carbon filter question on best design

[nicsastar]

hi everyone
im looking at making a carbon filter for cleaning my alcohol and was wondering if it is just as simple as a funnel ,pipe , filter paper and carbon .ive had a quick google search but not had much luck .if any one has made one id appreciate some ideas about the best way to do it or some plans .thanks nic

[rad14701]

Make cleaner alcohol and you won't need to filter it... You don't think we all filter our spirits do you...??? We strive to make clean washes and then distill clean spirits... Rather than investing money, time, and effort in a filtering system, invest time and effort into making better product... Consider this better advice than a how-to on making a fitlering system...

[violentblue]

I avoid using carbon when possible, there are certian circumstances when it is helpful.
I've had good results carbon filtereing a heavy rum that needed a little more time aging, into a very flavorfull but lighter white rum.
also I use a potstill exclisivley, so I've in the past used carbon as a shortcut to making neutral fro gin. I first run the spirit making proper cuts, then carbon filter it several time to polish the flavour out than run it again with my botanicals.

Carbon is usefull in certian circumstances but is not a substitute for making proper cuts. Yes it will remove the off tastes of heads and tails in your booze but will not remove the compounds that make for truly nasty hang overs.

with that said - how I do it.

I have a piece of 2" stainless pipe aprox 18" long. on one end I use an elastic band to secure a clean white cotton cloth over the opening.
load your carbon into the tube leaving about 3 or 4" of space free at the top of the tube.
pre wet your carbon with water, and allow enough to run through untill the water flows clean (no fine carbon particles)
allow the water to finish flowing through.
begin feeding your alcohol into the carbon (either by pouring it into the tube by hand or dripping it into the top of the tube from another container)
don't overfill the tube or feed it too fast.


it may take a single pass to get the desired result (like my rum) or multiple passes to clean up nicely. also remember diluting your spirit will increas the carbons ability to strip the off flavours.
so if you want a very clean neutral, dilute to 30% abv run through several passes then redistill to higher proof. this has worked well for me using a pot still.

[Ayay]

I agree that clean brews and clean stillin are the best way; I also find that 'polishing' can make a great neutral even more neutral. Activated carbon is another tool in the toolbox to be used where appropriate but not as an essential process.

Carbon will improve things but it can only go so far...rescueing a bad run is better done by re-distilling and leave carbon for trimming the edges.

Best design...I throw a tablespoon of activated carbon granules per litre of 95% into the container, let sit for a week or longer, then filter to get the dust out. Washing the carbon granules beforehand in pure water will get rid of the dust and filtering is only needed for the last 100ml or so..

[violentblue]

I've also found that if you had a batch that got over oaked, you could strip out the worst of it with a quick pass through carbon.
you'd lose a little flavor as well, but at least it'd come out drinkable.

had a small batch of rum that I added a stick of cherry wood to, now cherry wood in UJSM turned out nice but you need to use very little.
flavour came out very strong and a little harsh, and didn't get better with a week of airing out.
ran it through carbon
It stripped the colour out, 90% of the cherry wood taste, leaving just a hint of cherrywood but the deep buttery molasses flavour came through nicely.

had I used a longer and thinner tube with the same amount of carbon, I think the longer and slower pass through would strip much more, but this method is perfect for what Iwant it to do.

[myerfire]

Brewhaus has an excellent article on carbon filtering. On the website, go to "Activated Carbon Filter Book" and there is an article you can download for free.
myerfire

[cemik1]

Read this book, prepare carbon and make filtration according given rules. Remember, the lower temperature - the better filtration (adsorption) so freezing destilate and filter insulating is recomended.
I think bottom supplied filter is a good design. It is self deareating, carbon is always wet and proces could end automatically, without supervision.
Two example designs:

[theholymackerel]

That's alot of plastic in contact with high strength alcohol.

I sure wouldn't drink it.

[rad14701]

Tell us that isn't a real still... Wow...!!! I really don't know what to say or where to start and mere words may not suffice...

[violentblue]

Tell us that isn't a real still... Wow...!!! I really don't know what to say or where to start and mere words may not suffice...

hmmm where to begin.

Read, Read, Read the post before commenting. Sorry just couldn't resist.
Yest thats a bit much plastic to be in contact with high proof alcohol. but is certianly not a still, its a carbon filter.

when you build your own version of that contraption, try to stay with copper and stainless. there are many forms of plastic that would not do well (either to them or you) in contact with high proof alcohol.
I think it could work if you're trying to make vodka, how well I really couldn't comment because I try very hard to keep the flavors in the spirits I make.

[grunger]

skimming posts can lead to emarassing responses regardless of the post count.

agree with VB and THM. I try not to carbon but don't disagree with the practice totally. More metal and I'm onside with giving this system a try.

[violentblue]

too much "Thai Terror" tonight, I'll just bite my tounge and head to bed before I get in trouble.

[cemik1]

I have only presented an idea. It could be made of copper or SS if silicon is assumed unsuitable for 40% alcohol in low temperature and short term contact. In both designs filter tube is SS but the first is insulated.

[rad14701]

Tell us that isn't a real still... Wow...!!! I really don't know what to say or where to start and mere words may not suffice...

hmmm where to begin.

Read, Read, Read the post before commenting. Sorry just couldn't resist.

A prime example of what happens when replying after topic hopping during work hours... Not focusing enough on either... Still or filter, it's a lot of plastic... I was resisting the read, read, read comment myself... I can't use the excuse that I'd had my snoot in the hooch before replying... Instead, I was partially distracted by reality... I hate it when that happens...