Search found 15 matches

by JohnDrake
Wed Feb 09, 2022 4:09 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Cab-o-sil
Replies: 5
Views: 479

Cab-o-sil

If anyone out there has ever done automobile body work, or messed with fiberglass, you should know what cab-o-sil is. Kind of gel-like and fluffy. I am getting something that looks exactly like cab-o-sil settling out in the bottom of my jars when I distill down to 30 proof or so. About a half inch t...
by JohnDrake
Sun Mar 21, 2021 10:00 am
Forum: Sugar
Topic: extra-long ferment
Replies: 8
Views: 1651

Re: extra-long ferment

Thank you for the reply and info!
by JohnDrake
Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:32 am
Forum: Sugar
Topic: extra-long ferment
Replies: 8
Views: 1651

extra-long ferment

Looked, but didn't find anything related under "Sugar". If this has a section that covers this subject, please direct me! I started a sugar wash December 26, 2020 using a packet of Baker's yeast, 9 pounds of sugar, 6 ounces of tomato paste, and 9 gallons of water. After 2 weeks at about 65...
by JohnDrake
Sat May 09, 2020 6:55 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Multiple runs question about foreshots
Replies: 6
Views: 1802

Re: Multiple runs question about foreshots

zed255, thank you! You've given me a great explanation to the answer I sought.
by JohnDrake
Sat May 09, 2020 6:23 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Multiple runs question about foreshots
Replies: 6
Views: 1802

Re: Multiple runs question about foreshots

Thank you both for the fast reply, and please forgive my (inaccurate?) terminology. I guess my real question was, if I remove the first (250ml?), highly volatile product coming out of the worm from the start of each separate run, is it necessary to delete any of the product coming out from the fourt...
by JohnDrake
Fri May 08, 2020 8:52 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Multiple runs question about foreshots
Replies: 6
Views: 1802

Multiple runs question about foreshots

Been searching the forum but unable to find a clear answer. Let's say I make 3 different runs of 10-gallon mash, deleting 250ml of foreshots from each. If I combine the heads and tails from the first three runs for a fourth and "final" run, will there be any foreshots to discard? Why or wh...
by JohnDrake
Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:00 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Blending
Replies: 7
Views: 798

Re: Blending

" HDNB replied:
"you understand that ethanol is a toxic solvent right?""
Lol! Thanks for the warning, but I consider ethanol to be a joint, muscle, and brain cell lubricant. :wink:
by JohnDrake
Thu Jun 22, 2017 5:26 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Blending
Replies: 7
Views: 798

Re: Blending

Thanks, Gents! I am extremely careful (paranoid) about what I put in my body. I really like the fact that by makin' yer own, you can eliminate (really?) the possibility of a hangover. NZChris, I will start trusting my senses, as that's what's going to determine the final product, whether I drink it,...
by JohnDrake
Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:32 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Blending
Replies: 7
Views: 798

Blending

If this is in the wrong thread, please feel free to move it there. Looking/reading through the various forum categories, I see where it is a must to discard at least the first 50ml/gallon that comes out of a pot still. I understand this and fully agree. If several batches are run, with the correspon...
by JohnDrake
Sun Dec 14, 2014 6:13 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Newer Guy
Replies: 14
Views: 598

Re: Newer Guy

Thank you, everyone. No, I don't have a death wish, I was just seeking clarification of some posts. You have a group here that has such a collection of knowledge that I have gotten ahead of myself. I will go back to reading. I'm a bit impatient sometimes and "want it now ," but not at the ...
by JohnDrake
Sun Dec 14, 2014 4:43 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Newer Guy
Replies: 14
Views: 598

Re: Newer Guy

Okay. The aluminum "pitting" was the real issue. What I got out of the thread was that you could use an aluminum container as a boiler, but pitting was the problem, not aluminum ions leaching into the product. So I guess what I want to know is if lead ions are heavy enough not to be a prob...
by JohnDrake
Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:47 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Newer Guy
Replies: 14
Views: 598

Re: Newer Guy

Bigbob, Thank you for the kind welcome. Took Coyote's advice, the eyes are just starting to turn red. What do you mean about lead in the solder? I was just in the What Not to Use section, (posted a question) and they seem to think that an aluminum boiler is okay because the aluminum contamination wo...
by JohnDrake
Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:18 pm
Forum: What Not To Use/Do
Topic: Pressure Cookers
Replies: 60
Views: 17619

Re: Pressure Cookers

Oh boy. Being the newer guy here, I just posted (in the Welcome section) about finding an old still that I had concerns about regarding corrosion and leaks. Then someone mentioned that since it is old, I should not buy it because there might be lead in the solder. My eyes are red from reading and no...
by JohnDrake
Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:56 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Newer Guy
Replies: 14
Views: 598

Re: Newer Guy

More, eh? Born/raised in the Midwest U.S. near where the Ohio meets the Mississipi. To iterate, I helped a friend make a product and thoroughly enjoyed the results. Now I've found an old, 8-10 gallon copper pot in an antique store. It has a brass plug that already has tubing holes drilled. The bad p...
by JohnDrake
Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:41 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Newer Guy
Replies: 14
Views: 598

Newer Guy

Just found this site last night after a somewhat related search.

Very interested in this site and topic as I helped an old boy with his bucket list to be like Robert Mitchum.

The end product was some of the finest liquid I've ever had. Now it's on my bucket list.