Smart still/air still

[hic52]

Was bored so was searching on the net for info on fore shots and came across an interesting post here:

http://www.brewhausforum.com/showthread.php?p=6061
That guy collects his first 800mls or so as I do then he collects in another container for he quotes 1 hr 10 mins which gives him 525mls at 20% then puts it back through the still, he doesn\'t say whether he collects all his 525mls up to 4ltrs and puts it through or just puts it in his next 4ltr batch of mash.
Sounds like a good idea if it works as this would produce more spirits rather than throwing it down the drain as i do at the moment.
Has anyone else tried this method? and if so what was the outcome?

[Andy]

When I used the air still I would collect the 800 and chuck the rest but many say collect and rerun.

My thought was, it would cost more to rerun than the benefit.

So, weigh up the cost factor, I did and bought a T500.

Mum now has the air still and is thinking about buying a T500 and her neighbor is asking about buying the air still. The cycle continues LOL

[hic52]

The way I thought wasn\'t about the cost really, it was that its just another few washes to put through, have only seen the one reference to it so not sure but I have 25Ltrs of wash ready to go through on Monday so think I will try but will go on the safe side and collect the 500mls together and put them through at the end.

Haven\'t room for the T500 or would have definitely go with one.

[optic]

hic52

What I tend to do is just store it until I have 4ltrs to fill the still up.Another way is instead just run the still and collect about 1.3 ltrs this will be around about 50%abv.From your six runs from 25ltrs of wash you will have near as dam it 8ltrs @ 50% that gives you 2 fills of the still for a second spirit run.

[hic52]

thanks optic - looking at the way you do it may use less electric (I know Andy mentioned the cost) i think as the still is up to heat ie; collecting 1.3 ltrs, how much water does it take then to knock it back to 40%?.
The way I have been doing it is to go to 800mls then knock it back with another 400mls of water which just gives me slightly under 40% I then get 6 x 1200 bottles out of 25L wash. So gaining 2 more bottles would be good, have never tried this and the only worry I had about it was that it would alter the taste.
Have 25L of Vodka star finishing today so will try the first run to 1.3L and see how it goes.

[optic]

What I do is just run it back through the still as it is and collect around 1.5 to 1.75 ltrs @ 80%alc then change collection jars and carry on collecting until the abv drops to 20%alc and save this (you should get about 800mls or so at around 55%alc) in a DJ until I have enough from several runs to make up 4 ltrs to run the still.

So after the two runs through your still you have between 3 to 3.5ltrs @ 80% to cut back and filter and 1.6ltrs to run again at a later date.I know it means a bit more time spent stilling and less spirit,but its well worth the effort IMO the qaulity is much better.The best idea is to buy the T500,once I can afford it I will.

Optic

[Frank]

Ok Optic your second run ideas sound fantastic but its MY turn to be a bit confused. Assuming that with your second spirit run through the Airstill, you get leftovers of 800ml @ around 55%ABV (twice), why can\'t you then just use that 1600ml cut down for, say, the wife\'s liqueurs or some such thing? Is it that sh#thouse?

[optic]

Ok Optic your second run ideas sound fantastic but its MY turn to be a bit confused. Assuming that with your second spirit run through the Airstill, you get leftovers of 800ml @ around 55%ABV (twice), why can\'t you then just use that 1600ml cut down for, say, the wife\'s liqueurs or some such thing? Is it that sh#thouse?
Reckon you could if thats what you want to do,but it only takes another 4 spirit runs and you then have 4ltrs @ 55%ABV to run through,the spirit from this run is really good having been run 3 times.I know it seems a lot of messing about and a T500 could do the job in 1 run,but I have now decided now not to buy a T500 as the Airstill provides me with more than enough spirit to drink.
Optic

[Frank]

fair enough and I do get your point re making higher standard neutral from an Airstill..one more question please....with your approximate %ABV distillation calculations \'above\' what was the 25l wash made up of (ie ?kg dextrose plus ? yeast etc)?

[biopro]

I wouldn't get too hung up over electricity costs. The Airstil has a consumption of 320 W, which I guess means 0.32 KWh.

A 4 litre still takes me 2 hr 15 mins. My current average electricity cost is £0.1318 per KWh, so one batch through the still costs £0.09.

I've constructed a spreadsheet with the various costs in that you can populate with your local costs if anyone wants a copy.

[knobby]

Yes please............

[biopro]

Yjen we need a wayto transfer - pm me an email adress unless there is a way to make it available for all?

[chill]

Look below the Save Draft / Preview / Submit buttons. Click Upload Attachment. You should be able to use that to attach it to your message.

Chuck

[Jimmy]

As YHB has pointed out before, be careful when uploading Microsoft documents as they do tend to include your name and other details in the metadata of the file. Doesn't bother me personally, but might be a worry for some.

[biopro]

Thanks Jimmy - I think I have removed any details. I'll post it here, but also post it as a new post so everyone can access it - they may not look at this thread.

Click on the link below:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/961964/Still%20costs.xls