StillSmart

Hi guys.

You have probobly been asked this before.
When I had my Airstill I used the stuff that came with it and followed the instructions including using the carbon that came with the still spirits triple pack.

When I fined the wash the liquid was almost cleared, but I racked into demi johns while I was away for 5 days, when we returned the wash was as clear as water.

Reading the advice on this forum I bought VS yeast and 2 part finings but I did not use carbon. The wash dropped down to an impressive .980, de-gassed and added the finings as per instructions and I ended up with a wash that looks like lemonade.

A week later (in DJs) it still has not fully cleared and has a faint orange tinge to it (shellfish?)

I have now refined one of my DJs with Riche's 2 part finings to see if that will help.

It seems to me that although most of you do not recommend the use of carbon it does seem to help more than I have read.

As a new user I have read the horror stories re puking and surge boiling when using a wash that is not completely cleared.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Regards Ebnat

Carbon will not improve the clarity, it is there to remove tastes.

I cannot remember the colour of VS wash but I would not worry unduly about a tinge.

A few bits of copper in the boiler should take care of the surge boiling and a nob of butter will cut down the foaming.

If it was me I would be tempted to go for it.

I'm with Brian I would run it, the puking is more to do with people not degassing the wash properly vodka star does have a slight orange tinge to the wash
alan

Thanks ybh,I do have the boil enhancers and distillers conditioner to help.
Thanks for the heads up re carbon.

Will see how it it in the morning after 24 hours with the extra fining.

Regards Richard

Thanks Alan set my mind at rest, thought I had do something wrong.

If you can get it Sparkolloid is the best fining agent I've ever used. 100% reliable for wines and sugar washes, not so good for all grain beer type ferments

BTW someone's selling stuff in the UK as Sparkolloid but the manufacturers insist they do not supply anyone in Europe as a reseller so I'd be a little dubious about it's authenticity. The real thing is an ultra fine powder and must be mixed with hot water and boiled for a time before use in a wash.

I buy mine from Brewhaus in Tx, US. Very helpful people but you need to be using a good bit to make it worth while importing.

AM

I'm glad other folk came back to you on this,I read it yesterday morning but had to go off to work.
I'm with alan and YHB here,some boil bits,copper or ceramic,some conditioner or butter or oil,and you should be sorted.
A brew does not have to be totally clear to run through a still,some on here would say it makes a difference to the final taste of the product,some would claim the difference is slight.
One of those things to try for yourself....
Robert.

Copper? How much and what does it do?

I have 15mil. tube spare

They just rattle around inside your boiler, breaking up the big dangerous bubbles into small friendly ones.

Take six pieces of your pipe 30mm long flatten it then bend it into an L shape.

The L shape is so that it cannot lie flat on the bottom.

But if you have boil enhancers they do the same thing.

:D Thanks yhb will stick with the enhancers.

Regards Ebnat

YHB forgot to mention that in the case of a non-copper still and condenser,like the Airstill,pieces of copper soak up Sulphides/Sulphates,making your result maybe taste better?
You have only to try it to see what happens to them.
And,afterwards,drop them in vinegar,watch them get ready for the next time.They tend to self clean in the (usually) acidic strip washes,but can get very dirty in a spirit run.
The quantity YHB recommends is probably sufficient for the Airstill,In my 30 litre SS boiler,I use two handsfull of copper offcuts.
Robert.