First Wash...Not Clearing

[amgelus]

So my first wash has finished fermenting and it's been degassed until there's no bubbles and added the two part turbo clear. Now three days later it's clear but there is still small carbon particles floating around and very small bubbles on the surface - bucket temp is 22-24 degs.

Is it ok to rack it off to another bucket or leave it to do what it's doing.

Thanks

[alan]

I would rack it off and let it stand over night.alan

[Almanac]

See if you can find somewhere cooler to keep it while it clears. Also, when racking it to another container you could use a kitchen strainer/sieve lined with some material like muslin or fine nylon to strain out any carbon bits.

I leave mine on a cold concrete floor and it clears in no time

- but I don't use turbos or carbon.

Give it a few days in cooler temps and it will clear alright.

If you're having problems cooling it try freezing a couple of plastic bottles two thirds filled with water then suspend them in the wash - works a treat

AM

[amgelus]

Thanks for the information.

I racked it to another bucket and sat it in a cold area overnight and checked it this morning and it seems to be clearing... so will give it a couple of days before I start distilling it.

cheers

[molly]

Hi there, I have a simular problem. Mine did clear but it had left a yell of a lot of carbon sitting in the bottom and silly me knock it >:( while moving it to rack it off and it's disturbed all the carbon, now the water has gone cloudy again, what should I do? this is my first wash and I'm hanging out to distill it.

[Almanac]

Hopefully you've now learned the 'no carbon' lesson. Turbos that need carbon are just bad news but it's your decision to use them or not.

You really don't have any choice but to wait it out and keep it as cold as possible.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful

AM

[molly]

Oh I would love not to use carbon and turbos after today...arrrrrrh, but I'm so new to this. My barrel is only 10 litres, it's the companion pack to the Turbo air still, which is the still I own. So my first wash was the Turbo 10 liter fermenting pack. Is there any washes anyone could recommend to use that could be done in smaller qualities to use with this still?

[YHB]

There are lots of threads that will help you, keep reading. Here is one that I added some links to today.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1213

Generally the recipes - vodka star packets etc are for 22 litre batches. if you only want to make 10 ltres than just halve the quantities or split the contents of the VS packet in two.

[Almanac]

The only problem you'll run into with the 10lt ferment is that when you strip it you'll only get enough Low Wines (stripped wash) for one and a half spirit runs if you dilute the Low Wines to 25%ABV. You def don't want to drink the product from any Turbo without a second distillation and serious carbon filtering.

The Airstill is a great little pot still and I still use mine from time-to-time. To get the best result and best value from the Airstill there are some practical procedures and methods you need to follow to get you there. It's not rocket science but when it's all new to you it can seem a little overwhelming.

Go through the stuff here viewforum.php?f=13 and have a look at this as well,

Airstill Brief SS.pdf

Don't be intimidated by all the detail - it is actually quite easy and straightforward once you get used to it.

If you want to ask about anything, don't hesitate. You can even pick a member who's been around for a while and drop them a PM to ask what you want - they're a pretty helpful bunch around here and nobody will knock anyone for asking any questions about how to do things in this hobby.

...and BTW Welcome aboard - new distillers are always welcome.

AM

[molly]

Wow thankyou everyone for your info. I have ordered some Vodka star to give that ago, the carbon is soooo much work. I managed to get one 4 litre wash off it yesterday and re-racked the rest again to get the carbon gunk down, but I've just finsihed getting what I can siphoned off what was left for my second run and it's about half an inch less the 4 liter markon the still, is this ok and what will it do?

[Almanac]

A little less that the 4lt mark won't really make any difference.

I'd be more concerned that you got less than 8lt from a 10lt wash. When racking the wash you really do have to wait until you can see the bottom of the bucket and then siphon off to a second bucket leaving all the sediment behind. This is again left until it is completely cleared and there should only be a thin layer of sediment in the bottom allowing you to draw off 9lt but the key is the degassing and initial clearing.

From a 26lt wash using VS I expect to lose about 1 litre to the lees but no more. However, I know that patience is the hardest thing when you're starting off in distilling Been there, done that!

AM

[molly]

It soooo wasn't a thin layer of carbon, I think using the carbon sugar didn't help matters either, ended up using a syringe to get the last of it off. It was clear as water, as I didn't want to the risk of a boil over with my baby cruising in the house....... your've made me think on the washes, going by the directions I meant to fill the bucket to only 7.5 litre then add the sugar etc and only takes it to the 8 litre mark? So exactly 8 liters to work with allowing for exactly two 4 litre runs, cutting it pretty fine.

[Almanac]

I know what you mean. The yeast packs, like Vodka Star, are really designed for the 33lt buckets and as an Airstill vet I know you really need to be doing a 26lt wash to make it worthwhile double distilling.

From a 26 lt wash you get 6 X 4lt runs and should end up with 8-9 standard bottles of clean spirit after the Spirit run. That way you don't have to rut it so often.

AM