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The still is almost complete. It is still in prototype stage, but I hope to get a first cleaning run done this weekend. I have a wash running that should be ready for next weekend.

Pics will be posted.

Ayay wrote:I hope I got the correct terminology Backset is what's left in the boiler after a stripping or a single reflux run.

Ok, thanks. I am new to distilling and I am still learning the lingo.

How do you use the backset?

JH

Ayay wrote:Next I used 25% backset from the last UJSSM which slowly became the backset from Cornbran. It works.

What is backset? Is it the lee's from the previous batch?

JH

I pitched 5 tbsp of dry distillers yeast this morning, and the airlock was bubbling within minutes. Now (6 pm) the airlock is going like crazy and the whole house has A nice wheaty smell. I am impressed with this recipe so far. I forgot to measure the SG, but 5 gals and 10 lbs sugar should produce a...

I have a couple more questions if someone could please help me out. When running a VM still, the object is to produce full reflux with reflux condenser and pull a small amount of vapor from the take-off port, correct? Does the handle of the gate valve on the take off port need to be at the 12 o'cloc...

I just mixed up my first All Bran mash. I read the entire thread and noticed that many people were putting their own touches on the recipe, so I thought I would report on what I did. I am looking for a very simple recipe for vodka, so I only did the basic steps. 10 lbs white sugar 4 cups All Bran (l...

Nemo,

Thanks for the input. Yeah the cooling coil looks really cool on the outside, unfortunately it is not very efficient. I will be posting pictures of the next still when it is done, but it will look very plain, just like many of the other VM stills out there.

JH

Point taken Rad, I'll do a quick review of the Boka column. I am trying to re-use as much as I can from my original CM still, so I must remember to keep it simple. The column in my CM is 3' of 1.5", I have another 2 foot section, the left over from the original 5' length that I bought. I'm afte...

Thanks Rad, I will be using a 1.5" tee reduced to 3/4" to a 3/4" gate valve, because that is what I have on hand. I also like the idea of the copper wire as turbulator in the condenser. I will draw up some plans for input and comments. I still need to decide what I am going to do abou...

Thanks guys, I'll do a search for Harry's condenser.

Any thoughts on the 3/4" vs. 1/2" take off valve?

DN, I built a still very similar to the one that you posted, with the external reflux condenser and everything. Here is a link to the post I made a few days ago after the first run. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=14165 The still worked ok. I managed to get 90% purity out of ...

I will be using a 1.5" column because that is what I have in the CM still that I built. The height of the rig is limited by the height of my kitchen ceiling. If I use a 36" column that would give me a 24:1 ratio, but would limit the height of the reflux condenser to about 6". I am wor...

Here is a quick drawing of the upper end of the VM column that I am designing. I need some help with the design.

Ok, so maybe I am headed in the right direction.

Grappa is not quite what I was after. What I was hoping to do is use the lees (the left over grape solids, yeast, oak and tanins etc. that settle to the bottom of the fermentation vessel during the primary fementation), as nutrients and yeast for a sugar wash. Here is a simple run down of my idea. 1...

Rednose, Don't worry, it is hard to see it in the picture, but there is a clamp holding the column to the exhaust hood above the stove. You can kind of see the square shim I used to keep the column from scratching the hood. This still is not the most elegant, but it is really a prototype. I will be ...

I make wine on a regular basis, and I thought I saw a post about fermenting a sugar wash on the lees from wine. Could someone either post a recipe, or post a link to thread on fermenting on wine lees?

Thanks,

Gentlemen, First of all let me thank all of you for the enourmous amount of information that you have contributed to my success. About three weeks ago a friend showed me a small pot still that he bought off of eBay. He helped me distill some wine down to brandy, and told me about this sight. I immed...