new guy

New to distillation, or simply new to the HD forums.
** Your first post MUST go here. Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your interest in distilling. Any posts asking distilling questions will be deleted. **

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stuffs
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:32 pm

new guy

Post by stuffs »

Hi all.
Built a pot/reflux still a few weeks ago and already did a run. Worked great 90% for aprox my first 1L 60% for next and then I ran it until about 35% when it started to stink. All of the above were done in about 250ml separate ?pulls?. Anyway ran the still about thirteen hours. It's a stainless steel soup pot with all copper pipe soldiered with lead free flux, silver solder. Some joints failed and I used cornmeal/flour to seal them up.
So here's my question. By the end of the run it stunk, my place, clothing, everything including the still. I have since tried to clean my still ( distilling vinegar, soaps, even ended up cleaning the pot with goo gone) the only thing that has worked thus far is the goo gone on the pot. I can't scrub and rinse the copper pipes the same way. The smell is kinda like the the wet cardboard I have seen referenced. But this is really strong I am not sure if this is normal. My worry as I'm about to start another wash and hopefully distill my first batch a second time is that this dank smell will leech back into the distillate. Is this something I need to worry about, is there a way to clean the pipes, is this normal?
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Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7653
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: new guy

Post by Yummyrum »

Welcome stuffs :wave:
I approved you welcome thread on the grounds that it gives a picture of where you are at in the hobby . Thats basically all we want to know . Any further info on where you live etc is always welcomed .

Your question should be asked in the beginers section where the experienced guys can help you out . So maybe copy and paste it there . :thumbup:

Anyway good luck with your new hobby and you will find a lot of helpful fellas around here .
stuffs
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:32 pm

Re: new guy

Post by stuffs »

Thanks.
Re-posted question with a bit more info to novice.
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fizzix
Site Donor
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Posts: 3698
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 4:08 pm

Re: new guy

Post by fizzix »

My pal, clean that still properly to start: Cleaning a still
Then we'll move from there. We can help you through this if you make the proper effort.
Welcome to Home Distiller, and hang in there!
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nuntius01
Rumrunner
Posts: 705
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:51 pm
Location: upper midwest

Re: new guy

Post by nuntius01 »

welcome, post a pic too.
I'm just the bank and the mule

post your still pics here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&t=66917
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