StillSmart

Hi all, i currently am having loads of fun using my airstill but due to numerous parties etc i am struggling to keep up with demand. So my thought turn to the T500.

the question is out of a 25l wash how much spirit woould i get as currently from my airstill i can get approx 6ltrs.

the thought process is that if i can more spirit using a T500 i may well just invest in one?

any help greatlty appreciated guy's

thanks

Hi Mate
depending on the strength of the wash I find you can get between 3.5 to 4.5 of useable spirit at 93 % so when diluted about 8 to 10 Litres after a run lasting up to 5 hours
Of course you will need to filter after that so a good filter system is needed too unless you double distill but thats another matter !
So it is quicker and more efficient
AT

thanks Admiral. certainly seems to worth swapping from my airstill then.

....with some caveats, yes!

The T500 does extract more from the same wash, and it is higher quality. BUT there are downsides. Chief of these for me is the reliance on the water supply and the time it takes to do a run - I found that the water pressure was so variable that to do a run I had to ban everyone else from using the taps, toilet, etc for 5 hours or so - this meant I actually ended up doing less runs than with the AirStill because it was disruptive. Not to mention taking over the kitchen for a few hours, and the general faff is much greater than with the 'fill it and go' style AirStill. On the other hand, there are way around these issues and it is worthwhile - just isn't so clear cut as it first appears!

Agree with Jimmy re water supply but since I fitted a pressure relief valve people can even use the loo and the washing machine now
Without this you do need to keep a constant eye on it for the 3 plus hours the alcohol is running, I find it a good time to mix , sterilise, set away washes etc but you do need to still keep watching it so the key is PLAN AHEAD

thanks guys. i think i will still give it a go.

It's definitely worth the extra effort in the end, go for it!

Oh, and if you're not a meathead like me - lifting a still full of 25l of wash onto the kitchen counter may cause irreperable damage so be careful!

Jimmy wrote:It's definitely worth the extra effort in the end, go for it!

Oh, and if you're not a meathead like me - lifting a still full of 25l of wash onto the kitchen counter may cause irreperable damage so be careful!

will do jimmy thanks. was thinking tho maybe putting it in the shed. any thought on that with regards to outside temperature etc?

Should be OK most of the time, so long as your water doesn't freeze! Some people have insulated the boiler and/or column to make it more efficient, might be worth looking at that but you should be fine to start with.

Jimmy wrote:Should be OK most of the time, so long as your water doesn't freeze! Some people have insulated the boiler and/or column to make it more efficient, might be worth looking at that but you should be fine to start with.

cheers mate....better start emptying the shed in prep.