StillSmart

This feels like scratching a scab,but I provide this information for the peace of mind of members,and guest users concerned about storing alcohol,as the definitive information never arrived on that other thread.
I knew I had read it somewhere,took a while to remember where,an excellent article written by Harry Jackson,titled "Diluting The Still charge",in 2006 I believe.
Flashpoint,the lowest temp. at which vapours present 1cm above the ethanol/water mixture will ignite if an ignition source is introduced.
The change is not linear.
At 30% ABV Flash Point is 32°C
At 40% ABV FP is 27°C
FP stays there through 50%,60%,and 70% ABV.
It lowers to 24°C at 80%.
And for you guys with a reflux,at 90% ABV FP is 18°C.
If,in your dreams, you made it to 100%,it has dropped to 13°C.
I was going to post a link to the article,I am sure that distillers.tastylime.net is an OK one to do (you can't download from there),but let's play safe,and if anyone can't find it ,pm me for help.
Sleep easy!

Robert.

Apologies to whoever may have been reading this,as I hit the MOVE button,realising it should be here,and not the forum originally posted in,saw you there too late!

edited,'cos I missed the f from reflux!

Thanks for that ED...never thought about it in that depth before. I work in a small outhouse when brewing and other things , and reading the list makes you sit up & take notice.

BJ

I was reading one of those books that were removed the other day and one of them has a good section on health and safety, unlike petrol or oil fires it suggests alcohol can be put out with water, not tried it and wouldn't like to find out in anger as we all know what happens when water is added to other liquid fires!!!!

Does anyone know if it is safe to use water to put out alcohol fires?

Any chance of confusion between ethanol and methanol here, is there?

I think that there might be.
FWIW methanol, the kind that is blended to make stuff to power your car, fires resulting from can be doused by water.
Take a look at Indycar.

Anavrin wrote:Does anyone know if it is safe to use water to put out alcohol fires?

Yes, water works well. You dilute it to the point where it is no longer flammable and it goes out. It doesn't flash like an oil fire so no worries there.

I was overly concerned by this when starting out, and had a basin of water on hand "just in case", the water output from the condenser would make a good hose if need be, but unless you are running on a gas burner, whats going to start a fire?

iirc, the old 'proof' system for alcohol strength was to do with gunpowder. At 100% proof, you could pour the liquor onto gunpowder and it would still burn. Anything less than 100% proof and the gunpowder would not burn.

I've seen meths and other flamable spirits stacked up on supermarket shelves. Much larger volumes than I'm ever likely to have here and the staff pay it no attention at all. Who turns their boiler off when running a still in the kitchen?

Valid points indeed.
100% proof being 57.1% ABV.
Personally,I'm pleased to own an alchometer,and not have to rely on gun-powder!
Robert.