Search found 184 matches

by tubbsy
Mon May 17, 2021 5:57 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Lying Hydrometer
Replies: 4
Views: 630

Re: Lying Hydrometer

A proofing hydrometer is no good if there are any solids in the wash. Only use the (OG-FG)*131.25 to calculate ABV. Save the proofing hydrometer for the resultant spirit out of the still.
by tubbsy
Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:31 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Homemade vs. commercial
Replies: 25
Views: 3642

Re: Homemade vs. commercial

I have a foot in both camps . I like that we can make super clean booze if we want . But I also love and for the most part prefer Commercial spirits . To me clean ... or smooth wreaks with something missing :yawn: ..... There is a multitude of Commercial stuff available and while I quite like most ...
by tubbsy
Tue Feb 23, 2021 6:00 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Show of Hands
Replies: 18
Views: 1177

Re: Show of Hands

To balance the bureaucratic requirements in the pamphlet...

Sodium Chloride LD50 = 3g/kg (oral, rats)
Glyphosphate LD50 = 5g/kg (oral, rats)

Warthaug's assertion is pretty clear. Glyphosphate is less toxic than table salt.
by tubbsy
Tue Feb 23, 2021 5:49 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Round Up and Grains
Replies: 46
Views: 3843

Re: Grain Caution

So you would be game to put your next ferment in a triple rinsed glyphosate container? Edit: Of course you would be required to drink the resulting product. No sac runs. I'd have no problems doing so. Indeed, the fermenters I currently use are ex boric acid drums. Children and pregnant women should...
by tubbsy
Tue Feb 23, 2021 12:22 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Round Up and Grains
Replies: 46
Views: 3843

Re: Grain Caution

Toxicity is not an indicator of carcinogenicity. Ignoring the conjecture over the classification for now, Glyphosphate is classified as Group 2A by the IARC, the same classification as red meat. Is a big juicy T-Bone steak classified as toxic to you?
by tubbsy
Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:37 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Round Up and Grains
Replies: 46
Views: 3843

Re: Grain Caution

I agree with everything Bryan says. My family are wheat and barley growers and I spent years working on the farm. Here in Australia, seed grain is innoculated against bacteria and microbes which can affect the grain when it is germinating. You can spot innoculated seed by the pink dye used. No farme...
by tubbsy
Thu Feb 11, 2021 5:42 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: 1.5 distillation?
Replies: 135
Views: 9086

Re: 1.5 distillation?

Sure, some of the vapor escapes right to the condenser... That right there answers your question. If any goes straight through, you can't call it a double distillation. Even if only 1% of the vapour made it through, it would only make it a 1.99 distillation. I don't have a thumper yet so I don't kn...
by tubbsy
Wed Feb 10, 2021 5:58 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: 1.5 distillation?
Replies: 135
Views: 9086

Re: 1.5 distillation?

jonnys_spirit called the use of a thumper a "more like 0.5 distillation in practice", not a 1.5. You are the one who started calling it a 1.5.
by tubbsy
Tue Feb 02, 2021 6:32 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: A question about cleaning
Replies: 10
Views: 809

Re: A question about cleaning

Expat wrote: Tue Feb 02, 2021 1:41 pm Depends on what 551 is I guess.
It's a George thing. A weird name for a mixture of 500mL of water, 50mL of hydrogen peroxide and one ounce of citric acid.
by tubbsy
Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:27 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Have I just made rocket fuel?
Replies: 25
Views: 2496

Re: Have I just made rocket fuel?

DSmith78 wrote:Which brings us neatly to that fantastic phrase - run it!
Which makes much more sense than the moronic "send it" I see on Facebook groups.
by tubbsy
Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:50 pm
Forum: Gin
Topic: mandarin taste
Replies: 12
Views: 1294

Re: mandarin taste

A Tangerine is a Manderin. And there are different varieties available, so what might have worked for Odin might not for you.

If you find the contribution of the peel to be too low when using the variety you have access to, add more in next time.
by tubbsy
Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:42 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: How useful is boiler temp? Whenever I’m at the vapor point I see nothing
Replies: 15
Views: 1270

Re: How useful is boiler temp? Whenever I’m at the vapor point I see nothing

The temperature of both the boiler and vapour are determined by the alcohol content in each., but not in the same way. This chart shows the relationship in vapour and liquid of temperature vs ABV.
CelsiusABV600.jpg
by tubbsy
Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:03 am
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Cheap Water proof Thermometer
Replies: 10
Views: 1311

Re: Cheap Water proof Thermometer

I found similar on eBay for around $4 each and got a little carried away for a while. These needed external power though, so I wired them all up to a christmas light power adapter.
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89A376B0-437E-47D5-92C6-18EC10D2E520.jpeg (41.79 KiB) Viewed 1191 times
by tubbsy
Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:24 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Electricity / Spark management when distilling indoors - can lights be on?
Replies: 13
Views: 1399

Re: Electricity / Spark management when distilling indoors - can lights be on?

It's enough of an issue that commercial distilleries (in Australia at least) need explosion proof switches and equipment close to the still. Now, I don't agree with it being needed if there is adequate ventilation, but it's a valid concern that shouldn't be so quickly dismissed.
by tubbsy
Tue Jan 12, 2021 7:49 pm
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: aging pure corn ethyl alcohol
Replies: 4
Views: 1241

Re: aging pure corn ethyl alcohol

Do you mean GNS (grain Neutral Spirit) diluted to 65% then aged? It'd work fine, but might mostly taste of oak.

BTW, you're not aging the wood, you're aging the spirit.
by tubbsy
Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:44 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Are these copper scrubbies - opinions please (pics included)
Replies: 8
Views: 752

Re: Are these copper scrubbies - opinions please (pics included)

Just went through this issue myself. Advertised as pure copper, but as soon as they arrived I tested them and found them to be highly magnetic. Argued with the seller but they were knobs and refused to believe me. Tried them just as cleaning scrubbers and within a few days one was disintegrating wit...
by tubbsy
Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:40 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: First all grain wash - SG
Replies: 4
Views: 497

Re: First all grain wash - SG

The guy at the home brew shop was wrong. You need to crush the wheat malt.

66C is a touch on the warm side, but would still mash OK. 58C though is too low. Aim for 64.

For that grain/water I would expect a gravity of around 1.070.
by tubbsy
Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:52 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: When a manufacturer says "double distilled" do they mean one stripping run then one spirits run or two spirit runs?
Replies: 12
Views: 1282

Re: When a manufacturer says "double distilled" do they mean one stripping run then one spirits run or two spirit runs?

At least here in Australia, and for sure Scotland as well, double distilled only has one meaning - stripping run followed by a spirit run. Anything else is not double distilling and they wouldn't be able to use the term on their products.
by tubbsy
Wed Dec 23, 2020 5:08 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Threaded connections
Replies: 10
Views: 1206

Re: Threaded connections

If you use enough Teflon tape they'll be fine. My issues would be that the tape will need to be cleaned off and reapplied each time it was taken apart.

by tubbsy
Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:42 am
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Tapatalk
Replies: 29
Views: 3474

Re: Tapatalk?

Disappeared from mine too. Not even showing up when I search for it. Reinstalled but no luck.
by tubbsy
Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:23 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Single malt, what do the commercial guys do?
Replies: 27
Views: 2299

Re: Single malt, what do the commercial guys do?

Thanks guys, I have ordered my Marris Otter. Can’t wait to get going Thats what I used. 50/50 Maris Otter and 2 row Pale malt. Is that not a “Double Malt” then :D Regards ErnieV The "Single" refers to it being made by a single distillery. You can use as many types of malted barley as you ...
by tubbsy
Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:21 pm
Forum: Rum
Topic: All molasses rum?
Replies: 21
Views: 8822

Re: All molasses rum?

Hi all And a mery x-mas So i took 100lt of water 50kg is 43% molasses 4 ltof inverted sugar(10kg in 5lt water) another 20lt of water(to dissolve all molasses left in bucket) 1kg oeaches and 4 oranges. In a tum wash. Sg reading 1130, 1 week later at 1050, still bubling tegularly, but sg dropping ver...
by tubbsy
Mon Dec 14, 2020 5:43 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Teddy's fast ferment vodka really has a bran aftertaste
Replies: 17
Views: 2450

Re: Teddy's fast ferment vodka really has a bran aftertaste

If you've only double distilled it, of course flavour will carry through. If you want a neutral spirit, you need to run it through a reflux still.
by tubbsy
Sat Dec 05, 2020 11:50 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Tequila
Replies: 6
Views: 984

Re: Tequila

by tubbsy
Sat Dec 05, 2020 9:41 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Ballantine style recipe
Replies: 4
Views: 697

Re: Ballantine style recipe

The best way to get a drink like a commercial whisky is to go to a shop and buy that whisky. You'd need to have the exact same grain, water, fermentation, still, cuts and a plethora of different casks to blend. And then it still might not be an exact replica. The best you can do is experiment with d...
by tubbsy
Sat Dec 05, 2020 9:29 pm
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: Rye whiskey.malt or straight grain
Replies: 6
Views: 1316

Re: Rye whiskey.malt or straight grain

Malted Rye is softer than unmalted rye, with far less of the typical rye spice. Still makes a lovely whisky though.
by tubbsy
Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:19 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Dilute ABV
Replies: 7
Views: 999

Re: Dilute ABV

As ABV is related to volume only, you can use the same calculator with juice in place of water. There is some dissolving of ethanol in water which does affect the final ABV, but it should be the same with juice. BTW, the word "spoonfed" needs to be banned on the forum. If someone doesn't w...
by tubbsy
Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:09 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Mechanical anti/defoamer
Replies: 28
Views: 2378

Re: Mechanical anti/defoamer

I know they use rotating paddles in the washbacks of Scottish distilleries. Not sure a mesh screen will work though. Might knock down some foam initially, but once the foam overcomes that you're back where you started. I always have a roll of copper mesh at the base of my riser for extra copper cont...
by tubbsy
Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:31 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Mechanical anti/defoamer
Replies: 28
Views: 2378

Re: Mechanical anti/defoamer

Mars, can you share your secrets to making a rum wash that doesn't foam/puke?
by tubbsy
Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:11 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Mechanical anti/defoamer
Replies: 28
Views: 2378

Re: Mechanical anti/defoamer

The OP is making rum. There is nothing you can do about the unfermentable sugars, so asking for advise to better manage the inevitable foaming seems to me a reasonable thing to do. Tubby.. you are also missing the point of the issue, as the original poster.. Yes there are thing that can be done, as...