SS Reflux Still

[bluecap]

Hi Hangover no I get 3 litres @ 82% from a 25 litre wash using 6 kilo of sugar, I then add 2 litres of water which brings it down to just under 50% put it through the Z filter then flush any alcohol left in the carbon out with tap water till I get 6 litres which is then 40% ish
The still is a super reflux just the type than wineworks sell.

[Opus 27]

I heard someone at our local homebrew shop say that he gets such pure spirit out of his SS Super Reflux that he does'nt bother with his carbon filter anymore. Does anyone else find this?
Opus 27

[Opus 27]

Couldn\'t wait until monday so been and collected my SS Reflux tonight. A bit late in the day to start a run tonight so will start tomorrow. Initial impression though is that you pay quite a bit for the idea rather than material and engineering. Instructions included are pretty basic and brief.

As a further point of interest, while we in the shop we (We being my son and myself) also went mad and bought a Buon Vino Mini Jet Filter so I will post some results on that later.
Opus

[Opus 27]

If Your about Bluecap or anyone else, Can you help. The thermometer supplied with the SS Reflux has an index mark with an arrow saying \"Imerse to here\". I\'m assuming the thermometer goes through the rubber bung into the packing material but where abouts is that index line meant to be, ie in the packing, bottom of the bung or top of the bung?
Desperate for guidance so I can start in the morning.
Regards Opus

[trelliS]

1. Fit the Condenser to the Domed lid and tighten securely.

2. Situate the Still on a firm heat resistant base close to a cold water tap, drain and power socket.

3. Ensure the marble is fitted into the top of the condenser where it should sit on the indentations on the inside

of the Reflux Condenser. Fit the thermometer so that the bulb appears on the inside of the black bung by

20mm. Then fit the bung & thermometer into the top of the Condenser

Hope this helps opus

[trelliS]

Hi opus

Downloadable instructions here

http://www.wineworks.co.uk/product/25l_ ... extractor/

Hope this helps

Have fun with your new toy

[Opus 27]

Thanks trelliS,

Had a look and done that only query would be that the instructions refer to the earlier model as they talk about the marble where as my condeser has ceramic packing. I will assume though the set up will be the same. Think I picked the right weekend to play as it\'s P***ing down here so wont be going outside,
Opus

[trelliS]

No probs opus glad to be of help and funny enough its doing same weather wise here .. think the immerse to here line is for all brewing purposes to give an accurate reading because both my thermometers from different suppliers have the line on.

[Opus 27]

Ok, First run on the new still is complete. So how did it go?

Initialy a minor confusion with tempereature and water flow which meant an ABV of 70-75% on first two measures of 500ml each. adjusted water flow to about 1 litre a minute and got 80-82% ABV. Kept on running untill ABV droped to 65-66%. By then I had 4750ml at 75% out of 24 litres of sugar wash. Carried on running for 300 ml which came out at 60% but didn\'t add this to what I had collected as there was a very very feint odour of tails. Temperature at the head was still only 72c. Aparently you can take useable alcohol off up to 92c but I wasn\'t prepared to gamble on that. Worth noting was the initial temperature change. As I was a bit nervous about getting water flow right at the correct moment I opted to set at 500ml per min at the start. For one hour and fifhteen mins it sat at 15c and then within 7 mins it went up to 60c and probably within a minute I had 50ml of foreshot and we were heading to 80c and which point I increased the water flow, probably to much and gradualy bought it back down to maintain a temperature of 68-69 approx. One final comment has has to b on quality. I can only judge on taste and odour having no technical means of testing but on those two it\'s better than I was getting out of my air still even after it had been through the Z Filter so when I filter this it should be perfect.
Sorry for the protracted report but thought it might be of interest.

Opus

[Phantom]

well it\'s like this Opus, to do anything further you have to think of either modding the packing or whether it\'s worth the effort of building yourself a more efficient column.
personally, my one effort at making an extension to the column was unsucessful, so I\'d suggest that if your still came with saddles, you invest in some \"proper\" raschig rings and try them (i\'ve thrown the saddles away now and only use rings or copper mesh).
you will find that copper mesh will give you a higher %ABV but it\'s still \"trial and error\" to get the right packing density i.e. the length of the piece of packing and how hard you shove it into the condenser.......
You still have to make sure that you ignore the mark on the thermometer and set the thermometer in the bung so that the bulb is in line with the cross connection pipe from the reflux chamber to the condenser section, the same as with rings or saddles.
Oh and a tiny mod I had to make was to use a long, sharp knife and cut the thermometer bung because otherwise you might find that you have to leave the thermometer in the bung permanently as it makes a very tight seal and yes, I have broken a few thermometers before i put a cut in the bung........

[optic]

can someone please give me the rough size of the reflux still ie hight/width as i dont want to get one and find ive no room to use it near the kitchen sink

cheers

[Opus 27]

Hi Optic,

29ins to top of reflux plus a further 10ins of thermometer on top overall 39ins high.

13ins width plus a couple of ins for electric plug.
Opus

[Opus 27]

Hi Phantom

thanks for ideas I will look into replacing the packing and I know exactly what you mean about the bung and thermometer mine is now well and truly stuck. My big criticism

with Still Spirits is their lack of information/instruction. I can learn more about their equipment from this forum than I can from them.
Opus

[optic]

cheers Opus 27,i have deffo got room for it,think ive got a buyer for the airstill so will get one:)

[Opus 27]

Phantom,

I have some Raschig Rings their ceramic and measure 10mm dia X 10mm long (1:1)

will they be suitable to replace the saddles supplied by Still Spirits. Also I\'m assuming that the packing only goes as high as the inlet between reflux and condenser and not to the top of the reflux. Finaly \"Yes\" I broke a thermometer getting it out of that bung.
Opus