Search found 287 matches

by Xnerd
Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:57 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: old ferment
Replies: 4
Views: 793

Re: old ferment

thanks all. tastes all good. will run!
by Xnerd
Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:19 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: old ferment
Replies: 4
Views: 793

old ferment

i had a serious health issue and left a few carboys for 7 months,,, the smell fine..... strong!
should i trash them????
by Xnerd
Mon May 27, 2013 2:50 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Alternative to US-05
Replies: 6
Views: 1625

Re: Alternative to US-05

worked great, not sulfur smells , working off at low temps takes a while but I like it to go slow.

I dont know if Im just getting older or wiser but taking my time with stuff has become enjoyable.
by Xnerd
Sun May 19, 2013 11:14 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Alternative to US-05
Replies: 6
Views: 1625

Re: Alternative to US-05

thanks rad, ill give it a go
by Xnerd
Sat May 18, 2013 2:57 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Alternative to US-05
Replies: 6
Views: 1625

Alternative to US-05

Ok so, I have noticed that I am starting to get some sulfur odors now that the weather is warmed up. My dark cold basement does not seem to do the trick for US-05 anymore. I really like using US-05 for my corn/barley/wheat recipe. Could anyone point me in the direction of an alternative yeast that i...
by Xnerd
Sat May 18, 2013 2:48 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: Double Fermented Sour Corn Mash from Scratch
Replies: 96
Views: 98399

Re: Double Fermented Sour Corn Mash from Scratch

homemade yeast starters are teaming with lacto anyway.
by Xnerd
Wed May 08, 2013 3:07 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: diamond plate
Replies: 12
Views: 3361

Re: diamond plate

I have seen some videos where stills were run on steam using steam jackets. The whole prospect seems like it would be less efficient than electric..... They used hellacious, expensive steam boilers run off if electricity. While I can see that steam would be very useful to heat a pot and very control...
by Xnerd
Sun May 05, 2013 1:43 pm
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Weld-Free Electric Keg Boiler: A How-To Guide
Replies: 81
Views: 45691

Re: Weld-Free Electric Keg Boiler: A How-To Guide

This helps a great deal!

I dont know why I could not find it.

thanks again.
by Xnerd
Fri May 03, 2013 1:17 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Pot Still Blueprint
Replies: 16
Views: 16570

Re: Pot Still Blueprint

KentuckyKidBishop wrote:Thanks. Where I live, a sheet 3x8 copper of 030 is only $150
I just spoke to a major distributor near me and a 3 x 8 sheet of of 16 gauge copper is $850.00

Where do you live North Korea?
by Xnerd
Thu May 02, 2013 1:54 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Malt substitute?
Replies: 10
Views: 2148

Re: Malt substitute?

I just did an experiment using 3 lbs of corn starch added to an all grain mash. og 1076 as opposed to most of my all grains that around about 1065. I ended up with much more hootch with absolutely no desirable difference in flavor. Now having said that I will add that when I do higher gravity wash's...
by Xnerd
Mon Apr 29, 2013 2:22 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Weld-Free Electric Keg Boiler: A How-To Guide
Replies: 81
Views: 45691

Re: Weld-Free Electric Keg Boiler: A How-To Guide

I am thinking about switching to electric heat as well. Im sick of buying propane tanks.


I cant find a 220vac router controller ....
any ideas
by Xnerd
Sun Apr 28, 2013 7:54 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: First Still Build
Replies: 9
Views: 4236

Re: First Still Build

Some people pickel brass with vinegar. I just dont use it at all to be sure. What I did is use one copper to male and a copper to female at that spot and just screw my condensor on. Again it might be find I would wait for another response as I am not an expert on the leaching of lead from brass. I w...
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:05 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: First Still Build
Replies: 9
Views: 4236

Re: First Still Build

Or is it copper with a brass nut???

I cant tell now that i look close.
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:04 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: First Still Build
Replies: 9
Views: 4236

Re: First Still Build

nice job.. I don't really like the idea for the brass union just before the condenser though.. I dont know how much brass is being exposed to the hit distillate but I am told any at all is bad news. I dont know first hand, I just dont use any to be save. Ill leave the confirmation to someone else th...
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:53 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: diamond plate
Replies: 12
Views: 3361

Re: diamond plate

Ah I have been wondering about that for a long time. I have see pictures of large AND small still with this diamond plate and wondered.... is it some sort of heating jacket? I always pictured some sort of heating coil inside this under the interior boiler. Would save on polishing anyway... Anyway I ...
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:53 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: diamond plate
Replies: 12
Views: 3361

diamond plate

Ok so, I have a friend that has 2/12, 3, 1nd 4 inch copper for me. I want to build a nice rig. If you have ever seen pictures of small artisan distilleries, you will notice that the bottoms of their rigs are always the same. they are diamond plate and actually look like they a jackets rather than th...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 11, 2013 12:59 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed
Replies: 38
Views: 6722

Re: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed

Well. let me see I run a digital watlow controller and thermocouple so when I dont have to sit there when I am first heating the thing up. I can go about my business and always be in plain view of the readout. I know the temperature that my rig reaches just before it starts to ramp up. Pretty much N...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:12 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed
Replies: 38
Views: 6722

Re: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed

weak link?? a pot still should be open start to finish. There is no need for a "weak link" or you're doing something wrong. Thermometer is not necessary on a pot still, you can put one on but it gives you no real data for repeatability, cuts, or anything else really . A very rough referen...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:03 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed
Replies: 38
Views: 6722

Re: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed

and consider an adapter to remove the condenser!
You will be SO happy that you did...

I know that copper fittings are expensive but it is so worth it to do it right.
Im going to add another adapter in the horizontal section for easy cleaning.
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:59 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed
Replies: 38
Views: 6722

Re: My first DIY pot still design - opinions needed

I like to put a tee on the top of the column and place a very small piece of pipe with a cap on it. I drill a hole the cap for temp probe. I also only hold the cap on with dough so that it is the weak link in the system. Any burbs will make the cap lift off. only happened one time when I was running...
by Xnerd
Tue Apr 09, 2013 12:10 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

I built a noisy ass tumbler out of a 30 gallon bucket and an old high torque motor that I had from my days in robotics work. I also built a dehydrator cabinet that works real good. Frankly I dont really see any need to completely remove everything from the home made stuff. From what dnder said its n...
by Xnerd
Mon Apr 08, 2013 1:37 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Ok so.... A little disappointed but not overly so. I now tested the dried malt that gave me the excellent conversion, and ymmm Not so much now. It will convert but it takes 20 times longer and I have to use 30% more. a rough estimate of the dp would be around 100 if I am lucky. the malt was dried at...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:56 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Yeah The Jiffy company and Kellogg's buys up all of the food grade high starch stuff that is grown out be me. I am going to have to call in some favors if I am going to get my hands on some. But on the other hand the grain elevators sell the non GMO seed, or at least they did a couple years ago. I h...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:56 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

"its not commonly done for beer making due to the extra protein." No its not done in beer because as grain sprouts it uses up the starch, less starch, less sugar, less alcohol.the extra protein comes from the roots/sprouts if you remove them then no protein problem. now if gain gits light...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:49 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Hey Xnerd, if you know someone out in the country that has corn fields, you can ask to pick some corn right before they harvest. Just tell them you are feeding the squirrels or something. If you don't know anyone, just stop and ask a farmer. Offer him a bit of money for a bit of corn, $20 dollars w...
by Xnerd
Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:10 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Hey I just did my green malt test! My mash was thick, almost a block of corn, but it was so close to mash temp that I did not sacrifice any malt to thin it. I hit 152 mashed in .75 lbs of green wheat malt (I figure that would be less than a half a lb if dried) and instantly thinned the mess into a w...
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:58 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

corn you want sprouts about 1-2 in (25-50mm) other grain the length of grain or so the sprouts gust peek out. actually you can go a couple of times the grains length. this is how they do distillery malt. its called a long malt. its not commonly done for beer making due to the extra protein. Didn't ...
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:59 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Thank you dnder I am going to try this in the morning. I have decided to let the sprouts go another 12 hours so that it will match up to what I have been reading. They grew a bit faster than Ideal but I was able to keep the temp way down on them. The average is I would say 1/4 longer than the grains...
by Xnerd
Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:41 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Ok so I am passing the starch test after grinding 1/2 lb of my home made wheat malt and mashing it into 2 lbs of corn. The problem with the first batch must have been that I was grabbing handfuls out of a three lbd bag that a lot of the floury inside of the wheat had settled to the bottom. Also I th...
by Xnerd
Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:47 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Anti Fungal and insecticides
Replies: 62
Views: 5244

Re: Anti Fungal and insecticides

Ok so Im not too pleased with the results of my first test with the home malted wheat. I cooked 2 lbs of corn in one gallon water until it thickened good. I tried to keep it at heat for as long as I could but it gelatinized real real fast and got very thick. I let it cool until it was about 151 degr...