tell.
If I run my 25 ltr super reflux, that goes straight into a DJ and then through my Z filter.
To get round the issue with the smart still, I use either raschig rings/beads, or the ceramic \"saddles\" that are for column filler with the super reflux or broken glass, and I always use the still spirits \"distillers conditioner\".
As for the possibility of not having de-gassed enough, if I think that I haven\'t stirred it enough before clearing, then I clear it and rack it into another bucket, and then stick a heavy duty stainless whisk in my drill and \"whip\" it with that.
I haven\'t had any problems since starting that regime.......

by **bluecap** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:01 am

Hi Phantom
Whatâ€™s your opinion on the 25L super reflux still, the reason I ask is I am on the verge of getting the missies to agree on me getting one.
Are there any problems like there are with smartstill i.e. boiling over, are they easy to use? any info would be appreciated.
Mick

by **Jimmy** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:57 am

I don\'t use any kind of filter when I\'m distilling these days - I gave up with the plastic thing early on and used to filter through a funnel with coffee filter paper and carbon, but now I just collect straight into a glass jar (1.8 litre from Ikea, stood on a baccy tin it fits perfectly under the spout) and if I\'m going to filter I do it at the very end after I have mixed all my batches together. It just saves messing about each time!

by **125neil** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:55 pm

Does anyone have any idea how tight the seal on the SS is supposed to be? Mine seems to lift off without any effort whatsoever! Where can I get a spare/replacement?

by **Phantom** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:47 am

Whatâ€™s your opinion on the 25L super reflux still, the reason I ask is I am on the verge of getting the missies to agree on me getting one.
Are there any problems like there are with smartstill i.e. boiling over, are they easy to use? any info would be appreciated.

Not bad at all. It\'s a bit of a PITA as I have to run a hose into the conservatory to run it (needs constant water supply). I\'ve been experimenting a bit though, like using different amounts of the "ceramic saddles" in the condenser, as well as substituting them for copper mesh. The only real nuisance, is that the rubber bung that holds the thermometer in place is so tight that I\'ve broken a couple of thermometers trying to get them out, so now I just leave one in it permanently. I find it takes about 5 to 6 hours to get a full harvest of "heart", so it\'s considerably quicker doing a 25 litre batch of wash, I then just let it run to get the back which goes in with the next batch or into the table top still.

I don\'t use any kind of filter when I\'m distilling these days - I gave up with the plastic thing early on and used to filter through a funnel with coffee filter paper and carbon, but now I just collect straight into a glass jar (1.8 litre from Ikea, stood on a baccy tin it fits perfectly under the spout) and if I\'m going to filter I do it at the very end after I have mixed all my batches together. It just saves messing about each time!

An excellent idea Jimmy, my only reservation might be that I prefer to have the "circuit" closed (ish) otherwise there might be losses through evaporation - though it probably wouldn\'t be that much......
I suspect I\'ll move to doing that, then running the whole batch of distillate through my Z filter.....

Does anyone have any idea how tight the seal on the SS is supposed to be? Mine seems to lift off without any effort whatsoever! Where can I get a spare/replacement?

Mine also just sits in place like that. Don\'t forget, we\'re using them for materials that they weren\'t really designed for, even though they do do the job quite well. I think that the weight of the condenser lid is supposed to be enough to keep the lid on, and the sealing ring isn\'t there as much more than a vapour barrier - you wouldn\'t want steam coming out the side if you\'re running water...........you certainly wouldn\'t want alcohol vapour leaking out either, it\'s almost as "good" as petrol vapour!
As for bits etc, I\'d say that first "port of call" would be Richard at home stills - link to his site there\'s contact details there as well as the sales stuff.

by **bluecap** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:51 pm

Cheers for that phantom, I have one on order now.

by **Jimmy** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:05 am

Yeah - don\'t forget that the top of the SS is SUPPOSED to be able to come off to prevent the whole thing exploding - unlikely, but just so nobody is in any doubt about that!
As for my jar method - yes you will lose some to evaporation Phantom, but it\'s hardly anything and some of the old timers do air their spirits anyway so for me it\'s never been a problem, it would be simple enough to put an empty funnel in there if anyone was bothered. I also like it because I\'ve marked on the measurements and it is much easier to read than the ones I put on the big plastic collection thingy!

by **Alchemist** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:05 pm

I just experienced over boiling on my 4th run with a new SS.
Details on the over boiling experience:
After about 75ml I noticed the SS lid tip and vent a little bit of steam. Then, a fast stream of ethanol poured from the spout. I think that the lid jostled loose the condensing droplets.
I thought it was very odd since I had not seen that before, so I kept watching. It let out a second burp about twice as powerful as the first--followed by another stream. I started to get concerned, and then the lid suddenly shot up and started levitating above the still with steam and spray shooting out in all directions. I cut the power instantly.
Being a glutton for punishment, I plugged it in again after it cooled off for a while. The same exact thing happened. After 75-100ml Small vent, larger burp, blow out!
The wifey was not a big fan at this point, but her kitchen counters were shiny afterwards.
Details on how I got there:

Ideas of what may have caused the overboiling:

What fixed it:

Shattered glass. I read on this forum to try it. I found an empty jar of juniper chutney, washed it and smashed it with a hammer. I seriously questioned my stupidity when I just saw the thing blow it's top. Throw some sharp broken glass into a blow out, and things could get very busy in the kitchen. Again, wifey was not a happy camper.
However, no more blow outs. The still shook around quite a bit and I head the glass clanking around. I was concerned, as others have been, about the effect on the still's finish. After I got done there wasn't any noticeable damage. Heck, it might even be good to create some imperfections for bubbling!?
Conclusion:

The broken glass seems to have done the trick. Not the cleanest solution (I may try rasching rings instead). And, even though I washed the jar, my ethanol smelled faintly like juniper curry. Not a bad essence to have with your 40%!