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Glad redistilling did the job.
Next time you want a mild white rum to be consumed young.
Don't start with a heavy aged rum recipe.

I no longer put a column in full reflux. Instead the rig is run @ 99% reflux.
The power and deph is set for a fast drip from the PC during the forshots.
By the time forshots have been pulled off, the boiler is uniformly up to temp and no longer stratified.

In the first pic, I liked the gum log being used as a thumper.

Here's some videos of wood fired copper pots and worms.
viewtopic.php?t=76359

After I collected 2.2l things took a turn for the worst and the still began to puke hot sugar wash out of the condenser. Why did it puke right at the end of the run like that? I was under the impression that the longer the run goes on for, the less alcohol in the boiler the less risk of an actual p...

Volt meter and knob on the pot won't agree.
SSVR wouldn't mind in the least if there's no load.

Kinda over complicating things.
Use switches rated to handle the heater current and do away with the relays.
Use an AC fan and do away the 12vdc power supply.

as the title says: i have a 5500 W heating element, rated for 240 Volts. now my electrician is a bit confused (i my self have not much knowledge anyway): here in Europe, 240 Volts have 16 Amp fuse, A 16amp circuit that's used for a long time will need to be derated to 80% That means the 16amps is a...

Not often we see a 10 cap tall column here.
Unfortunately, I think the height is contributing to some of the problems.

@ fiery creations, I just realized it's the novice section. :oops: Here's a trick that often works to get a persnickety plated column to behave. Once the column has acted up and flooding on top. Temporarily kill the heat and let all the reflux fall and fill the downcomer traps. Then turn the heat ba...

Guess I was only commenting on the caps. The downcomer can be a whole nuther subject. :lol: A side note. My 2cents worth, there's better designs than using tubing for the downcomer. I've played around using thin copper sheet to make side downcomers similar to fig. 12 It leaves more cap area than a s...

Looks like well designed plates. Nothing wrong with them other than you're driving it too hard. I think a 2" packed column and a 4" bubble cap run similar power, but the caps can't handle as much reflux before flooding. Maybe buy some 4" SS spools and packing. Then you can easily run ...

Got a pic of the bubble cap plates or the name of the manufacture?

I've made that mistake before.
The pressure buildup blew the water out of the manometer.

Main question is, if I'm getting a ton of reflux at the top with the dephlegmator completely off, and all plates are loaded fairly evenly, should I even bump up the power and turn the deph on? I tried both ways and couldn't tell any difference in practice, just want to make sure there isn't somethi...

Any advice on the questions relating to what I'm using? If I'm getting so much passive reflux at the top with the dephlegmator shut off that the plates fully loaded, is there any reason to turn it on and increase power? Sounds like the dephleg has too large of thermal mass. Got any pics of the rig?

On a potstill run, my boiler has a pressure of around 3 inches of water.
If The boiler is connected to a thumper with 10 inches of liquid in it, the boiler pressure will be 13inches

A plated still is the wrong tool for making azeo.
A packed column would work better.

as the title says: i have a 5500 W heating element, rated for 240 Volts. now my electrician is a bit confused (i my self have not much knowledge anyway): here in Europe, 240 Volts have 16 Amp fuse, A 16amp circuit that's used for a long time will need to be derated to 80% That means the 16amps is a...

Steve Broady wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2024 4:08 am
I can’t quite tell if you’re encouraging me, or seeing me up for an entertaining fail. Either way, I’m tempted to try it just for laughs. What’s the worst that can happen?

The worst that can happen for you equals entertainment for the rest of us.

I've only come across clear coat on finished products, not on sheet. Heating a corner to red hot should tell you if it has any sort of coating. Trial by fire NZ :lol: If it was clear coated. Scotch bright and water after annealing. Be gentle with the annealed copper--it's butter soft and ready for ...

I kinda like the idea of using unmodified kegs for mashing, fermenting and steam stripping. Haven't tried it yet, looking forward to what you find and share. :thumbup: I figure filling, draining and cleaning through a 2" hole is going to need a workaround. But on the hobby scale, problems like ...

It looks like you've been hanging around.
Watching and learning, before deciding to speak.

Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 1:26 am I'll third that, I've bought and built with quite a bit of copper, never seen it coated.

Copper sheet might have a protective peel off layer. Think the good stuff meant for fancy work.
It also might have a layer of clear coat just to make it pretty.
When in doubt, look, research and ask.

bobpratl wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 12:46 am
As I get older, I am spending more time seeing Doctors than distilling and it's not the same as aging a good shine.

Ain't that a fact.
Another 100 years and I'll be able to speak Latin from looking up the name of my ailments.

Yeah, going thru it now. They have a strange way a looking at things. Go thru a representative or lawyer. Its worth it! Texas, for example, has a whole department to help vets navigate the fed. Seek out a Legion or DAV service officer if you can’t get State help. Got with the Veterans service rep. ...

I've developed the belief myself after distilling for a time and with decades of beer brewing experience before that, that although the yeasts do in fact have an impact on the finished product, it's far smaller than your ability to alter flavor by making specific cuts and selecting for the final fl...

NormandieStill wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:15 am Your questions show that you've not read the "Rules we live by" thread. You should go and do that, maybe picking up a roll of PTFE tape as you go.

+1
Wrap any part of a seal that touches alcohol with PTFE tape.

Very good point, I can see that.
But sometimes.... the questions make me want to answer the problem, not the question asked.

Before I start.
Nomex flame proof panties have been put on and I'm not wanting to be mean.

Sometimes I see folks asking 2.0 or even advanced 3.0 questions.
When the answers they actually need are basic Homedistilling.