Search found 188 matches

by Justinthunder
Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:13 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Just go clarify , Shady is talking about the tube in the thumper , the one that goes to the bottom of it . . Yupp, I knew what he was talking about. Angle cutting it so nothing will block the tube from the bottom of the thump. I was just saying I’ll do that the same time I switch out the drain valv...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:35 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Just a thought. Not saying this was the problem. Make sure the end of the tube is cut at an angle. That way if the tube is shoved in too far, it wont hit the bottom of the thumper and get plugged up. Thanks for the tip man, I’ll do that next weekend when I’m soldering on a new drain valve, the one ...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:41 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

I think you mentioned that the vapor path into the thumper was 1/2"? This along with the backpressure from the thump and extra vapor created from the "High" heat could maybe be a bottleneck.. If the thump was thumping that would be evidence that the vapor path was not fully obstructe...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jul 12, 2021 9:11 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

…. On a side note does anybody know the best way to scrape burnt corn off the bottom of a still… I use a Scotchbrite pad to clean my boilers. It’ll scrub off the scorch without damaging the pot. ss Do you put them on a stick or something? The cape can barley fit my forearm in it and it’s a tall pot...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:55 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

I put caps on the in and out of my condenser when I put it away because it is stored in a shed and one of the first times I used it a dead earwig came out. I always rinse my still and the Lynne arm and all my lines and then they get stored in my basement so I doubt anything created a blockage but t...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jul 12, 2021 4:11 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

I'd guess you had a major puke into the thumper which transferred volume and then clogged the lyne arm resulting in the cap popping off. Then when fired back up you ran it dry (because your volume was much less than starting) and melted the solder. My guess is the boiler was overfilled, and too muc...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 7:18 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

The Baker wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 5:52 pm Classic.

Boiler operator ties down the safety valve.

Knowing for certain there will never be a build up of pressure....

Geoff
I ran out of hose clamps so I used a zip tie to hold my outlet hose on my Liebig lol, I live 2 hours from a hardware store so I used what I had lol
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 3:28 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

but the only way a pot can be emptied into a thumper is by the distiller letting it boil dry. As multiple people have responded: the thumper CANNOT suck fluid from the boiler. Because physics… Sorry hambone the way I read NZ Chris’s post was it was possible once the pot was extremely low, okay than...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 2:36 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

So the thumper did steal some from the pot. That simply isn't possible as liquid can't run uphill. The vacuum in a pot can suck the the charge out of a thumper when you turn the heat off, but the only way a pot can be emptied into a thumper is by the distiller letting it boil dry. Do you think mayb...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:53 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

How close to the bottom of the thumper is your inlet down tube? Heavy slop from your mash would definitely cause a pressure increase (back pressure) in the boiler, especially as the liquid level in the thumper increases. You’re starting to worry me that you don’t fully understand the physics of dis...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:25 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Thumper can’t suck boiler dry . You simply ran it until it was dry . Regarding the lid popping off , did perhaps a few lumps of corn foam up and plug the 1/2” ? That would be my guess . Good thing you don’t use 3/16” . That maybe, I had put a gallon of heads/tails in the thump with 2 gallons of was...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:36 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

1942F1F4-1011-423A-BB63-B082B5F98294.jpeg
The cap and Liebig are connected with a 1” union
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:58 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

I also added way more weight to the top of my cap, I did have 2 bricks and now I have 5 That's the worst thing you can do. All it does is make the pressure higher and the charge even hotter before it blows the lid off again. Look for a blockage or restriction and don't try to run it until you have ...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:43 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Did you blow through your condenser? It sounds like you had a plugged discharge line causing the internal pressure to build. When that happens, the boiling point increases storing more heat until the top popped. A rapid decompression will once again lower the boiling point and you get flooded by a ...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:24 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

I’m not sure how it did it, but it did and then the solder got so hot on my drain valve it turned to liquid and fell off my still. My pot is 12 gallon and my thump is 6 gallon
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:01 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Hambone wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:56 am How big is your condenser line?
1/2”
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:53 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Did you blow through your condenser? It sounds like you had a plugged discharge line causing the internal pressure to build. When that happens, the boiling point increases storing more heat until the top popped. A rapid decompression will once again lower the boiling point and you get flooded by a ...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:20 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Sounds like a little too much heat too soon. Is it just paste holding the pot top (lyne arm) to the boiler? Did you aerate the wash real good before heating it up? I’ve learned to heat up slowly to reduce the chances of foam getting into my column. But I’m running electric as well. I did aerate it,...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:39 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

Glad you’re safe and were watching it! Sounds like maybe an aggressive linda blair moment? Scoop it up if you can dump it back in and run it! I would never run my still unattended for this very reason, I definitely need a shower now lol I don’t think the wife is gonna like me being soaked in beer h...
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:36 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Re: Just had my first scare

I also added way more weight to the top of my cap, I did have 2 bricks and now I have 5
by Justinthunder
Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:31 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Just had my first scare
Replies: 48
Views: 2331

Just had my first scare

This is about my 10th run now, I did the same thing I’ve always done, the only thing different is this is a ujssm and not all grain, I doubled the batch so I could do a stripping and Spirit run, on my first batch the only thing I can think of is maybe I had my burner turned up too high? My still cap...
by Justinthunder
Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:58 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: My first Parrots beak...
Replies: 32
Views: 1398

Re: My first Parrots beak...

My newer Liebigs are attached with about a 90 degree bend at their inlet so that they can be swung to match up with any bench height, still, heat source or collection vessel. They are mostly hung from the rafters or whatever is handy, especially when distilling off grid, but they could be supported...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jun 28, 2021 6:12 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Feels so good
Replies: 6
Views: 517

Re: Feels so good

Thanks, I’ve seen that video before and I’ve read quite a few of the threads about the huffing, it’s never happened to me as I had a coiled condenser before, now that I have a Liebig it is slightly huffing, I can actually adjust the flow rate on my pump so I will try that and if it doesn’t help I wi...
by Justinthunder
Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:19 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Feels so good
Replies: 6
Views: 517

Re: Feels so good

Thanks yummy, even though I was going high power yesterday I noticed the Liebig wasn’t a steady stream it kinda spurted out, I think I’ll get a 45 degree copper price to put on the end so it just flows into my Demi johns when I strip.
by Justinthunder
Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:39 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Feels so good
Replies: 6
Views: 517

Re: Feels so good

I love new copper but not the cleaning and sac runs lol takes most of my day to get that done. I’m curious how this ujssm will turn out compared to an ag 50/50 corn and malted barley
by Justinthunder
Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:12 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Feels so good
Replies: 6
Views: 517

Feels so good

2788F885-6246-4B3A-AE38-4151AED3DBF8.jpeg Well after months and months of waiting for winter and set backs at home I finally got everything set up today for my vinegar run and sac run on my new setup. It runs awesome so far. My new water tank and water pump is 10,000x better than having the hose ru...
by Justinthunder
Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:41 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Grinders and Mesh Bags? Which ones?
Replies: 25
Views: 1255

Re: Grinders and Mesh Bags? Which ones?

I plug mine into a switched powerstrip because the unit does not include a switch. Otherwise, it’s a 10 out of 10! ss Mine came with a nice big red switch for on and off, maybe they have upgraded since you bought yours, and it plugs into a 110v plug which is awesome I can go through 17 pounds of wh...
by Justinthunder
Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:16 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Grinders and Mesh Bags? Which ones?
Replies: 25
Views: 1255

Re: Grinders and Mesh Bags? Which ones?

8BBD0AEB-119E-4CF8-A841-9622356EFA51.jpeg This was recommended on a previous post. I myself just purchased it and cannot say enough good things about it, I got it off eBay. I’m in Canada so it cost about 330$ With shipping and everything. I wouldn’t waste my my money or time buying anything smaller...
by Justinthunder
Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:24 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Same batch looks different.
Replies: 21
Views: 877

Re: Same batch looks different.

still_stirrin wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:01 am Being a “worry wart” is the scourge of this hobby. “Grow some patience”! Things will get easier as you gain “experience(s)”.
ss
I agree, but normally I do an ag whisky, this was my first swing at a ujssm and I wasn’t sure what was going on, 2 exact recipes look and are acting very different.
by Justinthunder
Tue Jun 22, 2021 4:43 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Same batch looks different.
Replies: 21
Views: 877

Re: Same batch looks different.

EE9135E2-72A7-4A27-B021-AB2B994F8B2E.jpeg
The foamier one has a bit of a beer taste already and the other started foaming over night and still tastes sweet, it may just be close behind the other