Home Distiller

I did an installation the other day where I had to cut out someone else's weld and redo it. In any case here is the photo.

I dunno . Just use a VM still head . Not effected by power fluctuations . Maintains constant Reflux ratio . So much less hassle than trying to automate an LM still head that by its very nature has several demanding variables . Seriously, a LM still has to be the simplest to operate / automate. It i...

For great insulation use Armaflex, 13mm thick. They also use Vidoglue for the adhesive part. But you can also get the Armaflex with a combined adhesive.

There are other but this works well.

There are a lot of public unknowns here. Authorities for whatever political reason are just not releasing the info. One young girl there whom survived told one reporter that the establishment released tear gas into the almost closed room. Remember that it is winter here, the room / tavern was pretty...

A comment was raised above where it was queried how much KW you were throwing at your boiler at any one time. This is an easy one for a home distiller where you can get a meter from your electronics shop and wire it up with your controller. Here is a photo of my controller where I have variable cont...

Just for quick info in running a LM still, below is a photo of the screen showing temperatures during last stages of heat up up to where fores and heads are about to be stacked. If you are doing a spirit run, best is to stack the heads for at least +20 minutes in full reflux. Never turn water off to...

Be well and best wishes

Nonsense. I run a LM still. You manage the entire process by temperature at the uppermost take off point. Forget the kettle temp., that's just for info. You monitor Ethanol BP, to fores, heads, hearts and tails. Take plenty samples for tasting (in jars) noting take off temp. during heads into hearts...

Good post from Aartooks so much so I distilled this gin 3 days back but with some minor changes. Recipe is good and very drinkable. A "quaffable" gin. But something is missing or needs changing from being perfect, smooth and taste rounded. (yes I know that it needs to stand longer). With a...

Another thing that I am wondering, lets say I have 2 different gin run that I have to start the first one is %43 ABV and the second one is 30 ABV do I still collect 400 mls from each other, or is there a formula for this how do you do it ? If you use the same amount of Neutral, then YES the same am...

This is how I support the helical coil packing. The laser cut plate is welded in.

But this begs the question with respect to your Tangerine. I know Tangerine as a NAARTJIE which has an unbelievably soft skin which peels off with no effort. Your photo shows something quite different. Pith generally is thin so no scraping off.

Brilliant

I suspect that you have completely collapsed all the SPP and has become almost like a solid mass. This is the problem with this product in that it has no strength.

Ideally you ought rather consider SS helical coils like as shown below.

Interesting recipe your 3rd one.

What part I am not quite in agreement with is your pepper corn quantity / ratio which is extremely high.. 7.79 g (1g/l @43%). I would have dropped it to 1.2g (0.16 g/l @43%)

The big question is ..... how does the it finally taste

I suspect that you have cut too way early into hearts with the heavy Juniper oils coming through.

Apologies, this ought read .... too way early into heads with heavy Juniper oils coming through

@Andrew_90 As below / attached is my spreadsheet view of the recipe. I haven't included the Lindentree. My only view is on the use of dried house tea i.e. Earl Grey and similar, I find that they can lead to some quite harsh flavours especially if used in high ratios. As to louching as you haven't us...

All shapes and sizes. Google pelamatic. About $174. Works great..... but not for industrial use.... home use.

Bought a Zester for this project as well as general zest dehydration.

Used 3 lemon zests in 250ml neutral at 96%. 5 days maceration and added 375ml water and sugar

My comment is with respect to your heat sink. To locate your heat sink inside your box as far as I am concerned is wrong and ought be positioned on the exterior. This is easily accomplished with a few cut outs for a SS plate and subsequent mounting. This way, your heat is kept external doing away wi...

Regarding your column, you indicated 3", SPP, 2KW @ 2lph, this rate for when you are running with high reflux for high %ABV take off.

What rate do you achieve when stripping.

Always try keep copper to the base of the column and better still if it is easily removable. This will aid in cleaning. I designed a column where I can at will insert and remove the copper. Yes have the copper for stripping. I am of the opinion the SPP is too small for your column, the SPP at approx...

Still busy building for the future so not yet commercial.

But, my current active still is a 60L unit and you are getting the benefit of my build experience.

Not sure what you are making but I would not advise using backset in fermentation. Basically you will potentially lose fermentation control with all sots of infections coming into play. Rather use the backset in a mash and you will get better PH control as well as creating the basis for yeast nutrie...

For this boka / LM still I concur, do not use a ball valve unless flow rate control is not considered important. The best and least expensive is a needle valve. A 1/4" needle valve is good for up to 6 LPH That all said I would not waste money on automated control unless you have a serious sized...

Just remember that whatever you decide to use, ...... attach it directly to a heat sink, with the heat sink external to the enclosure / control box. This way you prevent internal overheating.

I recently did a beer stripping run on a new 60L LM still build and was checking amongst others a variety of things. ... Cooling water take off temperature at RC top ..... outlet Temperature of distilled product take off after PC Top temperature at column top (where I have a DN25 CIP connection) I w...

The above can be shown in an Excel spread sheet that I made up for a beer brewing vessel that I am busy with.

Distilling mashing is not the same as beer mashing as its process is simpler but the same initial figures hold true

Cheaper to go and spin your own copper top

Don't bugger around, go and tig weld it closed. Just remember to purge the inside during the weld...….. or stick weld it closed with a SS rod.