New member, new still, same old advice needed.

[stringman]

Hi

I managed to pick up a still at an auction site quite cheaply, so went for it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alcohol-Moonsh ... H85DCJ#Ask" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I am sure that its not very good but if I can use it for a while then if I am halfway good at this stuff I will make a better one.

I know its got an airlock but I will be making my wash in a fermenting bin, decanting to a second bin, clearing/settling and then decanting to the boiler.

I am presuming this is a pot still and as such I will need to do several strip runs before a spirit run.

I know the worm is small and not brilliant.

For the cooling I had the following idea:

we have a stream at the bottom of the garden.
In the short run I was looking at filling a 25 l fermenting bin and just opening the tap and letting the head pressure/gravity fill the condenser pot (I presume the input goes in the top ?) and letting the water drain back in the river. If needed I will top up the bin.
If this works I will build some sort of water collector and use a small water pump.

I have ordered some turbo yeast but realise now that its not ideal so was thinking of practising with bakers yeast,

Its difficult to get fresh yeast here so I was hoping I could use dried bread yeast. I was thinking of using 2 (7g) packets to make a 25l wash , sugar and tom paste to sg 1.09.

Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

[thecroweater]

yes its a pretty crap still but there are things you can do to vastly improve it. Have a look at what this guy is doing Here

[greggn]

> Its difficult to get fresh yeast here so I was hoping I could use dried bread yeast.

Active dry yeast is fine. For best results, rehydrate before pitching.


> I was thinking of using 2 (7g) packets to make a 25l wash , sugar and tom paste to sg 1.09.

Again, for best results, aim for a lower starting gravity ... something in the 1.060 - 1.065 range in order to hit an approximate 8% ABV. Your results will be cleaner.

[BlackStrap]

Welcome stringman

I believe there is a link on Youtube that reviews the still you purchased https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB5mWTq6S6g ya it's a cheap still, Hopefully with some reading and such on here you will see how to improve or just build your own..

I started out making wine, and a sometimes I have used a "bread yeast" fleischmann's bread yeast... It has worked in 1.09 specific gravity, and the end result I can say I am happy with... I only needed one packet (make sure you are able to control you environment..not to hot and not to cold ect ect)...there are lots of post on here about yeast as well... for example a question about yeast to pitch... http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... h#p7462842

Hopefully that is helpfull
Great to have you aboard.

[stringman]

Thanks for all the replies.
I havent had a chance to use it yet as I need more plastic tubing
I am hoping to use an outside burner and get the cooling feed from the stream at the bottom of the garden.
I should start fermenting soon as I have read that I need to do a sacrificial run with alcohol after a cleaning run of vinegar.


I have had a look at the post mentioned above (and added to it) and watched the review - its not as bad as I feared

I just need to work out how to fix the seals issue

many thanks