Need advice on my new still

[centralpabiofuel]

I've had this still for 3 years and am finally ready to get back into brewing.
I had some success before producing ~60% on the first run. I would like
to be able to produce 190 proof, but don't know if that is possible. This is
the still that I am using.



I was using a sugar wash that was fermenting with baker's yeast from the
supermarket. I think I may have been making the wash to rich in sugar
and too rich in yeast. But anyway is 120 proof good for a first run?


What should I do with the rest of the wash after it is distilled? It should
have a lot of nutrients left, no? Can it be pured into a compost pile?


Basically I'm starting over from scratch except for the still, I have that
already.

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you.

CPBF

[firefly]

I have the same model and did a 25L sugar wash with turbo yeast and it came out at 90%.....no smell, and the shine is pretty smooth....
Does yours have the water flow control system???

[centralpabiofuel]

I have the same model and did a 25L sugar wash with turbo yeast and it came out at 90%.....no smell, and the shine is pretty smooth....
Does yours have the water flow control system???

Thanks for the quick reply! What are you using for a heat source. I had a
$10 wal-mart hot plate, but it wasn't very flat and wasn't really accurate.
I hate spending $50+ on a hotplate, but I guess I may have to unless
someone has a better idea.

When you did a 25L wash, could you explain the process. How much sugar,
how much yeast? What temp did you have the wash and for how long. What
can I use to keep the wash warm? I don't remember keeping it warm
before but maybe I used a heating pad.

Any other suggestions are appreciated!

[firefly]

For my heat source....I used propane....(dont remember what the propane burners are called)

For my 25L wash...I used 8kg of sugar and 1 bag of turbo yeast ...
Let it ferment 6 days...i put it in a room in the basement and kept the heat up in the room(wife was not happy!!) The heat in the room was 78 degrees and I believe the wash was also 78......


So getting back to the wash....if you stick with a neutral sugar wash.....What I was told in here is to use 6kg of sugar instead of 8....thus having a wash of 14%....

Just keep the wash in a hot place and it should be ok.....worked for me.....
cheers....

[bronzdragon]

I use the same type also. It shouldn't really be a problem to get at least 90% (180 proof) out of that still as long as you pack the column and run a reflux run.

I don't do that too often as I mostly make flavored spirits in the pot part. But I getting about 90-92% shouldn't be difficult.

~r~