American best practice with an airstill

[Anavrin]

Hi Guys

I've been browsing the HD forum and it appears someone on the other side of the pond has put together an airstill guide to get the best results, the posts only a few days old but has 27 reply's already as HD is a busy forum, some negative comments, some more positive but an interesting read if anyone's interested :-)

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=51919

[Anavrin]

Just read down few threads, I see Brian (YHB) has already spotted this and made a couple of comments already to help the Americans out

[Easydrinker]

Brian is a much nicer guy than I am,and the responses on that site,are for the most part, IMHO denegrating, with peoples opinions emminating from places where the sun does'nt usually shine.
There is some very useful stuff to be found on that site,but again in IMHO,the vociferous responses from some of the members there is really incredible,and by that I really mean Bolleoux,not spectacular.
It is a shame that some users view the WWW as a platform for self-aggrandisement.
Me,I'm here trying to help out,if I can,and if I get it wrong,please tell me so.
Robert.

[YHB]

Of course I am not "nice" I think applauding the Airstill will annoy more people than arguing with them.

I think I will add another post.

Toodlepip

[Easydrinker]

I have never considered what the initials YHB represented before,as it has always been Brian.
For today I'll think it stands for You Have Bolleaux.
Robert.

[Anavrin]

I thought the guy who created the original post, even tough he's a beginner, explained quite well how he made his cuts, that's the main reason I thought I'd share it on here.

[YHB]

I agree, that's why I thought I would give him some support before the "You need a Keg" brigade arrived.

I still look at HD but these days I rarely post there. I like it here!

Among others I am currently following this one about making Maize Whiskey with Enzymes
(I am going to stop calling it Corn).
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 14&t=51458

[Almanac]

Gave up on HD long time ago and haven't posted anything for ages. Nearly as bad as another forum some of us here were on at one time until it impolded down under

AM

[Easydrinker]

If you read that thread,on that other forum,it becomes obvious that the OP has possibly obtained some of his knowledge reading this one.
Nothing wrong with that,information should be spread about.
The reason I mentioned Brian's Cojones,is the fact that his last post there,concerning the time saved stripping with an airStill,only holds true when you leave the airstill to run on a timer,unattended.
Something that some users on this forum have been doing for years,but would usually bring down the wrath of GOD over there.
Strange that YHB's and the OP's later references to timed,possible unattended distilations have not attracted comment.
I think the Junta are now trying to ignore such stills.
Robert

[John51]

Pre internet I had done quite a few potstill runs but results weren't that great. So I stopped for a while.

When online I discovered HD and I got thoroughly confused. It's like they don't want newbies to understand. It delayed me getting back into this hobby by at least 2 years.

[Easydrinker]

It is a sad ,but true fact that people are on-line for many reasons.
Most of us try to be helpful,others are treading a different path.
Self-aggrandisement seems to be the reason that people try to sh*t on others, trying to claim some superiority.
View all that you read with a Large pinch of salt,and use your own commonsense.
Seems to work for me.
On most of the sites that I visit.
Robert.

[phillmystill]

Hi there, I'm new here!

I do regularly peruse these forums in a lurking fashion but felt compelled to join after stumbling across my post from HD on here (imagine my surprise).

I guess I knew to expect from HD when I posted my topic on there! I had noticed quite a few AirStill owners getting little or no help and I thought I had managed to produce a good drop so thought I would share it to help any AirStill owners get the best from their equipment based on my experiences.

I still use the same techniques, but have streamlined the process thanks to some of the constructive comments I received: I fill the still, set the timer, go to bed, collect the distillate, put in in my filter, empty my still, refil my still, reset the timer, go to work, come from work, empty the filtered spirit etc.

I can work through my wash with very little effort on my part. The filtered low-wines are then stored in demi-johns until I have the time to do my spirit runs which do require my full attention. I do now pre-heat my low-wines to about 50C to reduce the heat-up times, I could probably heat them up a little more but I don't want to push my luck.

I have built a 32l stockpot with a stainless tray for a lid with a pickled and tinned brass tank connector to a 600mm x 22mm riser to a 1000mm, 22mm over 15mm liebig heated by a 1500w hotplate with a 4000w scr controller. I have just my sac run to do on it to complete my cleaning.

I still intend to use my AirStill as I love the convenience of it!

So that's me!!

[chill]

Welcome, nice to have you here with us!

[Icefever]

Hi there, I'm new here!
I still intend to use my AirStill as I love the convenience of it!
So that's me!!

Hi & welcome to the forum...seems like you stuck a stick in a wasp nest with our colonial cousins..

A number of us started with the airstill, but soon moved on to the bigger toys...enjoy yourself...

[Easydrinker]

Welcome phillmystill,
Nice to see you here,wishing you fun with both of your toys,especially the new one,you seem to have the old one sorted.

Robert