Peated malt strip on the new keg boiler

[Admiral Toad]

Well that was interesting
Should perhaps rename this thread 'Lessons learnt and learning'
Filled it up with 2 fermented peated malt washes popped power on as I loosely assembled the 6 to 4 inch reducer plus 4 to 2 inch torpedo SD with sight glass then column and Liebig just to get everything lined up. In no time at all had a foam puke.
Oops forgot to chuck some butter in obviously an immersion element is a bit fiercer than the flat bottomed T500
anyway got the power controller linked in and bugger no juice coming through.i had put a new longer lead on so internal look showed that the plug in connector on the regulator had come loose. Phew sorted
Any way as the moment approached it appeared I couldn't keep the puking down without getting any product
Ended up adding the 2 4" sight t sections (without the bubble plates) to give more head space still not good.eventually stuck in some copper mesh in the column to break up the bubble surges (I'd got this from distilling dominoes) and even let a bit of wash out to give more bubbling room and slowly bit by bit got going and eventually went on to do a normal run. Seemed a pretty good product too

What did I learn, do wrong and plan to do differently
Well because I wanted to do some other stuff this weekend I think I rushed the wash and it went in a bit cloudy and possibly still working a bit so more patience degassing and fining needed
Less wash in boiler and start with full column to give more head space.Actually having the 3 sight glasses simplified bubbling control
Try a bit distillers conditioner as well as butter
And I might put some of the copper wool around the heating element to try and disperses the heating effect

Would appreciate any thoughs, words of wisdom or comments no matter how scathing !

[Almanac]

Valuable lesson with all grain wash. I too learned this the hard way and found that distillers conditioner is the dogs bollox with this type of wash.

I wouldn't be competent to offer an opinion about using copper mesh around the heating element but it does sound like something I'd shy away from - that's just me

As a general rule if I were to run stripping of a sugar wash without conditioner I'd keep the power level at 1100w because of the potential of puking. With conditioner I run is at 1870w the max power my 2Kw element pulls.

Stripping an all grain wash I simply wouldn't run it without conditioner. I only put 30Lt in my 50Lt keg boiler with a good dose of conditioner and I run it at 900w. As the run progresses I increase the power but only up to a max of 1300w

Glad to hear you ended up with a good product despite the small hiccup It's at times like this that your experience kicks in and makes the difference - Good recovery.

AM

[Easydrinker]

AT,
Glad you got through it.
I can't think of a reason not to try and dissipate heat with copper mesh,I am unsure that it will help,and will obviously call for a more complex clean up.
I would give it a try,just to find out.
But I am a little Gung ho.
I guess a clearer wash,conditioner and power control,as you already realise may be the answer.
ATB

Robert.

[Admiral Toad]

What I forgot to add was what a doddle to clean the boiler afterwards with th 6" triclamp top fitting highly recommended
Right time more me and my laddie to head off on our Bikes to join the Morpeth valley MAG Easter egg run

[Admiral Toad]

That was fun. 800 bikes causing traffic mayhem and a fine spectacle to boot

[Admiral Toad]

Second stripping run went much smoother
Applied all the things we discussed ie clearer and slightly less wash,conditioner and some mesh around the element
Could run with 1200 watts from start gradually increasing
The 3 sight glasses made it very easy to control the foaming and keep it below the copper column
and quite a bit quicker too
Still going to do the spirit run on the little boiler pothead only with alembic dome
It's got a lovely smokey aroma that should carry through nicely
Northumbrian Ardberg on the way

Oh btw there was 1200 bikes on the run. Thought it was busy !

[Frank]

@AT: mate, it all gets better with practice.

I do a fair few AG washes and run them though my potstill. I've only had one puke episode, way back...where I reckon it was entirely due to operator error.
the only antifoaming agent I use is a dash of sunflower oil during strips.

My basic procedure is
_ give the wash lots of initial aeration and yeast.
_ let the wash settle way after end of ferment.
_ fill boiler to no more than 60% capacity and w/out any wash dregs getting in (like around/in the fermenter tap and floaties)
_ run strips slowly with heat down (in my case, LPG burner low flame for no more than 3 lph for the entire run)

Seems like you've now got these areas covered. All good.