How much packing do you use in a Bokakob?

[sergiolis]

Hi guys, I would like to run my new Bokakob for the first time. It's an standard one of 150 cm, so from the bottom to the plates exactly 120 cm. I'm using Chore Boy Copper scrubbers. But I don't know how many scrubbers to put in. I'm looking for a very clean neutral and i will use Allbran recipe wash.
Is it enough to clean the scrubbers with 50/50 water/vinegar for 24 hours?
Thanks a lot guys
have a nice spirit!!!

[rad14701]

Put in as many as it takes to fill it to about 1 column diameter below the lower slant plate... They should be packed in fairly snug in order provide decent functionality... There is no exact number and it depends on how dense the scrubbers are to begin with...

[BentJar]

Check those chore boys with a magnet. damn china crap will be copper plated.

[Ayay]

Yes clean those scrubbers; 24 hrs seems too much, just 1 hour should let the vinegar do it's thing. Pack the scrubbers in tight enough so that you can breathe easily through the column or as Rad says, ' provide decent functionality' . Extremely tight packing may inhibit breathing. Fake scrubbbers (fake copper or stainless) are highly magnetic. Test with a magnet.

It comes down to how you feed and run your still, and what you do after. All stills can produce fine product...reflux stills will produce purer stuff but they are not a short cut.

[sergiolis]

Thanks a lot guys!!! great answers.... I can say Chore Boy scrubbers are right, not magnetic... they are made from Mexico.
When you finish the run is it enough to rinse the column and the scrubbers with water?
In my Bokakob at the moment i will run just Allbran...

[rad14701]

When you finish the run is it enough to rinse the column and the scrubbers with water?
In my Bokakob at the moment i will run just Allbran...

Yes, that's all it takes... The steaming hot alcohol vapor has already done most of the cleaning already so you just need to hot rinse and you're done...

[sergiolis]

Thanks a lot Ayay, Rad & Co, your advices are very helpful.
Another obvious novice question
Do you sanitize your fermenter buckets and how do you do it??
My fermenters are made of polypropylene......
Thanks in advance

[rad14701]

Another obvious novice question
Do you sanitize your fermenter buckets and how do you do it??
My fermenters are made of polypropylene......

All I do is a hot water rinse... If there is some crud stuck on the inside I sometimes use a little washing soda (Arm & Hammer) and let it set for anywhere from an hour to several days before rinsing... Never had an infection...

[sergiolis]

Ohhh thank you so much, that sounds really easy....
Wow Rad I'm reading All Bran recipe and is a lot homework to do anyway really interesting for a novice like me....

[Ayay]

The slower and cooler the ferment, the more care needed against infection. Beer and wine brewers have to take extra care for brews going on for months.

Brewing for the still is fast and dirty...lots of yeast...higher temps...all done in two or three weeks. Infections can't get a leg in, but the brew is relatively dirty and not fit for drinking. No worries...we are not drinking the brew until the still and the cuts have sorted it out.