What I Did Today

[Mash]

That's good.
I have spent serious money on my beer & winemaking equipment.

I do believe you are more likely to make and enjoy quality product on proper equipment. But sometimes it is a leap of faith surrendering the money.

[Easydrinker]

And sometimes you have to spend it

Robert.

[Pyro]

Hi, reintroducing myself after many years.

Absent but constantly distilling. Had a T500 and a PS2 but got rid of them and went back to my old Air still. Also retired and moved to the south west of Scotland and started a small group of Air Stillers among the local good old boys.

The Airstill is still working fine after all these years, but I managed to break my RZ filter on Monday and am in the process of setting up an Exsencia filter that arrived this morning.

The Exsencia looks a bit fiddly and slow, but who cares as long as it produces the goods.

I have 2X25Ltr washes bubbling away, but as space is a premium I won’t be doing much until I do a long filtering run.

[gaza the instructor]

Hi Pyro
I have an Essencia as well.
Not to bad for speed but mate thats one
very good filter.
If you search on here there are some tips
on how to refill the filters.

[Easydrinker]

Welcome back!
As Gaza said the Essencia is not too tricky, once set up.
Do search on here for information, because as I discovered, both filters are refillable, saving you a considerable amount of cash.
ATB

Robert.

[Pyro]

Yes the Essencia Filter is some bit of kit. It is much slower than the EZ, but still managed to fill a Demijohn overnight, and the quality of the produce is much higher.

I normally save up 10+ gallons before filtering so this job is going to take some time. With the improvement in quality of the produce it should be worthwhile.

I bottled up 2 bottles of Brandy and the wife is taking it in to the local day centre this morning for the old folks Christmas cake, and a 3rd bottle is in the cupboard for our cake.

[Anavrin]

Hi Pyro

I probably joined well after you stopped posting last but glad I am that your back, you mentioned 10+ Gallons before filtering, is this from an Airstill????!!!

Hats off to you if it is

Robert - Have you ever posted how to refill the ceramic Essencia filter, I'm due a new one now and would be interested in how you opened it please

[Easydrinker]

The bottom just fell off mine!.... in use.
There is a post on here about it, but it made me realise how easy it would be to prise it off and refill.
The ceramic is much thicker than I expected.
After refilling I re-stuck with my Guppie friendly HA6 sealant/Automotive gasket maker.

Robert.

[Pyro]

The wee Airstill is much under rated; I have had bigger stills but come back to the Airstill for a number of reasons, mainly space, and ease of operation.

In the past I have done multiple runs and run proper rum and whisky on the Airstill, I worked from home so had plenty of time.

I have a small bench in my den to the right of my desk holding 3X5Gall fermentation barrels, the Airstill and the filter, produce is stored in demijohns under the bench. Still is filled every morning and placed on a timer. It’s as easy as that.

As soon as this filtering run is finished and I get the still working again, I will then look at refilling the carbon filter. I am a bit laid back now that I am retired.

I love my wee still, but if ever a larger air cooled unit came on the market I would be more than interested.

[Mash]

A kindred spirit. It is genuinely marvellous to hear praise of this tiny powerhouse.

I ran 200l of white wine through mine in a very similar fashion. Strip and spirit run... Long before this fancy shmancy freezing malarkey.

[Easydrinker]

Forgive me saying Mash, but your strip freezing/freeze stripping idea, for an air still user that has the space, is IMHO the best brain fart that you have ever shared with us.
You may think me harsh , but I will most cheerfully give credit where it is due.

Step up and take a medal from the box.
You earned it

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

What I did today, out of the ordinary, was to delete a member and all of his posts, on this site, and then later delete the whole topic.
If you had read or posted in the thread, then you know the one
This was done with much fore thought, and with the best intentions for this site.
I believe that I was correct in doing so.
I am happy to defend my actions with any other mod that wishes to call me on it

Robert.

[packapoo]

I believe you did the right thing Robert.

On another front I doubt, if I faced up to the spectre you guys face, that I would be disclosing my location.

[Mash]

I did wonder at the time about that thread/post. Well done Robert.

[Phantom]

Well, I don't know the who or what Robert was alluding to so I have to just go with his judgement on it........