Search found 10275 matches

by still_stirrin
Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:56 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: Chemical smell
Replies: 21
Views: 340

Re: Chemical smell

5-0 clock, I suggest removing the slobber box/thumper from the vapor path. As you try to isolate the cause of the “chemical smell/taste”, simplifying the process will help narrow the possibilities. I don’t know if you’ve put something into the “slobber box/thumper” or not, but omitting that vessel w...
by still_stirrin
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:08 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: bypass thumper?
Replies: 4
Views: 131

Re: bypass thumper?

Eliminate the thumper entirely. Connect the flake stand (worm condenser) to the potstill lyne arm directly. Waste not … want not. Besides, all the copper in the thumper will act as a heat sink and that will affect heat up time and operation stability. Simply take the thumper out of the circuit … you...
by still_stirrin
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:31 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: Chemical smell
Replies: 21
Views: 340

Re: Chemical smell

“Chemical smell”? Alcohol is a “chemical” … and it has a smell. And it is a unique and distinct smell. But other fermentation byproducts (congeners) are also “chemicals” and they too have distinct smells. To me, it sounds like you are too inexperienced to know what you’re smelling. And your descript...
by still_stirrin
Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:51 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: White Rum flavour too strong
Replies: 20
Views: 374

Re: White Rum flavour too strong

My “2 pence” answer would be triple distillation. That’s what I do when I make rum (I use the extremely raw deer-lick molasses). I HAVE to triple distill it to tame the raw “oily” character to a palatable rum flavor. Still, it is typically more “rummy” than a white rum. To get a “white rum” flavor, ...
by still_stirrin
Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:26 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Controller fan
Replies: 10
Views: 232

Re: Controller fan

Copperhead57 wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:57 am Thank you for the help guys. It is 12volt . I have several chargers laying around. I'm going to use one of them
Is it AC or DC? It matters.

I believe most computer fans are AC, so make sure the power supply (wall wart) is also AC. But double check the fan (it should be labeled).
ss
by still_stirrin
Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:18 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: What proof is best?
Replies: 13
Views: 389

Re: What proof is best?

Proof for “drinking liquor”? Well, it depends. I like to age my bourbons at 60% to 65%ABV (after cuts of the collection). But, after aging, I bottle it at 45%ABV because it gives me the most flavor when served “neat”. If the bottle proof is higher, it makes the liquor “hotter” and less enjoyable. Ho...
by still_stirrin
Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:59 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Raising low Ph
Replies: 9
Views: 212

Re: Raising low Ph

Hey, I’d suggest using calcium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide. It is not as dangerous to handle as lye. You can get the CaOH in the grocery store canning supply aisle, as “pickling lime”. Granted, it is not as strong of base as the lye, but safer to handle (I still advise being careful how yo...
by still_stirrin
Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:50 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Voltage control of immersion heaters
Replies: 3
Views: 122

Re: Voltage control of immersion heaters

Those SCR voltage controllers are Phase angle controllers and as Elbono said, if you control the Voltage , the current will proportionally follow . IE voltage controller is by default also a Current controller. True. But bear in mind that voltage control alone does not mean it will provide the curr...
by still_stirrin
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:29 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven
Replies: 64
Views: 2312

Re: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven

Jonny, Expensive crystal glasses are made with lead and used to serve expensive French champagne. Keep in mind that the lead is bonded with the silica in the molecular structure when the glass is made. So, your paranoia of toxic effects of the lead in your spirits is unfounded. I use inexpensive “ho...
by still_stirrin
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:10 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Liquid Malt Extract Experiment
Replies: 52
Views: 2218

Re: Liquid Malt Extract Experiment

Using the gluco-amylase enzymes helped to break down the non-fermentable sugars in the malt extracts. That was indeed obvious by your finishing gravities. So, it was a wise decision. Have you tasted the beers yet? I bet they’re all quite tasty. And they’ll make a tasty and unique brown spirit. But, ...
by still_stirrin
Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:50 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Looking to build a CCVM
Replies: 28
Views: 1035

Re: Looking to build a CCVM

First Stripping Run (35 Litre Charge) 50% initial product, ran for ~2 hours to 4% at parrot (25% overall) All seems good! I ran hard sub 10% because the flavour profile was quite good! :angel: How much low wines did you collect from the 1st run (strip)? From a 35l charge, I’d anticipate 8 to 9 lite...
by still_stirrin
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:00 pm
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: Peated Single Malt question...
Replies: 7
Views: 326

Re: Peated Single Malt question...

I would start with a 50/50 ratio of the peated malt. It will smell real smokey when fermenting. And the taste will have a good smoke flavor in the fermenter. But the boiler will reduce the apparent smoke signature significantly, such that when first run (the spirit run, of course) the peat quality w...
by still_stirrin
Thu Feb 22, 2024 1:03 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: +++2KW Induction & 5Gal Pot Distillation Process+++
Replies: 35
Views: 1365

Re: +++2KW Induction & 5Gal Pot Distillation Process+++

... my induction cooktop has an on/off cycle of 5secs on / 6secs off . Is that okay for doing a spirit run? ... Well, I doubt you'll get steady output. And the surges will likely smear your products too. If the cycles were only 1 sec on/off, then maybe it would work acceptably. You'll just have to ...
by still_stirrin
Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:17 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: +++2KW Induction & 5Gal Pot Distillation Process+++
Replies: 35
Views: 1365

Re: +++2KW Induction & 5Gal Pot Distillation Process+++

… I am very interested in copying your hotplate design. So, the key here is to have a variable power controller instead of a variable temperature controller? While I would also like to try the induction cooktop for distilling with some help. Thank you very much for dropping in. Yep. But how an indu...
by still_stirrin
Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:56 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven
Replies: 64
Views: 2312

Re: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven

… That would explain why people have good lunch with lava rock. It has very low heat transfer, besides large surface area. Good observation. Ideal packing would provide enough surface area onto which the condensate could “wick” so it could be reheated by the rising (hot) vapors. And the packing tha...
by still_stirrin
Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:10 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: +++2KW Induction & 5Gal Pot Distillation Process+++
Replies: 35
Views: 1365

Re: +++2KW Induction & 5Gal Pot Distillation Process+++

… It adjusts temperature from 0 to 100C. It is a 1000w lab hotplate. I’m gonna’ jump in here to add my thoughts, although you’ve gotten good info from others already. That “laboratory” hotplate is designed to set a known temperature and maintain it, for the purposes needed in a lab. It is not a “he...
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:40 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Single malt barley whiskry horrible taste
Replies: 23
Views: 950

Re: Single malt barley whiskry horrible taste

I'm collecting smaller amount in each jar for this run and will switch recipes to something easier next time around. For my stripping run today I seen small black stuff coming out of the spout, am I scorching the barley? Should I turn down the temp so I don't see any black stuff during my stripping...
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:52 am
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Thermo Coupler placement for a PID
Replies: 6
Views: 215

Re: Thermo Coupler placement for a PID

Priceless Yummy. An EXCELLENT post.
ss
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:44 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Keg Still Stripping Run Time
Replies: 40
Views: 844

Re: Keg Still Stripping Run Time

OK, that looks much better. Next thing to check is the Voltage across the heating element when powered. Put the pot back into the circuit and get ready to run. Put enough water in the boiler to fully cover the element. Then apply the power. Measure the Voltage on the 2 lugs of the element. Be carefu...
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:09 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Keg Still Stripping Run Time
Replies: 40
Views: 844

Re: Keg Still Stripping Run Time

Did you check the potentiometer’s resistance before you wired it to the circuit? Check it from one lug to the wiper and twist the knob. It should go from zero to 500k. Also, it appears like you’re using the white wire as the case ground/bond back to the heat sink, right? Is the SSR isolated from the...
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:43 am
Forum: Beer, and Wine
Topic: Can Fermentation Smell from a sugar wash get on other wines which are stored in SS tanks with floating lid
Replies: 3
Views: 353

Re: Can Fermentation Smell from a sugar wash get on other wines which are stored in SS tanks with floating lid

Artooks, how sensitive is your “sniffer”? I mean, how concentrated are the “fumes” from your boiler in the same room as the wine? If it’s extreme, then it is possible some of the airborne esters/ketones could settle and dissolve into the wine vat. But, it is unlikely those congeners would mask the f...
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:26 am
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: Whisky question
Replies: 4
Views: 404

Re: Whisky question

… Since generation 3 of the UJSSM [/b], i have been getting this issue, namely when I do my fast run towards the end of the run 20-10% , I get little greenish/blue dots[ in my spirit(they are also aggregated in some oils on top of the spirit)… It sounds like the “corn oils” coming through. Often, i...
by still_stirrin
Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:06 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: Final gravity reading issue with sugarwash
Replies: 13
Views: 502

Re: Final gravity reading issue with sugarwash

Initial gravity - specific gravity hydrometer - 1.107 High OG for a (good) ferment. Starting that high will challenge the yeast. At least you rehydrated the dry yeast before pitching. And the Lalvin EC-1118 is a slow fermenter as noted. I would expect ferments with an OG that high to take a couple ...
by still_stirrin
Fri Feb 16, 2024 7:04 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Samwell's Modular Bokakob Reflux Still
Replies: 62
Views: 1926

Re: Samwell's Modular Bokakob Reflux Still

Apparently you pump water out of the bucket, through your condenser/condensers. Do you send the hot water down the drain? I assume so because you said that you refill your bucket as the water level decreases. Yes, I send the hot water down the drain. I've never committed to doing anything with my w...
by still_stirrin
Wed Feb 14, 2024 11:59 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Vm/LM head
Replies: 107
Views: 3078

Re: Vm/LM head

Great post Yummy :thumbup: Avoid the temptation to alter the power, reflux settings in an attempt to raise the take off rate. My experience shows an increase in power will push tails up the column. Turning down reflux coolant flow will push tails up column. The two “warnings” give opportunity to ho...
by still_stirrin
Sun Feb 11, 2024 10:28 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: getting ready for my first spirit run with new still...any advice..
Replies: 78
Views: 2096

Re: getting ready for my first spirit run with new still...any advice..

… I don't understand this "target ABV". What does that mean? I read about, but don't understand it. It means, “don’t try to run your still (or make cuts) by the %ABV at the spout”. You MUST use your senses to make (good) cuts and training YOUR senses is fundamental to that end. Measuring ...
by still_stirrin
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:31 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Vm/LM head
Replies: 107
Views: 3078

Re: Vm/LM head

Thanks, this is really useful information for a novice destiller! How do I know when I have the correct opening on the VM-port? The VM valve (port opening) adjusts the reflux ratio. A small opening gives a high RR and hence, high purity. So, the opening depends on how high you want the %ABV off the...
by still_stirrin
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:18 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Grains and continuous stills
Replies: 3
Views: 178

Re: Grains and continuous stills

... The steam won't really get above the temp the water is boiling at (higher pressure will have a higher temp, 212 at sea level and 250 at 5psi (approx)… Actually, the saturated steam temperature for water at 15 psi is 250* F, not at 5 psi. At 5 psi, the saturation temperature is 227*F, which is s...
by still_stirrin
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:08 am
Forum: Sugar
Topic: Best sugar-wash?
Replies: 32
Views: 1670

Re: Best sugar-wash?

I’m with Yummy on this one. When making a molasses ferment/rum, I usually strip and then run through my VM reflux column (an insulated 2” x 1 meter, glass marble packed column). And because I use the raw deer-lick molasses to make it, I often have to run the final (reflux) cut through the potstill o...
by still_stirrin
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:55 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Chemical resistant tubing?
Replies: 12
Views: 409

Re: Chemical resistant tubing?

Is the old lore still that no type of tubing should come in contact with ethanol? … Chemical resistant tubing would be the easiest and cheapest … Is that still a bad idea for high proof ethanol to run through? Don’t like the answer you’ve been given? Read it again. Your still … your poison. Don’t e...