Hi from New Zealand!!

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. **

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
Kiwi_phil
Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:16 am

Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by Kiwi_phil »

Hi guys. I'm Phil, diesel mechanic, engineer, ex underground miner, from the beautiful Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. I've been distilling for years, and have always come back to this site for problem solving, you guys are an amazing resource. Thanks to you guys I now solely birdwatchers. I'm part way through building my new still, previously I was using a 50 litre beer keg with a 65mm boka, 1 metre column packed with half stainless wool and half broken up car windscreen. It was working well, with a gas burner, but I wanted more so have built a 100 litre boiler with a 3kw element. This set up works live a dream, but I'm having a problem which I will address in the appropriate section.
I look forward to hearing from you, and bouncing around new ideas.
Thanks
Phil
jb-texshine
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3036
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:03 am
Location: Texan living in Missouri

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by jb-texshine »

Welcome in. Not sure about in nz but u.s. windshields are two layers of glass with a layer of plastic laminated between.
Welcome in though. Please read the site rules in regard to plastics.
Edited to add...
Of course, the side windows are just tempered glass so they are safe.
Be safe
Remember not to blow yourself up,you only get to forget once!


Deo Vendice

Never eat Mexican food north or east of Dallas tx!
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by NZChris »

Welcome. It's good to have another Kiwi here.
rad14701
retired
Posts: 20865
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:46 pm
Location: New York, USA

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by rad14701 »

jb-texshine wrote:Edited to add...
Of course, the side windows are just tempered glass so they are safe.
Be safe
Just a word of caution to go along with this... I would be hesitant to use tempered glass from modern vehicles as most have tinted glass and you can't be sure what that tinting comes from or whether it could leach into distilled spirits... Safety, first and foremost...
Kiwi_phil
Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:16 am

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by Kiwi_phil »

Sorry, I should elaborate. It's the side glass from an early 90s vehicle and I have been distilling through it for about 6 years now :)
willee
Novice
Posts: 57
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2017 6:55 am
Location: South Texas

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by willee »

Tempered glass will break into small cubes nd I cant see any reason that could not be used for a packing medium.
New Zealand is a beautiful country mate ... wish I could retire there.
rad14701
retired
Posts: 20865
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:46 pm
Location: New York, USA

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by rad14701 »

willee wrote:Tempered glass will break into small cubes nd I cant see any reason that could not be used for a packing medium.
It does work but I'd go with older car windows or tempered patio door glass... I had some patio door glass that I tried once but I should have tumbled it to knock the sharp edges down... Just didn't like it... Plus is seemed to pack too tight and channeled...
Kiwi_phil
Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:16 am

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by Kiwi_phil »

I just smashed it on the ground, scooped it up and put it in a sealed bucket with a few rocks and some water and rolled it round the lawn. Sieved it through a colander whilst running water thru it. Figured even if any shards made it through that process, they certainly wouldn't make it up the still, and certainly not through the carbon filter. Stainless wool is still better I think, but I ran out and figured with a column height of 1 meter I could afford to run both. Results agree with me. Now to sort out the stalling when it reaches tails..
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by NZChris »

Kiwi_phil wrote:Now to sort out the stalling when it reaches tails..
Turning it off when the shit hits the parrot sounds pretty good to me :D
Kiwi_phil
Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:16 am

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by Kiwi_phil »

NZChris wrote:
Kiwi_phil wrote:Now to sort out the stalling when it reaches tails..
Turning it off when the shit hits the parrot sounds pretty good to me :D
It's still coming off clean at 85% when it stalls tho.
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by NZChris »

What is the charge temperature when it happens?

What is the SG of the backset?
Kiwi_phil
Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:16 am

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by Kiwi_phil »

I haven't used a thermometer since the kids broke it a few runs ago (pre new boiler) back set sg? I'm not clever with terms. Is that the sg of what's left after it stalls?
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by NZChris »

Backset is what is left in the boiler at the end of the run. If there is no alcohol left in it, there is no point in flogging it.

SG = Specific Gravity
jb-texshine
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3036
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:03 am
Location: Texan living in Missouri

Re: Hi from New Zealand!!

Post by jb-texshine »

rad14701 wrote:
jb-texshine wrote:Edited to add...
Of course, the side windows are just tempered glass so they are safe.
Be safe
Just a word of caution to go along with this... I would be hesitant to use tempered glass from modern vehicles as most have tinted glass and you can't be sure what that tinting comes from or whether it could leach into distilled spirits... Safety, first and foremost...
Good point!
Remember not to blow yourself up,you only get to forget once!


Deo Vendice

Never eat Mexican food north or east of Dallas tx!
Post Reply