StillSmart

Hi, could anybody please tell me at which stage liquid carbon should be used (and is it any good?) I'm using a sugar wash with vodka star which has just about finished bubbling now.
I have some turbo klar to use too..
Should I rack it once first? And do you just stir it in and leave it?

Certainly rack it.And use turbo clear.
I would not advocate the use of liquid carbon.
There may be someone on here that does.
IMHO it is mess for no gain.

Robert.

Thanks Robert
I did want some of the dry carbon but the LHBS didn't have any

So just degass, clear then rack?

The liquid carbon is meant to be added right from the start. I have used it a couple of times with the Triple Distilled yeast packs.

Then I started using VodkaStar yeast (at a third of the price) with no carbon.

Quite frankly, I couldn't tell the difference.

I generally don't bother with finings either, just leave it alone for 2-3 weeks after fermentation has finished and it clears naturally.

I've only tried it when it's supplied in a pack like the Tripple distill or a high alcohol liqueur kit, I wouldn't normally add it.

I've found that VodkaStar will clear on its own in a week, especially this time of year if you put it in the guarage were its cold, I've also found alcotec 48 won't clear by its self, even if you use turbo klar it remains a little milky white.

So basically I've wasted a fiver on the liquid carbon?
Oh well everyday is a school day

I'll probably just do as Anavrin suggested and leave in the garage for a week to clear.
Thanks

Anavrin wrote:

I've found that VodkaStar will clear on its own in a week, especially this time of year if you put it in the garage were its cold, I've also found alcotec 48 won't clear by its self, even if you use turbo klar it remains a little milky white.

I will disagree here mate, back in the day that I was the biggest advocate of alcotec 24/48 on this site, with time it would clear naturally, or with Turbo Klar it certainly would, quickly.
Maybe down to the local water?
One more example maybe of why what works for me may not work for you?
'Tis an interesting world we inhabit.

Robert.

brewhunter wrote:So basically I've wasted a fiver on the liquid carbon?
Oh well everyday is a school day

I'll probably just do as Anavrin suggested and leave in the garage for a week to clear.
Thanks

See if the HBS will trade it against some dry carbon.
To me, dry carbon,of any size,and in any type of filter is worthwhile for a neutral.

Robert.

The guy in the brew shop reckons he can't get any at the moment as the company they use are changing the packaging, but then I do get a lot of bad information from him..
It's in the garage now and I'm wondering if I can justify the spend on an escensia filter

i would not say it is bad information, I started with the info from my LHBS and she just went by the info for the product they are selling,, I used to drop in her store once a week but not so much now since starting to use the hints and tips from here

The Escensia is really nice and the cat's, er, meow if you can afford it. But a large, chemical resistant funnel (HDPE plastic, glass, stainless steel) with the mouth packed full of cotton wool and with a couple cups of activated carbon in it will do quite well at much less cost.

i use an old 1.75 l whiskey bottle same effect

brewhunter,I suggest that you find some method of dry carbon filtering your neutral.
Maybe it is also time to abandon your local HBS and use the interweb thing?
You have some time to give it rational thought,best of luck.

Robert.

@ KerryW
Is Cape Breton Island really big enough to have a HBS?

Robert.

KerryW wrote:i would not say it is bad information, I started with the info from my LHBS and she just went by the info for the product they are selling,, I used to drop in her store once a week but not so much now since starting to use the hints and tips from here

There has been a number of things I've been told by them like how it is possible to make gin cheaper than you can buy tonic water, how you don't need to worry about heads,fores and tails, just turn on the airstill for two hours and it's done etc etc.. On the plus side I never leave without having a drink or two so it's not all bad