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Consider moving that valve between the tee and elbow to minimize the pooling. Thanks, Otis. Next time I do this, I’ll bear that in mind. Part of the reason I put the valve where I did was simply to get the end of the leibig a little lower, as well as to reduce how far it hangs off to the side. I ha...

I dont know about the rest of you, but my first badmo (#238), after 26 months in the barrel I'm a little surprised at how light in color the spirit is. Honestly, I think these little barrels are best suited for longer term aging if you are looking for a lot of Oak influence. I suspect that the four...

Hi Steve. Consider moving that valve between the tee and elbow to minimize the pooling. You will still have some pooling unless you run the Liebig close to verticals, but at least you won’t have pooling from column warmup (before you open the valve) +1 to insulating the column up to and including th...

Does anyone here have any experience reconditioning BadMo barrels, or reusing them as they age? I’ve got a few that are on their 3rd fill, and I can tell that they’re definitely not affecting the contents as quickly as when new. So far, I’ve tried to use that to my advantage, using them for things ...

I don’t use any sugar when making whiskey, so I can’t help you there. With regard to the amount of LME, I found this searching Google: “ Generally, a good rule of thumb is 1 pound grain = .75 pound LME = .6 pound DME. That's a good way to start. ”. There are lots of sites with similar ratios. Most A...

I’m not saying it is needed but when I was logging my tasting notes jar by jar, I recall detecting Orris root in the product collection at the very end of a run, just before I started detecting tails. I can’t say that I notice it in the final product.

Oh man… isn’t 2-2.5LPH about the same output as on a packed 2” CCVM column? Not for me. Making neutral, my product rate on a 2” packed column is below 1 lph. The power needed for a 2” is significantly less than what you put into a 4” plated column, and then there is your reflux ratio to maintain, s...

+1 to on grain fermenting, sharing some of the same reasons listed above. I also prefer on grain fermenting because sometimes my conversion is not 100% complete by the time I’m at pitch temp, so leaving the grain to ferment allows for completion of that conversion over time. (I’m talking to you rye....

I’ve not tried this with stainless so not sure how difficult it would be to get right, but with copper I have used a wire ring to bridge a gap and add some mechanical strength.

Wrong question. There will be a difference in saddle weight/volume from brand to brand, material to material. If you want to get it right the first time, you should think in terms of the volume (space) you need to fill. What is the volume of column space that you need to fill, and how much packing d...

My condolences... there might be a pellicle in the boiler that could scorch Nah, that wasn't it, man. I had my heating element burnt with the rye wort as clear as beer and with no infection in it. It was like: wow! it's clear, it's yummy, it has a fine scent, imma run it out on induction and a heat...

The Booze Pipe wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:20 pm I just purchased a 26 gallon milk can for striping. Can it be modified to strip on steam?

Could you put a thumper cap on your milk can?

Any advice on the RC coil? Is this wound tight enough, or too much air space? It would be made from about 15 feet of 1/4 inch copper (3/8 inch OD). It would go inside a 3" Triclamp spool, with an ID of 2.87 inch. RC coil.png A single coil that size would be more than fine, though there is noti...

Hi rumblepants. I question the need for DAP with a molasses ferment. Not sure that any would be needed, but double check my assumption. Possibly check other molasses recipes in the T&T section for the need to add nutrients. I know adding too much and distilling in a copper still can lead to blue...

Osse87, I would recommend you do not smell for a vapor leak. Alcohol vapor will be at 170F or greater temp and if you have a significant vapor leak and you go sticking your face in there you could get burnt. Not too safe.

Thankyou! I've sketched one up in CAD and 3D printing an adapter which I can fix a PRT100 style thermo into my cooling hose. I'll add photos and the 3D file when I do my build blog to share the learning. Thanks! A hand held IR thermometer can also give you the exit water temp. Those also work well ...

I want things done in about 8 hours, including warmup. When it comes to Pot still spirit Runs , I’m in total agreeance with Otis . It’s a physics thing . Ideal Watts per litre = ideal separation . More litres , more watts ……. Less litres , less watts . ….. time = the same …. About 8 hours . That se...

Hi Hunter. I run my pot still spirit runs similar to the way Normandy recommended with regard to duration. It does not matter to me how much volume I have in the boiler, 1 gallon to 13, I want things done in about 8 hours, including warmup. That usually means that after warmup and collecting fores (...

Hey Muse. Another bit of feedback for you that starts with a question. Why was your collection rate all over the place? That should be relatively constant throughout the run. I’m just guessing you were playing with the power and reflux throughout the run. When making a neutral you should try to find...

I think 3000w is way too much power for a 2” column. Yes, you can get a high ABV from a 2” running at 3000w and a lot of reflux but you are likely smearing all the components of your run. This is why they all taste the same “hot” to you. I think you should be running somewhere near 1500w, depending ...

I found that using too much DAP gave me blue distillate using my copper upper (stainless boiler). I stopped using DAP and the blue want away.

You sure that is not just oil clumping together? I would not think anything is going to grow in a 30% alcohol liquid. I can’t really get much from the pictures.

Welcome to HD bob. Interesting name. There are not many islands in Idaho, at least not physical islands.

Hi Bob The 2” section at the base of your column should not be a problem on its own. As Salt mentioned above, you should be running the 3” column at a higher power level than you did your 2” column. I would suggest that whatever screen you use to hold up the packing be placed at the base of the 3” s...

Congratulations on your first strip. Like the poster above I will typically do three strips for one spirit run, to get the most I can out of one ferment. I typically collect 1/3 of the boiler charge volume on a strip run so three strips will result in one boiler full for your spirit run. You run on ...

Welcome to HD BW from a fellow PNWer. Best of luck on your journey.

I can answer your first question. I have a 1 liter still and I find it perfect for making one 375 ml bottle of gin at a time. It’s not as pretty as yours, but it’s a lot of fun running this little still. I’ve been able to make many small batches of gin. Here is my post, and it includes a few run de...

I can answer your first question. I have a 1 liter still and I find it perfect for making one 375 ml bottle of gin at a time. It’s not as pretty as yours, but it’s a lot of fun running this little still. I’ve been able to make many small batches of gin. Here is my post, and it includes a few run det...

That’s handy to know. Thanks for asking Sadie and thanks for answering Higgins.

Excellent observation Alcross88. You just learned something very important in your understanding of how to distill, and that is to Ignore your thermometer. It’s of no use on a pot still. The boiling point of your charge is based on its ABV. Adjusting power up or down does not change this boiling tem...