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When I began the hobby, I experimented using temperature as a guideline. There were a few benefits that should not be dismissed. I learned a great deal about how hard to run different washes and how to operate the equipment more efficiently both in time and energy input. Using temp to develop a prod...

Hello All- I am primarily a hobby wine maker. I came to this site to find a use for my unsuccessful experiments, so I have a bit of experience working with different varieties of grape wine. I always keep copious notes on the wine making processes; tannin, sulfite and acid additions, pH and sulfite ...

Thanks Cranky, Normandie and Stillanoob for your input and direction. It's much appreciated.

Stillanoob- Thanks for your reply and input. Just to be clear, because I'm usually not, I did not do a second press. I made a volume of simple syrup equal to the volume that I pressed out as cider and at the same SG as the cider, and then fermented that on the previously pressed apples, which is why...

That rubber outlet will get pretty warm running your controller for several hours and also if it's left dangling behind the dryer between uses. Keep it strapped in the open and keep an eye on it. If the rubber breaks down it can arc internally and if it gets hot enough it can ignite. Probably not an...

My brother-in-law had an unusually productive year with his apple trees and brought me a trunkload of apples from his trees. Literally, he filled the trunk of his car and drove them to me. No effort on my part. I visualize the swarm of fruit flies trying to keep up on the drive and the carnage along...

Just need to be clear on the equipment you're using. The original poster was using an 11000 W controller. The dryer circuit won't handle that. If you are using a 5500 W controller, it can be done but, it would be better to run a dedicated circuit. If you are splitting the dryer circuit by placing an...

A quick and easy way to check natural stone tile for fillers is to look at the backside of the tile. Usually the voids are left unfilled on the back. If there are visible voids then the tile face contains epoxy fillers. If the tile has a polished finish, sometimes the factory uses chemical hardeners...

Thanks for the responses. Still curious how the taste would differ if I replaced wheat for corn or malted wheat for malted barley. Thinking it will just need experimentation and that I’ll start with a makers mark type grain bill, approximately 70% corn, and about 15% each of malted wheat and barley...

I, too use the same element to drive different sized boilers. Just a word of caution. I burned out an element while driving it almost full during heat up. The failure occurred near the base of the element. I assume the restriction caused by the spool caused the element to heat unevenly, or maybe a b...

Hello All- First, thanks to everyone for posting. I've avoided countless mistakes by reading here and I haven't been disappointed with anything I've made largely due to the guidance you all have provided. Just curious if anyone has run into this. I have read the Arroyo papers and was collecting deep...

I've been using their 921 with excellent results, even when fermentation temperature is higher than usual. It ferments very quickly and completely at higher temperatures with little negative effect on the flavor profile. Cooler and slower is better but there's not a huge drop off. I tried their ale ...

Hello All- Thanks to everyone for posting your knowledge, successes and failures. Been reading for days by the suggestion of 30xs and others. A lot of questions answered and a lot of info that prompts different questions. For now only one (two part question): In a valve plate, has anyone used copper...

30xs-

Thanks for your reply. I will follow through per your suggestions.

Regards.
PDBR

Dan- Saw your build on youtube a while back. It wasn't until a couple of days ago that I found the link to here. Very impressive work. I hope you don't mind a few questions. What are the tolerances for the plates along the column walls? Does the gap get closed off by the liquid or capillary action o...

Hello All. Just found this forum and after a short amount of reading I recognize the wealth of knowledge, skill and expertise of the members here. I began as a winemaker. Some of my early experiments fell short of my expectations leaving me with gallons of sub-par consumables. "Waste not, want ...