specific gravity

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:08 pm

Hey everyone, ready to twist my first 5gal. (old fashioned American) sugar wash and I dont have a way to monitor my specific gravity yet and I see how big of a part the s.g. role plays should I wait or can I confidently wing this batch without?? (water,sugar, bakers yeast,lemon juice and tomato paste) Thanks everyone..

tracker0945 · Post by **tracker0945** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:34 pm

You can go without, just by appearance and taste.
When you first mix, it will taste very sweet.
Bubbles will start.
A cap will form on top af the wash.
Bubbles will stop, foam cap will disappear.
Wash will taste sour or dry (like a dry white wine)
Let it clear (solids settle out)
Throw it in your boiler and run it.

S.G. readings are great for designing your own wash/mash or for when something goes wrong and you need some help.
Cheers.

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:39 pm

Thanks tracker and do you still monitor the spec grav on all your initial washes or do you wing it, I guess what I'm after is it essential to monitor or a fine tune tool !

tracker0945 · Post by **tracker0945** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:43 pm

Its like keeping a log book for your car, it will run without it but if you have to give your mechanic some detailed history so he can correct a problem, you will have the answers.
Cheers.

edit: I take readings

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:18 pm

Well that fits me to a "T" chronic logger from my Harleys to my lawnmower (12 years old by the way). I havent seen any devices from brewhaus or mile-hi any good links?
Thanks for the info I needed a little assurance that I wasnt going at this totally half -----, I hate to waste anything these days and I want to start out with at least a base run first time at bat,no strikes!!

tracker0945 · Post by **tracker0945** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:28 pm

If you keep good records of all your ferments, ingredients, temps, S.G.,methods, you will be well on your way to master distiller.
Check any Home Brew Store for a 'Beer & Wine Hydrometer'.
They are standard issue everywhere. As common as fermenters and airlocks.

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:49 pm

Thanks plenty,appreciate the help and thanks for the patience, I'll bet theres one in the $59.99 fermentation starter kit I ordered from Mile-Hi last Friday.Daaaaa. Some of the terminology and my basic knowledge is catching up with me, I've been buried in info for the last 3 weeks and it's a little hazy, maybe time for a 10 min. break? Me and my 12 year old son twisted a double wound coil utilizing a 15mm inner coil and a 30mm outer coil. We filled with salt and crimped ends. I was a little nervous when we first started but it ended up going 100% better than I was expecting, got lucky. Sorry again,I'm working at it...

Butch50 · Post by **Butch50** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:52 pm

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:10 pm

Yes thanks for asking,the kit also has an alcoholmeter included should have all the basics included.Looks like a good deal for a beginner.

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:57 pm

[http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/fololofo/l][/url]

I hope this worked these are my still photos.

Chev · Post by **Chev** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:51 pm

Blind Eye wrote:[http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/fololofo/l][/url]
I hope this worked these are my still photos.

http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/fololofo

Looks good, that is a mighty high column you got there!

Post by **HookLine** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:54 pm

Nice job on the coil too, Blind Eye. Did you use sand, salt, water...?

Blind Eye · Post by **Blind Eye** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:01 am

Thanks Chev and Hookline,sorry about the dead link,I think I've got it now I'll try again while I've got an open post (practice makes perfect).

The picture posted is my motivational future peek at what I'll have. It is a full 5' x 2" piece without the sectioning for the coil top (10"-12" pending on plate separation distance,plans say 1/4" but I've seen many change to a little larger?) and the rest of the 4' I have a male/female and was going to halve @ 2' for the use of my second potstill head.

I like the idea of having my cake and eating it too!! with a multi-use tool such as this I figured I'd have an excellent start where I can learn many different disciplines of this hobby...

As-Ol-Joe · Post by **As-Ol-Joe** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:42 am

I like checking specific gravity. I have found that using the same recipe and different brands of sugar can give you a different beginning s.g.

I assume the off brand sugars are not as pure.

10lbs of brand name sugar gives me a s.g. of about 1.084.
10lbs of off brand gives me a s.g. of about 1.070.

That is equal to about 2% difference in my finished wash.

Just my observations.

Home Distiller

specific gravity

specific gravity

Coil and still pictures

Re: Coil and still pictures