T500 maintenance

[mikew41]

So I finally bit the bullet and got myself a T500. The Airstill is just too slow for my needs. 10 days to put a 25L wash through twice is getting dull. Anyhoo, got the T500 and put my first 25L through it. Sweet spirit came out of the other end and I'm very happy. Spent a while watching a few Youtube vids and I'm comfortable with the operation.

One thing it doesn't really go into is the maintenance/cleaning. Do you need to wash it all out (the condenser?) after each run or is it not required? If you do need to do something after each run.....how and what?

Cheers,
Mike

[Mash]

10 days to put a 25L wash through twice is getting dull

Ah ?

[mikew41]

With my air still I followed Mozrs excellent intructions for double distilling. I put 4L through each night after work and sometimes a couple at weekends. So 24L is 6 lots of 4 and doing it twice generally took 10 days.

It got to be abit of a chore...I only ferment during the summer so I need to make hay while the sun shines as they say.

[Icefever]

I know the feeling...I did the same...

[Mash]

In terms of time spent "at the still" how long does a 25 litre run take on a T500?

[mikew41]

Well, being all new and exciting and all that I stood next to it for around 3 hours....left it alone for the first hour to heat up then watched it....you need to make slight tweeks to the water while it's running.

[Icefever]

Yup.... about 4 hours start to finish.

[Mash]

Hmm. My twin tub needs nowhere near that.

[fuf]

Yup.... about 4 hours start to finish.

From start to finish it's about 6 hours for me. 75 minutes to bring the T500 up to temperature and then 20 minutes with no take off. I set the water output temperature to 50c and let it run until I collect 3 litres @ 95% and switch off. happy

[mikew41]

So, can someone answer my original question?....it went O/T at the first reply...

How often do I need to clean/replace the saddles and copper bits in the reflux tube?

Cheers,
Mike

[Phantom]

So, can someone answer my original question?....it went O/T at the first reply...

How often do I need to clean/replace the saddles and copper bits in the reflux tube?

Cheers,
Mike

I have never dismantled my T500 column. I haven't used it since we had some building work done, because I have to organise a new lash up for cooling water (yes I'm dragging my arse some).

So on that basis once I have the water set up, I will have to clean it.

Most likely I'll use sulphites for the ceramics, coke or vinegar for the copper and boiling water and sulphites for the inside surface of the column........

[alan]

I back flush mine after every run I connect the water inlet pipe to the spirit outlet and run cold water back through the system for a few minutes until the top is cold enough to handle then undo the catches and move the top over about a little way then open the drain tap and turn the water back on for a few minutes while the boiler is empting.
alan

[mikew41]

Thanks Alan. Where in Lancs are you? I'm here too!

[John51]

My life motto is 'Always try the easiest option first, just in case it works.'

I do nothing to my T500, imo alcohol vapour is the best solvent so 15 to 20 mins of 'hot enough but no production'. Then it's raise the temp to 42'C give or take a few and collect 500ml. This goes into a spray bottle to be used as kitchen cleaner, deodorant, wasp killer etc.

Then I collect 3L of hearts and turn it off. 1st run is good enough to cut to 40% and no filtration needed. I have found that I can increase the temps to 52'C when half way through the 2nd litre with no loss of quality.

E2A: That's with Vodka Star and 6Kgs of white sugar.