Bonkers or what?
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:23 amSome of you are aware that I have been running air cooled pot and reflux stills for awhile.
Just scaled up versions of the standard Air still really.
It worked well for several years.
Recently the heating element in my boiler sort of failed.
Running at roughly 10% of expected output.
And me lacking
the working digits to start anew.
A new identical boiler is en route from a German supplier.
The lid and existing columns will fit this new boy like kin.
In the meanwhile, I have been playing.
The last few strips and runs took a little (!) longer, but have been so hands off that I am delighted.
I need to spend very little time with the still, while it is running.
12 -13 hours ain't nuthin' , if you don't need to be there.
Some, with their "we must still faster" mindset, may struggle with the concept of slow stilling.
My electricity usage is the same.
And I don't piss potable water down the drain to condense my spirits..
Win,win planet earth.
Two 25 litre strips and a subsequent spirit run, boiler and condenser fans electricity costs come in at a shade under £4.
My own build reflux column has always seemed to leave the tails in the boiler, unless run really hard on the air cooled condenser; more recently running at 1/10th of the old power they certainly don't seem to appear at all.
And when I tire and switch off, guess where I find the expected tails....
In the Lees of the boiler.
I would like to claim that this VERY slow running is the reason for my VERY neutral neutral.
But suspect that is due to the reduced lentil and Sultana in my sugar washes.
Robert.
Just scaled up versions of the standard Air still really.
It worked well for several years.
Recently the heating element in my boiler sort of failed.
Running at roughly 10% of expected output.
And me lacking
the working digits to start anew.A new identical boiler is en route from a German supplier.
The lid and existing columns will fit this new boy like kin.
In the meanwhile, I have been playing.
The last few strips and runs took a little (!) longer, but have been so hands off that I am delighted.
I need to spend very little time with the still, while it is running.
12 -13 hours ain't nuthin' , if you don't need to be there.
Some, with their "we must still faster" mindset, may struggle with the concept of slow stilling.
My electricity usage is the same.
And I don't piss potable water down the drain to condense my spirits..
Win,win planet earth.
Two 25 litre strips and a subsequent spirit run, boiler and condenser fans electricity costs come in at a shade under £4.
My own build reflux column has always seemed to leave the tails in the boiler, unless run really hard on the air cooled condenser; more recently running at 1/10th of the old power they certainly don't seem to appear at all.
And when I tire and switch off, guess where I find the expected tails....
In the Lees of the boiler.
I would like to claim that this VERY slow running is the reason for my VERY neutral neutral.
But suspect that is due to the reduced lentil and Sultana in my sugar washes.
Robert.
