StillSmart

Don't know if this has been asked before, I did look through the search but hit a blank.

Is there anything wrong with heating the wash over the gas and then transferring it to the Airstill for stripping.

Thought it would save time and energy. If so, whats the maximum temperature I can go up to.

@ SB: Yes you could. BUT the hotter it gets the more alcohol you will lose before you transfer to the other container. Adding it all up, playing with hot liquid, etc. its probably not worth it.

Mind you - I have no idea what an Airstill is.

And keep in mind as the alcohol starts to evaporate off that gas is an ignition source. I'd error on the side of cooler. Less of a worry with wash than low wines I'd expect. Others here have written about doing it.

Chuck

I've tried it on a couple of occasions....I only heated the wash to around 45c then poured it into the airstill...but IMHO it's not worth the time & trouble, it didn't seem to cut down on the time...and there was no saving on the elec as we have an elec hob.

+1 not worth the effort.

What is good thought - and seems to save about 30 minutes is a hot swap . If you are doing multiple runs.
Invest in some stout rubber gloves, empty the hot pot are soon as the run has completed. immediately refill and start it up again. A good handful of copper in the bottom will also retain the heat (as well as all the other good stuff it does)

Thanks for the input chaps.

Advice taken and will now start the hot swap method as described by Mashy.

Cheers

OK,a maybe controversial addition to this thread.

I have a gas hob.
To me heating four litres of wash,before pouring into the air-still/Smart still,made sense.
In the days that that was my only still,and it was small.
Judge your own pre-heat temp,don't worry about loss of alcohol vapour (all part of the "Angels Share", If it wants to disappear sub 50°C,let it go!).
My only caveat,-wear gloves and don't spill or waste your product.
And I would not do this before a spirit run,i.e.with low wines,as earlier mentioned.Only with Strip runs.

Robert

Good Point EaasyDrinker (ha ha)

Only preheat wash, not low wines to be on the safe side,

Gertcha!
Nice having a moderate police force doing the does.

Robert.