StillSmart

I'm reading up on the older posts, in a couple of them the use of butter in a run is suggested, why??? or is this a joke that I'm missing.

No joke. Anti foaming agent but there are probably better alternatives. Also more useful in the strip run.

Probably the best and cheapest source I have heard of is the anti foam agent used in hot tubs.

Butter does work but I prefer bought Distillers Conditioner. The cost is very little for the peace of mind it provides, especially with the Airstill Also, butter means more work in the post run cleanup whereas Conditioner leaves no trace

AM

I use butter when stripping rum. I melt a table spoons in a dish in the microwave and add this to the warm wash heating in the boiler. I normally strip about 35l of rum wash, leaving lots of head room for foaming.

I don't usually use conditioner for sugar washes, even filling to 45L on my 50L keg I don't have puking issues as long as the wash is dry and degassed.
If it did not ferment dry and I decided to run it, then the silicon based conditioners are a great tool to have on hand.

The reason for using the butter with rum and not with more neutral spirits, I read a suggestion that it may cause some esters to be generated that could be complementary to rum, but perhaps not so in a neutral. I haven't really experimented to check this out, but it certainly doesn't hurt my rum.

Provocative maybe,but I have never been afraid of being shot down in flames.
I have not yet used conditioner,butter or oil.
Anti-surge boil bits and pieces yes; in the old days ceramic,now copper.
To date have not had a puke.
Most of my strips are very clear into the still,and the next planned ones I expect not to be.
Maybe I will get my comeuppence; I will tell if I fall on my face.
I respect others choices,and experiences,but would argue that none of us has it to the point that we have it right all of the time.
Oh,and some of us will learn the hard way....
Tis indeed a splendiforous thing that we do.

Puking or Surge Boiling are rare events to be sure, and thankfully so!

With conventional stills you just get the puke spewing from your product condenser which is an inconvenience and a bitch to clean up after

With the Airstill it can be a lot more serious.

Puking or Surge Boiling in the Airstill will lift the lid completely off the unit and spew boiling, scalding wash all over the place.

As I said, it's a rare event but because of it's potential seriousness in the Airstill, it's worth taking the low cost, and zero inconvenience steps, to completely remove this risk

AM

Thanks guys.. this is a steep learning curve for me. I'm reading up on everything I can..just hope it sinks in.