Search found 20 matches

by opihiman911
Fri Nov 10, 2017 8:42 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled
Replies: 24
Views: 3007

Re: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled

Thanks for all the info. To answer and couple questions. The column is the top half of a reflux column, I don't use the cooling water tubes up top. Being SS, I pack the column with copper mesh. By isolate, I assume you mean insulate? No I don't insulate as its always 80 degrees and warm and I have g...
by opihiman911
Fri Nov 10, 2017 2:11 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled
Replies: 24
Views: 3007

Re: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled

I got my rig heated up and steaming, nice neon green vinegar coming out :) The burner is running at max output and the same thing is happening. Filled my water barrel to cover just the bottom 2 coils and I was getting a nice pencil lead stream. Fill half up and slowed to a fast trickle. Fill the bar...
by opihiman911
Fri Nov 10, 2017 12:46 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled
Replies: 24
Views: 3007

Re: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled

Here is a pic of my rig, nothing pretty or fancy, but she works. I don't use the column cooling or liebig cooler except if I'm doing a stripping run, in which case I attach a small worm in a bucket and do a fast a furious strip. A turkey burner is just the cheap propane burner that you get at home d...
by opihiman911
Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:36 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled
Replies: 24
Views: 3007

Re: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled

Thanks for the quick replies. I'n not sure its a heat issue as I forgot to mention I had thermometers on both the boiler and thumper and they both stabilized to within a degree or two of each other. I'll go ahead and give it another try tomorrow using the remaining vinegar and really crank up the he...
by opihiman911
Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:10 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled
Replies: 24
Views: 3007

new thumper/worm - low output when cooling barrel filled

I have been using a single pot still with a small copper worm for many years with great results. I recently came into possession of an empty beer keg that I decided to turn into a thumper and am having trouble with getting a consistent output from the worm. My set up is as follows: 15 gallon boiler ...
by opihiman911
Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:40 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: storing finished wash and grain
Replies: 7
Views: 1415

Re: storing finished wash and grain

My partner is already nice enough to provide the pears & propane and help clean & chop the pears. All I have to do is drive my still and make nice cuts and blend to perfection :) Well that just what I decided to do, get another fermenter. I was under the impression that you had to use a food...
by opihiman911
Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:02 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: storing finished wash and grain
Replies: 7
Views: 1415

storing finished wash and grain

The other day I started a 20 gallon Sweetfeed wash and planed on my normal 3 strip runs and then then a final spirit run. I still have another 2-3 days till my ferment is finished. I normally transfer the finished wash over to a secondary to let settle before stripping while I start on the next batc...
by opihiman911
Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:34 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Oaking and aging the T-Pee way
Replies: 554
Views: 162084

Re: Oaking and aging the T-Pee way

Bump on toasting the smaller chips? I just finished a triple batch of pear brandy ala jimbo recipe and found some pear smoker chips at a bbq place. I just spent 6 hours toasting them last night. I did half at 320 for 3 hours looking for the sweet taste and the other half at 380 for 3 hours looking f...
by opihiman911
Tue Aug 05, 2014 5:44 pm
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Jimbo's Electric Conversion
Replies: 650
Views: 132207

Re: Jimbo's Electric Conversion

Jimbo, awesome tutorial on doing an electric conversion. I am in the process of building mine using the suggested materials you mentioned. I have two questions to wrap up my build. When wiring in the 250v analog meter, do you run a sensor wire to one or both of the output hot wires onto the positive...
by opihiman911
Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:07 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method
Replies: 4789
Views: 1184442

Re: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method

I have a question about backset that been nagging me for a while. While I was doing my required reading for UJSSM, I was getting the concept of adding backset to the next generation for increased flavors. I have been using around 25% backset in my past washes doing 2 1/2 spirit runs and having great...
by opihiman911
Sun Feb 09, 2014 3:12 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method
Replies: 4789
Views: 1184442

Re: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method

Lacto Infection I racked off my Gen 4 wash, combined with the 3 gens of strip and did a spirit run with it. I added a couple gallons of water to my fermenter with intentions to restart the next Gen, but as is always real life got in the way of fun life and I never got to my wash for 4 days. When I o...
by opihiman911
Fri Sep 27, 2013 6:43 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: black specks in final product
Replies: 3
Views: 769

Re: black specks in final product

Yup pure copper mesh from a brew shop. Sodium Carbonate alkalinizes your low wines and supposedly compresses your cuts and makes for cleaner neutrals. I found the info here on HD. It did seem to make for a cleaner cuts and got to the hearts right away at a higher ABV. May have also lowered the boili...
by opihiman911
Fri Sep 27, 2013 2:01 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: black specks in final product
Replies: 3
Views: 769

black specks in final product

I ran 10 gallons gerber stripped low wines diluted down 35% with 1 TBS sodium carbonate per gallon added for the first time. I ran it through my 15 gallon SS boiler, 3' 2" reflux column packed full with copper mesh, propane burner. I ran it the same as all my other neutral spirit runs. Everythi...
by opihiman911
Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:16 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: sodium carbonate in 2 1/2 spirit run
Replies: 5
Views: 1377

Re: sodium carbonate in 2 1/2 spirit run

Got it, thanks for the answers.
I just filtered it out and have it heating up nice and slow right now. Got nothing better to do all day but watch a slow drip drip drip with an occasional taste taste taste.

Peace,
Opihi
by opihiman911
Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:30 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: sodium carbonate in 2 1/2 spirit run
Replies: 5
Views: 1377

Re: sodium carbonate in 2 1/2 spirit run

Thanks for the reply, its what I thought. I'm stripping the half batch as we speak and plan on doing my low and slow spirit run this weekend. Last question about carbonate. I put a Tablespoon of sodium carbonate per gallon of low wines. Looking at my glass jars, I now see probably a half cup of whit...
by opihiman911
Wed Sep 18, 2013 1:02 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: sodium carbonate in 2 1/2 spirit run
Replies: 5
Views: 1377

sodium carbonate in 2 1/2 spirit run

This is my first attempt at using sodium carbonate to get a cleaner, smoother, higher ABV vodka. I have stripped 2 batches of gerber wheat sugar wash and ended up with 6 gallons of 50% low wines that I have sitting on 1 TBS/gallon sodium carbonate for the past week. I had planned on adding this stri...
by opihiman911
Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:37 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: sweetfeed whisky
Replies: 4233
Views: 766343

Re: sweetfeed whisky

I have a question about temperatures and doing a spirit run on SF. In my first attempts at running neutrals and used a thermometer to gage my heat, reflux and what not. I was pretty successful and did a couple neutral runs that I was very pleased with. I then switched to this sweetfeed recipe and du...
by opihiman911
Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:28 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method
Replies: 4789
Views: 1184442

Re: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method

I am disappointed in my first UJSSM run. I followed the recipe to a T, scaled it up make a 12 gallon wash. Racked off 7 gallons of 10.2% wash and set about running my modified detuned BH 2"x 36" column with only 2 copper scrubbies packed in the top, powered by propane, no refuxing, pot sti...
by opihiman911
Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:45 pm
Forum: Sugar
Topic: saving spent mash from 3G sweetfeed run
Replies: 2
Views: 864

Re: saving spent mash from 3G sweetfeed run

Awesome, just what I wanted to hear. I just filled 4 gallon zip lock bags of my spent grain and have it stored in a dark Tupperware crate. Can't wait to see what this SF is like in future generations.

Thanks,
Opihi
by opihiman911
Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:21 pm
Forum: Sugar
Topic: saving spent mash from 3G sweetfeed run
Replies: 2
Views: 864

saving spent mash from 3G sweetfeed run

I have run a couple gerber and BW sugar washes with good results that I and my family are quite happy with. I then got interested in making some sweetfeed runs. I just finished my 3rd generation of my SF whiskey and it is getting better with each generation. Problem is I have enough SF whiskey to ag...