Air Still distillation breakdown

[Capt-Cudellez]

I kidnapped him from another forum Can't wait to see your build thread in the near future.

[tedmoo]

yet again thanks for the help,

I'll start off small with the Airstill and learn the ways before moving onwards to bigger and better things!
Can't find the essencia listed on wineworks website, are you sure they had it in stock once upon a time? Don't really want to buy the Z or EZ filter. Ahh found the essencia from the link you gave. Would help if they had pictures and the search worked! £86 maybe worth it in the long run, but I needs some monies!

Was thinking about cutting (or using string dipped in lighter fluid) a 1.5 litre JD bottle filled a bit with carbon and a coffee filter, just need some way of holding it upside down!

Keep up the good work gents. (well I guess your guys, where the ladies!? )

[mozr]

Jimmy's recommendation, but I'll post the link.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kitchen-Craft ... 53ea46b007

[tedmoo]

Cheers no worries.

This should probably be under the filtering section, but just wondering if you've read the 'Gert Strand's ebook on activated carbon'?

Where it states that alcohol should be filtered in a pipe at least 1.5-2.5m long and at least 38mm diameter!? Otherwise 'the wall effect' will allow the alcohol to run past the carbon without being purified.

Can't copy and paste it because it's password protected. But I guess you've read it anyway. Perhaps just being a bit paranoid or maybe over the top especially as most commercial carbon filters are pretty small and you claim they work brilliantly.

Was planning just to run the spirit through a few times but after reading this maybe I should buy a length of pipe!?

Argh! To many options, maybe I should shell out for an essencia - £££.

Btw, I purchased that Steel funnel but not sure if its the best way at the moment.

Any thoughts?

[mozr]

The best way is the essencia.

The cheapest is the funnel.

The funnel does clean up alcohol. Its smells and tastes noticeably better.

I normally use a funnel with a coffee filter filled with carbon. I then put one spirit run through it twice (anywhere from 1.5-2.2 litres of 40% alcohol depending on what run I am doing).

The first time there is a big difference, the second time is for a quick polish. The longer the alcohol sits on the carbon, the better it will will clean. I then chuck the filter paper away with he carbon in, and there is no mess.

I just can't justify the essencia at the moment. I think the price is far to expensive for a series of moulded plastic bits, with some carbon in. As we are in a very niche hobby, sometimes the rarity of products like this keeps the price inflated. Otherwise mass production and competition would force the price down to a more acceptable level.

There are others that swear by it though, so if you've got the dough it might be right for you.

At the moment, I would prefer to put that money in my t500 savings pot.

:EDIT:

Looking at the review here http://www.homebrewmegastore.co.uk/shop/review/product/list/id/448/category/108/ is making me cry and want an essencia.

Time to send a begging letter to Noel Edwards for his next Christmas special methinks.

[mozr]

I agree with all that Aidanmac.

I will just say though that it often takes me three hours to carbon filter 2 litres of alcohol. After I have activated the carbon, and filled the filter paper the alcohol sits in it, and drips slowly into my collecting jar.

I still agree.

I just wish my in laws would have bought me www.creativewinemaking.co.uk vouchers instead of bloody Argos ones for Christmas!

[Jimmy]

In a nutshell, funnel is better than nothing and is the cheapest way. Z filter is OK but a bit of a faff, the Essencia looks good but not tried it, and there is a newer Still Spirits thing too which might be worth looking into, sort of like two buckets one on top of the other. My favourite in theory is still the stainless steel Fuselex filters which we haven't managed to find a UK supplier for.

[tedmoo]

Looks like i'm going to have to get my credit card out! ARGH! That stainless steel funnel I bought off ebay is wayyyyyy too small, think for my laziness I must buy the essencia. But it's hard to part with cash or credit as it will be. Still thinking of buying a length of stainless steel pipe, stupid question but the ones on ebay for car exhausts; I take it these won't be suitable (food grade/plated with nickel etc)!?

Steve

[tedmoo]

For people wondering, Essencia prices:

http://www.1-homebrew.co.uk/department/ ... nt/page/1/ £86.18

http://www.homebrewmegastore.co.uk/shop ... egory/108/ £80.00

www.creativewinemaking.co.uk/spirits-an ... d_733.html £77.50

Not sure on the P&P though, and creative wine making say they will have in stock tomorrow.

Fingers Crossed

[mozr]

Delivery is free over £45 at creative ted.

I might have to bite myself.

Curse you aidanmac/I don't drink!

[tedmoo]

Bit the bullet and ordered the Essencia. Woooo! (arghhh ££)

Decision was made after failed funnel filtering and I even added about half a bag of Alcotec carbon to the top of the crappy wineworks filter that came with the Air Still, with a coffee filter and cotton wool to block the hole where the carbon screw was. After filtering overnight there's still some 'smell' maybe double or triple filtering will overcome this. BUT now I can't wait to receive the Essencia from Creative.

Also ordered some 'Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips' which Aidan tried, and have already got some of the Still Spirits Tennessee bourbon chips added to some 'Neutral(ish)'spirit, colour has changed nicely in 24hours wonder if they're any good.

Great new hobby, made more enjoyable through this forum and the excellent friendly support received!

Can see myself applying for a 'Spirits License' 18 Hectolitres (1800 litre) still minimum. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ......NOT

[blackmoor]

I have found that the best way to make good spirit is making 28 litres of wash with:

1 bag of turbo
6kg sugar

Turning point for me was I read from another site that if you want best out of turbo, use ONLY HALF of the turbo bag. Ergo you get two washes from 1 bag of turbo And believe me it has an effect. Fermenting takes day or two more, but result is far better. And the wash abv does not drop!

Then II have copper electric mesh wire from autohifi shop run all the way from inlet nozzle to outlet of the still. I have a regular airstill so I have a triac controlling the power. First I start with full power, after 40 minutes, 50 ml has come out. Then i set the triac to 3/4 power. after 1 hour and 50 minutes I have collected roughly 0,9 dl. I don't collect anything more. Do that 7 times and mash is gone. End up with 6,3 litres at 42-45%. Dilute it to 7,5 litres.

The non carbonated product does not smell anymore at all after using only half bag of yeast and copper wire along the still line. But I still dilute it to 35 and carbonate it. After that, no smell, no nothing. Just FUN

[Jimmy]

The copper wire is a great idea, don't have my SmartStill anymore but really good tip, cheers blackmoor!

[mozr]

I had been thinking about possibly jamming some copper through the stainless steel tube forcing the vapour to interact with it, but was worried about the distillate forever condensing and falling back into the chamber, and also I had no idea of how I was going to get the copper in.

The hifi wire Idea sounds great.

Lets hunt and postt findings on here.

Blackmoor, what length of wire did you use?

[Almanac]

If you pass a length of 1mm copper wire right through the condenser and semi secure it on the outside you can then make a big round hook, or similar, on the inside to hold a suitable size piece of copper mesh inside the lid.

Zero reflux effect but if you shape it right all vapours will have to pass through the mesh!

I like that idea - it may even be a good one!

Go me

AM