Surge Boil - Don't Do This!

[chill]

I have a handful of crushed granite pieces (gravel from my yard, about 2cm size) that I use in my AirStill to prevent surge boiling. Cheap, inert, and it works well. Yesterday I was doing a heads run and forgot to add them. I noticed the top of the still starting to lift, remembered the rocks, and unplugged it. So far, so good. I waited a couple of minutes, carefully removed the top and... you can guess this part, can't you?

Without thinking it through, tossed the rocks into the about to surge boil wash. Dramatic is a good word or the result. Eruption perhaps. In a matter of 3-4 seconds, 3L of foaming, boiling heads had exited the still. Luckily I was far enough back that I did not get burned. Luckily there was nothing to ignite the vapours (thought they were rather intoxicating). Luckily my wife was not home! Unluckily, it was on the carpet in my office. What a mess! What a waste!

So if you find yourself in this position, please remember to be patient and wait for the wash to cool.

Chuck

[splifi]

A very lucky escape there.The wife could have been in.No seriously thanks for the warning could save some one from getting hurt.
I had a my wash erupt last weekend all over the garage. i put a wash on last Thursday but only had 4kg of sugar in the house.so on Saturday morning i picked up some more sugar and threw 2kg in to the wash stirring will adding the sugar and then it turned into mount vesuvius the garage floor is still very sticky.

[Almanac]

When stripping in an Airstill the use of Distiller's Conditioner is a must as it prevents bubbles from forming

AM

[chill]

Distiller's Conditioner prevents foaming but I think that is different that surge boiling which results from superheating in a smooth container. And this was heads, not stripping.

Chuck

[Almanac]

I'm with you all the way on that Chuck.

I posted that comment about "stripping in an Airstill" because some beginners, reading the thread, might get the wrong idea and think that boil enhancers alone will prevent puking on a stripping run too.

AM

[Frank]

@Chuck, did you get to save any 'worthwhile' amount for your spirit run? ...that is, what was the loss of volume from the 'episode'?)

(BTW I use 12mm copper pipe offcuts as rashig rings and they work very well too....if I remember to put them in )

[chill]

Hi Frank,

It was a heads run, so not a huge loss of quality alcohol. Three full liters exited the still in about as many seconds. I saved 1L, which went back in the heads jar for next time.

The pipe offcuts sound like a good idea. Prevents surging and adds copper all in one. I use a small handfull of old pennies but they are too flat and smooth to do any more than add some copper.

Chuck

[MalvAlv99]

I use a small handfull of old pennies but they are too flat and smooth to do any more than add some copper.

Chuck

Just bend them a little in a vice or with a couple of pairs of pliers.

[RumJohn]

Try using a stainless steel pot scrubber. Easy to get, clean and use. The more expensive restaurant grade are best. Dont use steel ones.