StillSmart

gaza the instructor wrote:Well same hydro reading today. think i might rack off
and let stand for a couple of days, then degas,
then add some finings should be ok to Airstill
next weekend.
Might run in 3 ltr charges cnditioner and rocks.
Don't want puking, should I put a knob of butter in as well???

Well just because it's got down to 1.008 that quickly, doesn't mean it won't go a bit further.

I'd leave it "as is". It won't do any harm to leave it until mid-week before you rack and de-gas.

Knob of butter ? S'up to you. I prefer distillers conditioner and some rashig rings (and little slices from a 15mm copper pipe) in the bottom of the still.......

Run the still as per, just make sure about where it's placed so if it did puke/burp nothing is harmed and you can then re-run it with only 3litres in to give it more bubbling space.......

I away use rashig rings and always on
1st run conditioner, but have read on this
forum about using butter. is that something
to do with surface tension ??
Yes your right Phantom leave for a couple
of days,Will leave the belt on to.

It's an either or kind of thing mate, if you have no distillers conditioner then a knob of butter does a similar job. Some people prefer it because they know what went into making the butter, I'm sure I've read of some people using vegetable oil too but don't hold me to that. Personal preference dictates I think, I don't normally bother but then any puke would go into my thumper so it saves my condenser. With a little airstill a bit of puke is a much bigger issue so it's pays to do what you can to stop it!

I Never use conditioner. Never (now) have a puke. Use coins to avoid superheating of the contents.

Have some older coins (copper) will clean
in coke and put acouple in when I do a wash.

Butter, non flavoured cooking oil, both work.

gaza the instructor wrote:Have some older coins (copper) will clean
in coke and put acouple in when I do a wash.

I use enough to cover the bottom. Certainly makes cleanup easier.

Thanks guys let you know how I get
on later in the week.

Happy now temp 26 c hydro reading 1004
corrected to 1005 at 20c.
will check again tomorrow

Crisp N Dry cooking oil is rapeseed oil with an antifoaming agent added, that what I've used in the past

I have read about crisp 'n' dry somewhere else
on these pages. got to be cheaper than conditioner.

Well got to 1002 sg.All new copper arrived for t500
Had to use it. Different to ant thing i have used B4.
Stripped down to 30%, totaled 4.2lts at 51% overall.
Will dilute to 30% run 2 charges in Airstill.
Very pleased certainly smell nice.So far so good
for a 20ltr trial.

gaza the instructor wrote:I have read about crisp 'n' dry somewhere else
on these pages. got to be cheaper than conditioner.

Really there is no need. Flat copper coinage.

My molasses washes rarely take more than 36 hours (for a target of 11% ABV) - they really get going.
They fizz like coke, but don't be tempted to stir it before it's done, else it will foam over and you'll have to mop up.

If you are after rum, don't worry about it being a bit warmer than usual when pitching the yeast, lots of esters will make for a better rum (hopefully)

There are lots of unfermentables in molasses - so your hydrometer won't read very well, its only really good for letting you know when it's stopped dropping.

To boost the flavour I use 20% of the wash volume as dunder (whats left in the boiler after the first run) so I use 10L in a 50L wash.

Oh and I highly recommend using melted butter to stop the foaming - I melt it in a jug in the microwave and add it when the wash is hot just before I put the column on.
It really is very foamy otherwise.

Nice.
Hands on experience shared.
Welcome to Jazz Club.

Robert.