need to know about the temps

[goatroper57]

hello all
ill be ready to start cookin my sugar wash after monday morning iam tryin to figure out about were i should set the knob on my electric stove as thats all i have to use iam using a 3gl pressure cooker for my pot still the copper line is a 1/4 inch with my condenser coil in a old beer cooler i need to find the temps to run it for drinkable spirts ive found one that says the temp has to be at 172f but i cant seem to keep it there iam using water to try to figure out were to set the stove knob at or near for that temp but it just keeps risin so what can the temps be from to from or do ya have to keep them at 172f
thank you all
goatroper57

[Tater]

electric stoves elements cycle on and off to maintain there setting. Doesn't hold a steady heat that ya need to run a still and ya cant distill with a pot still by temps. Back up and read parent site then this forum .Be sure to read all the sticky's as well then get back to us.

[rad14701]

Ditto what tater said... You can't force the temperature to be what you want it to be... All you'll do is go crazy trying to chase the thermometer... Read... Read... Read...

[goatroper57]

tater iam sorry if i typed somthing wrong in my topic as i am not tryin to be a jurk so i am very sorry
ok since i cant use a electric house stove i have a out side turkey cooker with the stove part that uses propaine will thay work or i can even do it over a wood fire if need be i do live in the middle of nowere if i can use my turkey cooker i wont beable to get it for at least two weeks and my sugar wash will be ready to cook monday morning my wash is made with (liquor quik superyeast x-press) 16lb sugar 6.5 gl water how long can i let that set be for it goes bad as i figured ya could use any kinda heat sorce but i see i was worng a electric house stove wont work the the temp just keeps rising and rising and i only put the dial on 3 and it goes up to 10
again tater iam sorry
goatroper57

[Dnderhead]

the wash will keep until you git propane or what ever.just keep closed

[new_moonshiner]

best bet is to use the turkey cooker as many here also do... the wood would be hard to regulate starting out .. not impossible but harder than gas .. rack the wash off if you have not already and seal it up store in cool dark place 2 weeks it should be fine this will also give it a chance to clear .. rack it again when your ready to run leaving the sediment in the bottom.. should actually help the final product ..

[goatroper57]

thanks mr. new moonshiner
but iam real new at this and i dont know the terms you all use mean so i have to ask what dose rack mean
thanks goatroper57

[Dnderhead]

rack is to siphon off the clear liquid but it will take a week or so to settle . and a sugar wash you do not have to worry about to much anyway.
grains are a different story. just leave sealed in cool place.

[Hawke]

BTW:
To get back to your temperature question. The wash will determine it's own temp on a potstill. Water boils at 212*, so you won't get anything out of your condenser until it boils. Your wash will start boiling around 180* and slowly go up as the alcohol boils off. You CAN NOT heat to 172* and maintain it there.

[rad14701]

Hmmm... Not sure you're gonna get a rapid and full ferment from 16lbs of sugar in 6.5 gallons of water... Sure would take some super yeast to not have the ferment stall on you... You're expecting a perfect ferment to 17.9% ABV and I quite honestly don't think you'll get that... If it was that easy then we'd all be shooting for high ABV wash... Experience has taught those of us who have done this a time or three that it just doesn't happen...

You really need to lower your expectations and read a bit more... You don't know any secrets that the old timers don't know, trust me... My guess is that your ferment will end up stuck, still tasting of sugar, and you'll be back here asking why... If it was to finish then you'd end up with cloudy wash that won't clear and will taste like shit if you go ahead and distill it... I'd suggest splitting that wash into two 6.5 gallon batches that will easily finish out at about 9% or so... Save your money and start using regular bakers yeast... If you've done your reading here you should be aware of how many members have learned the hard way...