Confused about vapor escape

[thatguy1313]

So I ran my first peach "brandy" yesterday and something happened right before fores came off I've never seen. Just as the first drops started coming off, I noticed some vapor coming out the end of the condenser (product output). I checked the condenser (28" PVC Liebig, 1" PVC over 1/2" copper with #4 copper line wound around the 1/2"). No leaks, excellent water flow, and cold droplets coming off with vapor. As soon as output became a stream, vapor stopped. Lines were cool, condenser working properly, any idea why or what vapor was coming out?

[rad14701]

Your liebig may have been working on establishing a temperature gradient during heat-up... That small amount of vapor loss can be solved by stuffing a small amount of SS or copper scrubber into the output end of the liebig...

[T-Pee]

I always smell a bit of vapor just before the still begins to produce. It's my "Stand By" indicator and it stops when takeoff commences.

tp

[sltm1]

+1 T-Pee

[Truckinbutch]

+ 2 TP .

[SIXFOOTER]

Hmm, I don't think I would worry about that little bit of escaping vapor right before your product starts to run, thats Fores anyway. As long as it stabilizes and no more vapor after your fore collection you should be good to go.

[thatguy1313]

Cool. Thanks guys. I'd just never seen that before.

[SoMo]

Any vapor escape is bad, safety first. As soon as you fire up your still charge, turn coolant on until flow then shut it off as vapors start down the arm it will hit that cooler spot and condense giving you drops, without the explosion or fire hazard.
Smelling it before hand is ok but vapor isn't.