Air Still distillation breakdown

[chill]

I use tap water run though a Britta filter.

[Nukeproof]

Thnx Guys.

[Easydrinker]

Loving your time zone mate,you'll be old before me.
While I usually use regular tap water for ferments,I use bottled water for cutting down.
HTH
Robert.

[andymac]

What a brilliant thread - thanks guys! As a noob this has saved me months of of trying to get my head round it all. Still no substitute for experience, but you've stopped me going off down a lot of blind alleys I'm sure - no point reinventing the wheel.

Thanks again.

[taylor40plus64]

Good thread, i am going be doing my first double distill hopefully this coming Sunday when i get home

Very good info

[Icefever]

Good thread, i am going be doing my first double distill hopefully this coming Sunday when i get home Very good info

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You won't regret it...I did my first double only a few weeks back thanks to the info from some of the guys on here. What a difference we both noticed, it's a far better drink all round. Let us know how you get on.

[Cherry Yidaki]

"I run the wash through the still once, in 4 litre batches. I collect 1500ml every run, leaving me 6 x 1500ml of strip, equalling 9 litres. This takes roughly 4hrs 25mins from turning on to collecting 1500ml. With a 14% wash, a stripping run will yield 1500ml of approximately 30% alcohol."

I've read through this thread a couple of times trying to find an answer, but if it's here, it eludes me. I thank any answerers in advance for enlightenment.

My question is, how do you adjust this equation for differing ABV's? I mean, if my wash measures, say 9%, instead of the stated 14% - and I don't have any saved tails (I'm a brand new noob with no runs under my belt as yet) what changes should I make? Do I extend or shorten my catch time? Collect more or less than 1500ml? Is there a sliding scale I can apply to calculating other parts of the run using variable ABVs?

I think I have the other parts sussed out from the explanations given. I've printed out both the charts and have them posted in my distillery area for reference.

My first sugar washes are starting to go from yellowish milkiness to sort of lemonade translucency. Still perking away strong (and wasn't that a fight for awhile when the weather dropped below -5F and the house got a bit cool? I had a couple of stuck ferments with washes getting mucusy/glycerine-like strings in them that made me fear infection, but it turned out to be nothing a little more heat and yeast couldn't cure), but run time can't be too far away if they're starting to clear.

Unfortunately, I tossed the flimsy plastic/fiberglass washer from the activated charcoal filter that came with the air still. There were absolutely no instructions with the unit. Thankfully there are a number of discussions on here that are helpful for figuring it out. I think I'll just cut out a couple layers of coffee filter to replace the original.

I eschewed the turbo yeasts that came with the still after reading around in here and elsewhere about their execrable flavors. Instead, I'm using champagne yeast (it's been in storage for 4 years, but woke up like Sleeping Beauty when kissed with a little warmth and sugar (and citric acid). But I'm worried I'll get 10 gallons of something that comes in far short of 14%. I'm trying to get everything I need accumulated, and my battle plan plotted out and debugged ahead of time (as much as possible. No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, they say.) I need that last piece of information to “settle in” for the duration.

Thanks

[Cherry Yidaki]

Or (looking at it again) are the 1500ml/4.5 hours constants and we just live with whatever ABV we end up with after the stripping runs?

[Almanac]

Or (looking at it again) are the 1500ml/4.5 hours constants and we just live with whatever ABV we end up with after the stripping runs?

No! Stripping runs are not limited by time, collected liquid volume or starting ABV.

The only thing that matters is that you run the strip until the ABV of the distillate, as it comes from the still, dips just below 20%. (This is where a distillers parrot pays for itself.)

However, if you don't have a parrot just collect the distillate whatever way is handy until you reach around 900-1000ml then collect the remainder in 100ml lots checking each lot with your alchometer until one shows just less than 20%ABV. After that you take a reading of the ABV of the entire collected batch and dilute back to 30% ABV ready for the spirit runs

The volumes in the guides posted by myself and Mozr are examples, not hard and fast rules. they should guide you to a good result from your Airstill but the final outcome is very much dependant on what you start with. Regardless of what you start with, if you initially stick to the 20% ABV cutoff on the stripping run the rest will fall into place for you.

AM

[Cherry Yidaki]

Thank you very much for the clarification.

Next question is, how, using an air still and taking cuts of 100 ml, or so, at the end, do you get your hydrometer to work? Even if I use the shipping tube - which is much smaller than the testing cylinder I have, 100ml won't float the boat on the Proof & Tralle.

[Easydrinker]

I guess hydrometers and shipping tubes vary.
My shipping tubes hold 50ml.
And at a pinch can be used for brew or spirit,if I swap the hydrometers.

Sorry,I have to ask the obvious question.
Are you using a spirit hydrometer? A wash hydrometer will sink like a stone in spirit.I think,reading Aidans post that the information is golden.
I hope that helps.
Robert.

[Cherry Yidaki]

I did get me a long, fancy Proof and Tralle spirit hydrometer for this job. Maybe it's too fancy. It's much longer than the hydrometer I used for winemaking - and am continuing to use for my initial "start-up" readings for right after I pitch the yeast.

I will look for either a shorter spirit hydrometer or a narrower tube.

Thank you for the help, Robert - and, of course, aidanmac as well.

[Almanac]

Get yourself a 100ml Trial Jar and you should only use a Stevenson Reeves Alcometer, they're the best in the business

AM

[Easydrinker]

Not wishing to knock your hydrometer here,but having googled it,it isn't one that I would use or buy.
AMs recommendation is sound.
I am sure there must be others,equally as good,available locally to you.
Stevenson Reeves are made locally to me.And worth the shipping.
I wish you well with the brewing and stilling,
Robert

[Icefever]

I've just run 4 lts of lentil wash through the still, but I only have 1000ml and it's down to 20%....not sure as I thought you collected 1500ml. I think to be sure I'll collect the last bit in a jug just to be safe.