StillSmart

Hi Guy's
Just joined recently and have been doing a lot of reading as I'm a novice to distilling, but eager to learn. After a lot of reading about boiler's I decided to opt for a 50l milk can from SD. I intend to put a 3kw element into it and also build a power controller.
I was going to go down the route of a 40l Buffalo boiler and carry out all the mods, but opted for above after reading several posts.
The decision I face now and would like some advice on is, what type of column I should go for, I would like to make a nice vodka, so reflux column springs to mind, also whether 2" or 4" etc. I did get a 4" to 2" reducer for my boiler so either size would do. I did see Spirits4BB post of his friends reflux & pot still column which I also seen on ebay,
but then I looked at Anavrin's videos and his new setup and thought "cool".
So I'm no closer in making a decision on the column, so any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone got a link for a 3kw element to fit my boiler, have got the SD element safeguard kit.

thanks

Hi & welcome Sorty...

For a start you'll find the element guard takes a 1" BSP element....Anavrin found this one..here it is over £60...I bought mine from China.

The rest of your question is a little harder...because after you have a finished wash, you need to do a strip run followed by a spirit run (as you probably know from reading on here)

You may want to go with an hybrid column...something you can run as a pot still then reflux...as for the column size if you can afford 4" go for it...this will cut the time needed for strip & reflux runs.

I'd also lean towards a hybrid. There are a lot of interesting posts on hybrid stills here: http://forum.moderndistiller.com/viewfo ... 3a5dc81527

Chuck

His guys thanks for replies, @Icefever I noticed your post on Sd forum with regards to required elements, do you happen to have a link for where you got them, don't know if one at brew UK would fit or not, unless someone knows different.
Still reading lol
Thanks

Hi Sportyone

I didn't buy the expensive one from brew UK, that was more of a wish list item, I bought two off amazon here


http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00GN6Z ... ref=plSrch

With the milk can you have to buy a short element...can't remember the size at the momemnt..about 14"?? can't find out until tomorrow...
The one from brew UK is the correct thread size 1" BSP..not sure of the length..will see if I can find a link for what I bought... ..

One here....From China

Another one Here again from China.

Oh Chinaland, How you help me when I am not in a hurry!

Robert.

Thanks guy's
Hopefully that's the elements sorted, now for the column!
Still none the wiser lol

The question now is...do you wish to build your own?? or buy one off the shelf??

I had the one from Amazon delivered on Thursday, only ordered it Tuesday! Can't complain for less than £15, be aware they measure the whole thing in the description so a 14" element only has about 11" inside the boiler & probably less than that by the time you have put it in the guard kit & clamped into a ferrule.

I think primarily I would be looking at off the shelf, I know there can be great satisfaction in building your own, however for this project I think I'll go for a professional build.
I have been looking at Sd columns as I do like the idea of a modular system for its adaptabilty in configuration & versatility.

Then if your pockets are deep enough Sporty...go for it matey.

The SD milk can is a nice boiler. Vodka though introduces a potential problem. Do you mean a real clean neutral or do you mind a bit of residual flavour? For mixing or sipping neat?

If neutral is your game then a packed column is the real solution, but 4" is too big for a 50 litre boiler. A few folks have tried but most have regretted it. A 4" packed column needs a bigger boiler.

4" plates on a 50 litre boiler? You still need multiple runs to get neutral. There is a reason why folks run combined rigs that include plates and a packed section - they can't put in enough plates.

Even guys running 10 plates or more tend to do at least 1 pot still run followed by two plated runs.

If you run a 3" or 4" packed column and want to get clean neutral in a single spirit run, then you need to really reduce your product rate. Lots of reflux and slow down to no more than 1 litre per hour on a 4" rig.

I don't actually drink neutral, for me it is just feedstock for gin. I do however drink vodka, 3x distilled on a pot still, and will be making it on the new plated column when I get round to building it.

But it isn't neutral. I like a bit of flavour and it is usually recycled feints from a fruit based fermentation. I can see grain vodka in my future.

Thanks for all the replies guy's

I know I mentioned a preference for Vodka in my earlier post, having said that, the final result for me would be mixed anyway so doesn't really pose that big a problem, though I imagine if you wanted to clean it up further, just run it through the still again until your happy with the result, is that right?

Being a novice though and not having tasted a final result from an experienced hobby distiller, I have always read that their finished product always compared to, if not bettered what you would find locally on the shelf, unless of course they're all telling Tails

Anyway back to the column, bit confused now lol, should I go for a 2" or a 4" column, after reading, I had imagined a 4" with 3 or 4 bubble plates and a packed section above that, but am now unsure if that's the way to go after reading Myle's post above.

On a personal note my choice of tipple would be a spiced Rum, though all my friends drink Vodka, so for me perhaps a hybrid column that does both is the way to go. Pot Still(for flavoured spirits)& Reflux (for Vodka & neutral). Or am I wrong and being overly optimistic?

I think I'm beginning to overthink this and should maybe just stick with a standard reflux column.