What I Did Today

[Spirits4BB]

Haha productive day then S4BB?!

Always.......

Today I placed my first order with SDEurope, so far I'm impressed! Less than an hour after I placed it there was a barrage of emails to say it was already on its way so I have my fingers crossed for a speedy delivery. Next on to geterbrewed for some malt rye & peated malt, it's whiskey time!

I was tempted with a 50L milk can from SD but didn't realise until I enquired that the site prices were subject to 20% VAT.....
Then the auto lock on my wallet activated...

[Myles]

I think that is wrong actually. No VAT because it is Europe, well no additional IMPORT tax anyway which you do need to pay if buying from USA or direct from China.

It can be cost effective sometimes to bring stuff from China though. I recently shipped over 30 high pressure clamps and it was still cheaper than buying in the UK.

[Spirits4BB]

Been trying to buy an 8 gallon milk churn direct from China but nobody replies when you only want one.

[Myles]

Have you tried the obvious source? Not sure of the price though.

http://www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

[Myles]

Today was looking through my photo archive and trying to think of the unfinished projects that I need to complete.

I spend so little time at home at the moment that when I do get back SHMBO hides my workshop keys and gives me a list of jobs to do first.

Anyhow I found this and thought some of you might be interested.

ENHANCED POT STILL.

Unfinished and just on the thumper for the photo. Its a real simple hybrid pot still, just 54 mm with a 76 mm chamber at the bottom. That chamber contains a stainless scrubber at each end and is filled with SPP. There is a small reflux condenser. Just a jacket over the 54 mm tube and no condenser yet.

This should NOT hit full reflux. That was not the intent. It just generates enough reflux to activate the packing either for heads compression or to raise the overall ABV simmulating a much bigger vapour path.

It still needs the sight glass (so you can visually monitor the reflux flow from the centering ring) and other bits and bobs.

I have proven the functionality of this system before, and was trying to build a clean compact version aimed directly at the T500 crowd.

Its an easy build and works with just 6" of stainless scrubbers. The ONLY reason I put in SPP is because I had a small bag surplus. This is still a work in progress which is why there is a 35 mm compression fitting before the condenser.

EDIT Thats why there was a chamber, to accomodate the SPP. If only using scrubbers don't bother. Just put a small jacket over a straight length of 54 mm tube and stuff a few scrubbers in it.

[Spirits4BB]

Have you tried the obvious source? Not sure of the price though.

http://www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

No I didn't Myles, thanks' for the link...... Will contact them

[Anavrin]

Today I setup the still for the first run with my SPP, I'm using 3x4" bubble plates and a 550mm glass section filled with SPP.

43 litres of neutral strip at 35%, I would have proofed down to 30% but need some head space in the boiler.

Anyway 13litres of alcohol in there that I plan on getting my hands on

[Icefever]

Anyway 13 litres of alcohol in there that I plan on getting my hands on

13 lts WOW.....roll on Aug.

[Easydrinker]

Today I got myself up to date with reading posts on this forum!
I sometimes crash before getting there,but think that I am there this time.
So good to see such activity, and new users.

Robert.

[Anavrin]

Got my 13 litres

[Icefever]

What a sight to behold....tis a fine day work matey..

[Anavrin]

As you know it's a long days work, It was running for 9hrs after taking 1 1/2 hours to heat up.

I collected the first 500ml as fores, then the next 3 litres in 1 litre jars as heads.

Then 22 1/2 500ml jars filled to just over 400ml each of 95% good stuff

The abv started dropping in the last couple of jars but I kept it going as I couldn't detect any sign of tails.

In guessing once I've made my cuts I'll have 15litres + of clean 40% neutral

[Easydrinker]

You Jammy Dodger!
That is a postcard worth sending home!


Robert.

[chill]

That made my liver quiver.

[Benoit]

You must have some very grateful friends Anavrin! I'd have a queue down the street if I was chucking out 15 litres at a time!
Today I remembered my sugar puff wash was nearly done like 4 days ago so I had to go rack off quick! Those little greedy buggers didn't want to sink all that far down & I was damned if they were getting 8 litres of wash out of me so it had to be strained through my sparging bag. Made the wash milky as hell so it will stay outside again tonight to cold crash then I will syphon it properly tomorrow morning. Sunday will be a busy day!