StillSmart

An exception that proves the rule!

When I said 'all plastics' I naturally meant plastics of unknown origin that are not specifically certified safe by a known and reputable company for use with Ethanol. Things like generic plastic tubing or bottles that were originally made for soft drinks, etc

The Essencia Filter is made of a material that is certified safe for use with Ethanol up to 50%ABV by a well known and reputable company in NZ

AM

Sorry Aidan I think I have to disagree.

This is cut and pasted from the Essencia instructions posted in their website - If spirit is over 45%ABV the blue lid must not be fitted as the vapour may cause damage to the lid

They have got the warning wrong, I do not give a toss about damage to the lid. The plastic is damaged by the ethonal vapour leaching out the plasticisers and the lid becomes brittle. Where do the plasticiser go? Into the drink and you do not want to be drinking plasticisers. The Warning should say if you use the blue lid on spirits over 45% you may be adding chemicals to your drink.

If they were a reputable company and were selling a product specifically for Ethanol they would use materials that were suitable. They take a water filter and call it something else to make money. It would cost a few pence to replace the blue lid, a reputable company would do that or simply throw it away to protect there customers.

You say that "the Essencia Filter is made of a material that is certified safe for use with Ethanol up to 50%ABV" What material is that ? I cannot find any information with regard to the Material Of Construction.

Sorry to Hi-Jack the thread - Nice Boiler Johnnyboy40

No probs Brian, you can disagree with me anytime you like cause I know it's not personal

I should have included in my post that I don't have the blue lid on mine as I disposed of it shortly after I got the filter because of that very point. I replaced mine with a Stainless Steel saucepan lid and assumed anyone reading the postings here about the Essencia would have done so too.

That prompted me to look up my original report on the Essencia from many years ago which, I'm sure, included that point but it must have been among the huge number of my posts deleted by that moron we had to get rid of for causing trouble hereabouts a few years back

At the time I had some trouble with the filter and emailed the company in NZ and next thing I got a phone call from a Brian Maguire of Essencia in NZ and in the course of that lengthy conversation a number of things were discussed and I think, over the years, I have amalgamated a number of those things into my own beliefs on the use of the system.

One of the things Mr Maguire assured me of was that the body parts of the main filter are made from a material that is completely safe for extended use with Ethanol but that they recommend that spirits should be diluted to 40% ABV before filtering for normal purposes and that in any event Ethanol over 55%ABV cannot be properly filtered by the Carbon cartridge. On this basis I have always held that the filter is safe to use - minus the blue lid as you said Somewhere along the way I adopted 50%ABV as a general safe point.

On the reputable company thing, I have bought Essencia products for a number of years and any problems I run into were minor and they always respond promptly if I contact them. The fact that Mr Maguire telephoned me from NZ says a lot about their attitude to customer service in my book. Of course you're absolutely right about the blue lid and I've emailed them about this but I'm not holding my breath on a change. I know I'm not on their Christmas card list because I've posted quite a bit, including photos, on refilling the Carbon Cartridges and they do read this forum, as well as others, for any mention of their products.

Anyway, apologies if what I posted came across as misleading - that's not what I intended

AM

@Brian. That example you put up was a very well crafted piece of misdirection. Agree with your outlook completely....Just goes to show Kiwi salespersons are at least equal to their dodgy cousins worldwide.

@AM In another life fellow of initials BCE was a car shark and look where he is now!
Same as the Essencia fellow - good talker.

Mea Culpa

AM

Thanks for all the feedback; I didn't realise that the Essencia filter should not be used above 50%, my first batch came out at around 35% due to dilution from the RO water so I upped the second batch (3l) to around 55% to compensate, filtered product is around 50%- hope this is OK?

I also need to change the collection tube / valve to SS or copper any suggestions? Could I use copper microbore? Any suggestions on where to buy a needle valve?

The quality of the Vodka from the still / Essencia filter is really excellent.

Vodka star with 5.5kg of sugar and the red lentil recipe produce very similar results, Vodka star is just a few days quicker.

Regards

Jon

Hi Jon, i got my needle valve with my T500, but Richard at W/Works supplies them.
http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/t500-water ... ontroller/

Cheers B-D

imho microbore 8 or 10mm would be ideal for a take off tube, ebay for a suitable SS needle valve, i picked up mine for just over a tenner, fyi im using 6.4mm or 1/4" tube and corresponding valve, if building again i would go 8 or 10mm probably 10mm to allow faster stripping the 6,4mm tube is a little constricting

Thanks for the replies

Small units available off Alibaba

The one in picture number two is kind of pretty/cute....
Robert.