newbie advice required for 800w distiller

[chill]

As Hampk said, ABV is only a rough yardstick and a useless one when you are starting out. Even running washes that I know though a still I have years of experience with, I still only use it as a rough guide. The finer points are down to taste and smell.

And even as a rough guide, it is hard to know what to advise you on a still that I have no experience with. The ABV of a strip depends on how long you strip it for. If you run the still until it is dry, your strip will be the ABV of the wash, perhaps less a little leakage. I think that most people run it until the ABV of the combined total strip is 40%. I don't recall what the incremental ABV is at that point, probably around 20%. I cut my stripping runs short to avoid the smell of tails (wife hates them and by extension me) so I end up with a strip of 50%+. The conventional wisdom is to dilute the strip to 30% for the spirit run. I never measure so I am unsure what I run mine at, probably higher than that. I just figure half of a 24L wash in one spirit run and half in another with enough water in each to reach the Fill line.

Chuck

[johnykappa]

Hi Guys,

Thanks again for all the advice!

ive looked at the link for power controllers cheers, not sure how I could fit this or if spending is worth it... I may just buy a 300w commercial airstill instead. I realise the one I have may be no good for the job it was just a project really.

one thing I did realise is that with this still holding 3.5L its about 87% of 4L. instead of trying to get a 1.5L strip I should be aiming at most for 1.3L which is 87% of 1.5L. I may have to go lower I imagine and also now know abv is not the best guide. (nice to tick all the boxes though). I done a 1.3l strip and Ill measure the abv later just for info. may help someone else attempting this with an 800w still. The strip took 1hour 5minutes so deffo burning alcohol quickly.

before I modify too much im gonna get some 1.3l strips and do a spirit run & see how it turns out. ill sample every 100ML for abv/taste/smell and see the results. one question the tails taste sweet is that the corn like taste ive had on some samples?

Also @chill you say conventionally the strip is diluted, do you mean you get a 50%+ strip and add water?

thanks guys

[Mash]

I would give the power controller a go. £7 for the controller £3 for a container, with a wire and a plug you probably have kicking about form some unused computer gear.

Having said that, I also know it's nice to have the right thing for the right job.

I'm sure you are learning lots.. Enjoy it.

[hampk]

+1 Mash - you're pumping far too many watts into your wash. You need to slow it way way down, and a power controller is definitely the right way to go. Cheaper than a new AirStill, as well!

The idea is to vapourise the alcohol out of the wash with as little water as possible - always tricky with an AirStill. Too much power, you boil the water too fast, leading to the results you are getting.

As for how far you should strip - read and re-read the AirStill Best Pracice guide, and don't be greedy!

Cheers

Hampk

[johnykappa]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the great advice!!! i am gonna order the controller, didnt know they could be got that cheap & as ive a little more experience with my still i think i will carry on with it.

just wanted to post some results!!!

I done another 26L batch which started at 1.090 and finished at 0.994. I then transferred to a secondary and done 3 x 3.5l stripping runs to get a spirit run done. when i done the spirit run i dumped the first 100ml to be safe, then collected the next 200ml for a heads run.

The next 600ml i collected which was perfectly clear and 75% i added approx 600ml filtered water until i had about 40% and ran it through a carbon filter, tasted great to be honest so im very happy with that. I left it to breath covered in a tea towel

I also collected the next 600ml which was at 62%, again clear and good quality smell. I added approx 300ml to bring it to 40% again taste and smell was good and i filtered through carbon and covered with a towel.

For fun i collected another 600ml just to see what the drop off was like and if it would be cloudy and surprisingly it was very clear, the percentage was 20% so should get some use from that too! very impressed with how it all turned out and thanks again couldnt have done it without your help! (and chills Method) :-)

[Easydrinker]

It is great to see such enthusiasm, and a great result.
Stick with it buddy and refine your technique.
It may seem a steep learning curve, but the result is worth it.
As you are learning.

Robert.