Massive Surge Boil Today!

[Mash]

I did not answer the question from V4mpy because I belive the rings/copper/coins vibrate in the easy still because the heat is underneath and this is key. They cause heating in a thin film of product which produces a bubble. This moves the coin/copper as it escaps. This produces a vibration which ripples through the liquid and elimates the superheating that causes a sudden release of energy.

The first time a saw this was with a milk saver on a gas cooker when I was a wee lad. Again underneath heating.

In a larger boiler with an immersed element (probably side mounted) I do not think it applies.

Which puts us in the position of thinking something is safe,when potentially it is not.


Thoughts?

[Easydrinker]

Mashy,that is a very good point,and one that I had not considered.
My silly still has a concealed element,like my smart still,and your thinking may be the reason that I get away with running cloudy washes,(that,and a metre high column).
I hadn't considered that higher,exposed elements may behave differently.

Robert.

[Admiral Toad]

Yes I reckom boil enhancers only work on a bottom plate heated boiler.certainly didn't get near as much foaming and puking when I ran grain washers with a pothead on using the T500boiler
In my other post this is my line of thinking to put some of the fine copper knitted mesh I got around the element to disperse heat and hopefully act a bit like the copper/ceramic enhancers in T500s and similar kit

[v4mpy]

Thank you for your comments.
With the element submerged in the wash it sounds like it's bubbling like a kettle.
I'm able to put a plate above the elements which is perforated.
Do you think putting boil enhancers will help disperse the bubbling?

[Mash]

IMO. Nope. They are not getting direct heat.

This might be the reason BIG distilleries use steam baths. ... Indirect heating. ...

[Easydrinker]

This topic is starting to grow legs and run away....
I cannot think of a way to sensibly split and move it,and figure anyone with an interest in this is happy for it to stay here.

I am ready to be corrected,but believe surges to begin with the formation of one or more huge bubbles,hence the reason boil pieces work,- they break them up.
It would seem to me that a perforated plate would cause also the break-up of such bubbles passing through it?
Would boil pieces even be needed?

Robert.

[Phantom]

Hum?

Well, it was my understanding, that while they are referred to as "boil enhancers", I'm not sure ,precisely, what's meant by that.

As I understand it, they break up any large bubbles produced by the boil, which is one of the reasons that one of the original materials suggested, was pieces of broken glass i.e. the sharp edges helped to break the surface tension of the bubbles, so that you didn't get bubbles big enough to cause a liquid puke into a column or in the case of an easy/smart/air still, over come the volume of the condenser entry and friction of the silicone seal.

I'm pretty sure that the perforated plate mentioned earlier would help, as would something on the upper surface of it. Broken glass would work in a similar way, is easily handled and sanitised, whereas copper ring sawn pieces would do that but also help with sulphides too.

In any case, it can't do any harm IMO. As to how much ? as before, I don't know but if it were my set up, I'd multiply a bag of rashig rings by 5, at least.........

[makum101]

I've done another 4 runs since 'the incident' with no repeat. I used half the bag of the copper boil enhancers together with a full bag of the ceramic boil enhancers and I no longer get any 'bumping' noises from the still. Cleaning is easy with citric acid (I got a massive sack of it off ebay for next to nowt).

I also noticed that the spirit comes out a little bit cleaner - must be the copper - Which is good for Vodka's & Gins but seems to be lacking something when flavoured into whiskey.

[Easydrinker]

makum,please feel free to slap me down if the assumptions that I make here are wrong.
First,I'm glad the problem seems to have gone away.
It seems that you are not carbon filtering your spirit run product?
Your post also reads like you are using essences,and I am not knocking that,I sometimes do the same.
For sure,the copper boil pieces will help take "off" tastes from your product.

Should you wish to try,carbon filtering will help vastly to a more neutral spirit.
Believe me,when you try a grain/whiskey type wash through an air still,you will not think that the boil pieces are robbing you of flavour.
I hope that makes sense,it's late.

Robert.

[makum101]

@Easydrinker... I don't filter my stripping run (1st run) but i do filter my spirit run (2nd run).

I use Still Spirits Gin flavoring and Scotch Whiskey flavoring. Basically as i dont know how to get this flavoring into my spirit any other way. Is there a better way?

[chill]

Look in the Recipes section for Gin. Same for Whisk(e)y. You get the flavour in like the real distillers do. And it is much better than the essences, to my tastes.

[Mash]

......... And it is much better than the essences, to my tastes.

2nd that

[makum101]

Cheers guys. I'm off to the recipe section right now...

[Easydrinker]

You can't get much easier (or less expensive)Gin than Odin's Easy Gin.
Sadly a whisky is a little/lot more effort,but tastes the better for it.
While you wrap your head around that one,unless you are into experimental spirits,don't feel that you shouldn't use essences.
My main reason for not using them often is cost.
My second reason is that some of them are awful..

Robert.

[Mash]

I have a cunning plan for a whiskey.
Inspired by Odin and powered by the fact that I could not find a decent whiskey recipe.

Not there yet, but very close to having some results.