StillSmart

Seagull wrote:If you had a stalled fermentation, I'd reckon that could be the foundation of all the problems you encountered. Did you take an SG reading with a hydrometer before running?

That's my 2p worth. Will let the guys with the real knowledge pick this up.

It stalled twice. The first time, I added baking soda and it took off with a vengeance. The second time the baking soda did nothing so I think the poor little yeasties had kicked the bucket. Yes I read the gravity and decided to run the wash despite the low alcohol reading. I probably could have re-pitched some yeast, but this really was more of an experimental run for the new unit.

Mr Four Square wrote:That's a pretty good list EG. Getting hold of a pot head will kick your makings up a level. The little Still Spirits style ones will only hold you back. I strongly suggest you get one made. There are some good plans on the site or someone here with copper skills may offer you a deal.

Soon as you have one you'll be stripping washes and running some pretty clean neutrals through the column.

Yes temp control on the T500 is very twitchy. Told you how I fixed mine. I doubt it would cost much more than 10 pounds to build and as you've got the needle valve its all as per the photo. Have a few sessions of madly chasing the flow temps up and down like a mad see saw and you might be ready to give it a go

Thanks! I agree with building a pot still head. The only really intimidating part of that is connecting the thing to the existing lid. I think I'm going to hit the local big boxes tomorrow and see what I can find. It's been a long time since I soldered anything, but as I recall it's not that challenging.

You used a gate valve, no? I've got the parts to wire up a 4KW SCR power controller. I might try that as well though. Truth to tell the needle valve doesn't bother me that much. Yet.

Cheers,
Jerry

Echo4golf wrote:Thanks! I agree with building a pot still head. The only really intimidating part of that is connecting the thing to the existing lid. I think I'm going to hit the local big boxes tomorrow and see what I can find. It's been a long time since I soldered anything, but as I recall it's not that challenging.

You used a gate valve, no? I've got the parts to wire up a 4KW SCR power controller. I might try that as well though. Truth to tell the needle valve doesn't bother me that much. Yet.

The needle valve is what controls the accuracy/precision of the water flow of a T500 column.

A pot still head isn't a magic bullet. Yes it does give you more flexibility in different products you might want to make, but you must use pot still methods. Properly run, your T500 should be producing neutral at 90%+. I routinely get 94% with mine. The only improvement would be better packing for the column like SPP (can't say what it might do with pummice/lava rock, not tried it).

I tend to let my first run neutral down with RO water to below 40% then re-run it before carbon filtration. That gives me a good clean tasting neutral.

A pot still lid and condenser (the still spirits ones) just give you the choice to make flavoured spirits - but those depends on getting appropriate ingredients then being able to use the same boiler. Whether you still need the needle valve ? Dunno, but I doubt it as you'd likely need a greater water flow to the condenser.