Search found 642 matches

by knuklehead
Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:54 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Open Vat Fermenting
Replies: 9
Views: 3773

Re: Open Vat Fermenting

jmc91199 I was watching a thing on tv the other day about the woodford distillery in kentucky. They were fementing the mash in huge open vats. Since yeast are competitive, once a colony gets going it should keep other bugs gaining a foot hold. do I really need to keep a lid on the fermenter? any ot...
by knuklehead
Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:07 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: distilling on the grain
Replies: 55
Views: 19872

Grayson Whats the difference between rye and barley husks when straining a wash? Barley has a lot of husk and makes for a great filter bed while straining the beer. I use all malted rye which has no husk and makes a very poor filter bed. Rye has high beta-glucans content which greatly increase wort...
by knuklehead
Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:52 am
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Parts needed to finish off still?
Replies: 15
Views: 5133

Fretman124 Big J....where did you get your cork gasket? I used a cork rubber thing (bought it a auto parts store) for my water run. It didn't seal after that so I used flour paste for the spirit run. Your looks a lot thicker than what I started with. is it re-usable? Use a double layer if one is no...
by knuklehead
Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:44 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: distilling on the grain
Replies: 55
Views: 19872

Thanks Ricky, glad you've figured out a way to distill on the grain. I distill with internal elements so my biggest problem was straining the mash. Barley was not a problem but for some reason I could never strain a rye mash well enough to distill it without scorching. Now I have no problems, even c...
by knuklehead
Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:42 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: distilling on the grain
Replies: 55
Views: 19872

Distilling on the grain

This was my solution to distilling on the grain. Scroll down to my pictures of "Double boiler"
by knuklehead
Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:17 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: distilling on the grain
Replies: 55
Views: 19872

Commercial blended whisky's are mixed with neatral spirits
by knuklehead
Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:09 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Temp confusion
Replies: 23
Views: 10404

There is no problem there. Because your lyn arm is at an upward slope your temp at the start of your collection will be higher. You are getting reflux in the arm and the vapour can't pass untill a higher temp.
by knuklehead
Tue May 23, 2006 8:54 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Vodka quality
Replies: 19
Views: 8085

The still makes vodka, has nothing at all to do with the yeast or the sugar source you use. If you need to use carbon after distilling vodka, don't blame the yeast. It's the still that should be looked at.
by knuklehead
Tue May 23, 2006 8:39 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: corna mills
Replies: 4
Views: 1027

don't be so lazy guys :lol: crank it by hand, makes the fruits of your labor more enjoyable.
by knuklehead
Tue May 23, 2006 8:32 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Still Spirits Reflux Still - Extra Packing
Replies: 12
Views: 5481

I wouldn't let soap near my still or fermentin' gear for any ammount of money.
I'll second that THM
On another note, that is a pot still, why are you packing anything at all. Just double run for flavored spirits and triple for neutral.
by knuklehead
Tue May 23, 2006 8:25 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: new design up for critism
Replies: 10
Views: 3951

Swag is absolutely right, reflux running down the column walls will do little good. Soldering stainless to copper is no problem, just get your flux right. Good luck.
by knuklehead
Mon May 15, 2006 2:47 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Rum in the news
Replies: 9
Views: 3957

If you don't think that's funny you can get the hell out of here right now :lol:
by knuklehead
Mon May 15, 2006 2:34 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Red star yeast
Replies: 11
Views: 4353

If your making whisky using grains then you don't need to add any more nutrient.
by knuklehead
Thu May 11, 2006 8:22 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: freezing malt
Replies: 5
Views: 1842

I'd suggest to just dry it and grind it just before you use it. Should stay fresh longer that way.
by knuklehead
Thu May 11, 2006 8:16 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: copper and stainless??
Replies: 4
Views: 1679

I wouldn't think that you would get any type of reaction in the time it takes to do a run. After a long period if the metals where not separated between runs I could see a problem. I'd just make sure and remove the packing after your run. It wouldn't be any different then packing a copper column wit...
by knuklehead
Tue May 09, 2006 2:22 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: ice bag
Replies: 6
Views: 2854

I doubt the ice would last long. You would be better off jus putting ice in the sink. If you freeze a 4 liter ice-cream pail with water and put that in the sink with your water it would help to keep the coolant temperature down.
by knuklehead
Sat May 06, 2006 1:21 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: equalibrium
Replies: 3
Views: 1679

Your head temperature stabilizes.
by knuklehead
Thu May 04, 2006 2:43 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Slight problem
Replies: 8
Views: 2269

I have the same problems sometimes. Trying to do to many things at once and not focusing on any of them. Good lesson.
by knuklehead
Thu May 04, 2006 2:39 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Internal reflux?
Replies: 6
Views: 2867

During a run the output will always slow near the end. If you start off to slow it will slow down to nothing. I think your on the right track Watershed. Running it that slow you will have been getting uncontrolled internal reflux and near the end you where just at 100% reflux. My collections when ru...
by knuklehead
Thu May 04, 2006 2:30 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Just bought me Still
Replies: 40
Views: 12807

I always to double runs for flavored spirits in which I strip of several batches and do one combined spirit run however for neutral spirits I do a single run in my reflux. I have a very high column so I find it makes just as good a product with one run then if I did a stripping run first. I am not d...
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:25 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: copper packing, can I store them in vinigar for long time?
Replies: 8
Views: 2187

For homedistilling there is nothing better then copper mesh. Rashig rings are no where near as good for small scale distilling.
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:24 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: new guy, help please, would this work?
Replies: 6
Views: 1421

The yeast to use for rum is really a matter of oppinion. I use Lavlin EC-1118 yeast for making my rum. As for how much depends on your experience and what kind of yeast you are using. I have done 120 liters on 10 grams in a starter using EC-1118.
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:18 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Confused about recipes.
Replies: 5
Views: 1583

doesnt that make rum? i said i wanted to make a vodka Making vodka is not a matter of what your wash or mash consists of. You can make vodka form grain, molasses or fruits if you wanted. Vodka is made in the still, not in the wash. Now if you want the most efficient way of making a neutral spirit (...
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:09 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: First Batch Ran
Replies: 19
Views: 4500

It is a great hobby isn't it. :D
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:56 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: condensing in the middle of nowhere?
Replies: 30
Views: 9397

Why don't you just use electric heat? Then you could do it in doors. If you are set on using gas and doing it in the woods then you would be better off using a coil in a bucket condenser. Make sure your condensing bucket is as big or bigger then your boiler and you should not need to change the wate...
by knuklehead
Sat Apr 29, 2006 4:31 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: copper packing, can I store them in vinigar for long time?
Replies: 8
Views: 2187

I've got mesh form Brewhaus. I always leave it submersed in vinegar till a few days before my next run. It sometimes sits for months at a time and the only time I had issue was when I did not put in enough vinegar. The exposed mesh deteriorated and fell apart when rinsing. Everything else was fine. ...
by knuklehead
Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:48 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: Colling Valved Reflux
Replies: 16
Views: 6665

The cooling water flow through the coil on an offset head reflux still should have no effect on the head temperature. If you have enough flow to knock down all the vapour then the returned reflux will be what is controlling the head temperature, not your water flow. If your column stabilizes at 82 C...
by knuklehead
Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:56 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Essensce
Replies: 15
Views: 5906

Practically all formulas have variables associated with them, but when I carbon filter in the jug I use exactly one "chunk" ...as in chunk it in there. A chunking of carbon is good when you have the time to wait and can give the jug a good shake a few times a day for a week or two. If you...
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:56 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: charring barrel
Replies: 4
Views: 2224

I think I remember the post you are referring too and it was a long time ago. It was posted by THM but at that time I didn't really pay to much attention to it so I don't remember all the details. It was something about using hot coals, dumping them into the barrel and rolling it around to char the ...
by knuklehead
Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:45 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Most COMPLETE instructions for still making
Replies: 4
Views: 2205

zx12, on the link MyDBear gave you there is a complete set of instructions for two types of stills, it doesn't get any simpler then that. You said you wanted to build and offset head still, well it's on that site. You also said you wanted a list of materials to buy for the still construction, well c...