StillSmart

I'm nearing completion .......does anyone know whether the column should be packed with copper mesh or anything ?
Also can I source another screw in bit (looks like a bathroom screw drain plug thingy in stainless. It's the big which secures the column to the boiler cover

Your post is a little difficult to understand.
But no, you do not pack a pot still column.
Sorry, I can't help with your screw.

Robert.

@H12 re that bathroom screw drain plug thingy.....it looks like that cause that's what it is.

Plumbers merchants would be a good start point?

Ahhhhh that was what I was thinking packapoo mate.....cheers!

Still spirits column nut.

I had to order one from Australia a couple of years ago as it was not available in the UK at the time. Arrived okay after a few weeks wait.

https://www.nationalhomebrew.com.au/spi ... column-nut

Hope this helps.

Was the postage much on top ?

Looking back at my emails I bought 2 column nuts and the postage and handling fee was au$18. Might be cheaper if only buying 1 tho.

Hers a pic of the pot head so far ....just need to work out a temperature guage for the top of the pot and the easiest solution for quick changing the water feed and exit pipes that I currently use on the T500 column

Excuse the untidy soldering ......I'm still learning. At least there's no leaks...that's a win in my book. I'll polish it up later too

>:D

Nice one. That will be quite rewarding when you run it.

Having done a vinegar run then a week long soak in vinegar, I've just done the first sacrificial run with my VT pot head. I still haven't fitted the temp guage so just ran it as it came.
Very interesting.
From first drip it had a constant pencil lead thickness stream of spirit out of the condenser, I didn't measure the abv at the beginning but after half an hour it was down to 45 % ....in all I collected about 2 litres ...I stopped when it got down to just over 30%.....in total the time was only 45 mins from first drip!! That's massively faster than when I run it with the standard column.
I used a 20 litres wash which was part birdwatchers and part fecked up ground maize.wash

I am happy that it is working, and making you happy
May your product runs all be good!

Robert.

Excellent news.

Nice to get feedback & timings on this head. It has been of interest for a while.

Racked and ran the malted barley wash.

Took the first 100ml of heads to dump measured at 45% abv
After 5 mins running abv = 45%
After 15 mins running abv = 33%
After 20 mins running abv = 30%
After 25 mins running abv = 26 %
I then took off 300 ml at the end of which at 30 mins the abv was down to 23%
I then finally took 150ml at the end of which at 35 m the abv was at 20%

The 'heart' which started at 45% and ended at 26% now has an abv of 30% obviously not drinkable at that abv so what do I do now ?

You have kind of lost me.
This was a strip run?
No hearts from a whisky strip run.

Collect everything down to water.
Re-run as a spirit run.
Diluted to sub 30%
Make cuts.
Feints receiver optional but recommended.

What you do with it after that is down to personal taste.

Robert.