What type of still is this?

by **Icefever** » Wed May 07, 2014 4:36 am

Wow John, in the photos on Ebay with the still in front of the garden panel it looked a lot bigger that 7 litres.

One of the first things that I would think about changing would be to take the plastic tap/valve out and stick a short length of copper pipe with a needle valve on.

It's a compression elbow so that would be easy...IMHO I'd strip the column that way you will know (for your own peace of mind) what's in there. When was it last run???..it may have been sat in the shed for months. You can then clean and repack...then run a vinegar wash through it....jobs done and ready for your first wash....

by **jonnyboy40** » Wed May 07, 2014 6:37 pm

Thanks for the replies, I think the still was a good buy but the size of the boiler with a 1.5KW heater is a bit limiting.

just a couple more questions-

What's the best thing to pack the column with?

Any suggestions for a larger boiler and ready built potentiometer?

Kind regards

Jon

by **Anavrin** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:51 am

By potentiometer I take it you mean a power controller

This is what I have, it's not cheap but it cuts the power to 50% very reliably on a 3 kW element.
If you go past 50% when using a phase angle controller to chop an AC waveform you start to lower the peak voltage below 230v
You can cut upto half the power while maintaining full mains voltage

http://www.united-automation.com/avr-25 ... fullSite=1

by **YHB** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:50 am

Or at the other end of the scale this one for 1.68 claims to suitable for 2.0 kW which should suit your current boiler.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000W-220V-AC ... 2ecc08cabc

by **jonnyboy40** » Sun May 25, 2014 11:14 am

Thanks for the replies, been away for a couple of weeks. I'll try reducing the wattage with the eBay item.

Looking at setting up a tank with a submersible pump rather than running water anyone have any experience?

Costco have 20l SS boilers for £55 could I adapt one to work with my still?

Thanks

Regards

Jon

by **Magnu420** » Sun May 25, 2014 1:22 pm

jonnyboy40 wrote:Thanks for the replies, been away for a couple of weeks. I'll try reducing the wattage with the eBay item.

Looking at setting up a tank with a submersible pump rather than running water anyone have any experience?

Costco have 20l SS boilers for £55 could I adapt one to work with my still?

Thanks

Regards

Jon

pm sent

by **jonnyboy40** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:58 pm

Hi Everyone,

Finally got a Alcotec Vodka Star wash (5kg sugar) through the still.

I ran a vinegar solution through, then rinsed everything with warm water.

I added 5l of wash (7l boiler) and started the cooling water.

The temperature rose quite quickly (15min to 60 C) I discarded the first 200ml and then started collecting alcohol when the temp hit 78 C it was really difficult to keep the temp down due to the 1500w heater in 5l of wash. I collected around 500ml which was around 75%.

The result was not great which I think was down to to much heat. I've just bought this voltage reducer from ebay -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201107284174? ... 1439.l2649

I'm planning to have a second attempt over the weekend with the remaining 15l of wash.

Anyone have any other suggestions? thinking about carbon filtering

Regards

Jon

by **jonnyboy40** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 6:54 pm

Hi Everyone,

Upgraded the boiler to Swan 20l today, first run hit 95.5% from Vodka Star 12% wash.

Double distilled and filltered through essenica carbon filter, my best ever quality Vodka tastes and smells like premium commercial vodka.

Regards

Jon

by **Easydrinker** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:04 pm

Don't you mean better than commercial?
Well done you,it's good isn't it,that feeling?
Robert.

by **jonnyboy40** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:58 pm

Thanks Robert, yes it's a great feeling, thinking about trying grain or potato wash any suggestions?

by **Fil** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:46 pm

Nice one .... and soon you will be surpassing commercial offerings for sure..

by **Magnu420** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:18 pm

congrats bud
I be doing away with all the plastic that be touching the final product ie the output pipe
and the trial jar

by **Easydrinker** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 12:03 am

It seems that I'm regarded as a bit of a wild card here,and I don't fuss too much about short term contact between product and plastic,make your own decision; maybe based upon the type of plastic used;there is information on this site,if you search for it.

I have not tried,but have read that potato washes are hard work,diminishing returns,for much work.
Grain washes I have,and they can yield flavoursome results.
You seem to be running a reflux still,and they are for producing a neutral spirit.
If you wish to try something different,can I suggest a Lentil wash?
Very inexpensive,very neutral.
Really,for a flavoured grain wash you may need to adapt your still.
HTH and makes sense.
Happy Stilling.
Robert.

by **Almanac** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:54 am

Magnu420 wrote:congrats bud I be doing away with all the plastic that be touching the final product ie the output pipe and the trial jar

+1 Copper/Steel - Good, All plastics - Bad! If you live by this motto when dealing with ethanol you will never be wrong.

I have no reliable way of knowing, for absolute certain, if a particular plastic container is 'safe' to use with ethanol or not. Some plastics may well be safe/OK to use but why take the chance?

AM

by **xpc** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:47 am

don't you have a essencia filter system - plastic ?

What type of still is this?

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