Help!! How to stabilize the column-to start the dist'

[fender77]

Hello guys

Im happy to tell that I finaly built my firs cooper reflux dist,
I have some questions...
I know that I need to collect the head first and extera...
1-but when I can start to collect it? when i see that the temp stabilize between 65-75???
in fact my question is: what should be my temp deviation and at which temp I can start to collect the head and ext..
2- for how long time I need to keep the temp before I start??
3- is it ok to start collect at 85-95°C?

I will be happy to get some info..

Cheers!

[Hawke]

That color doesn't help much.
There are a couple of stickies in the column section on how to run a reflux.
First heat-up should jump to around 85*C, then drop back between 77 and 79 as it equalizes. This normally happens between half hour and 45 minutes. Take off the foreshots at a drop a second. There should be very little temperature variation until you get to the tails.

[HookLine]

Yup, that colour was pretty horrible to read.

Fixed now.

[fender77]

Thank you

I did my first distillation with water to check leaking...
and something strange happened, all the valves were shut, I wanted only steam and the temp(digital temp location is 2-3 cm below the outlet pipe) got up slowly to 50°C (to got the "°" Alt + 248 ) after 20 minutes and stabilize, the moment I opened the outlet valve the temp raised in a few second to 77-85-98°C (vapor temp), when I shut the valve the temp fall to 50°C, i assume its because I let the vapor get out ? and also because I didn't condens the vapor?
Im afraid it will happen with my wine.

[Dnderhead]

alcohol is going to act different than water. try some cheep alcohol threw it. it needs cleaning anyway.(you can run the same one several times diluting between)
and why you are going to run "wine" threw it if it a reflux still.? to make wine vodka?
also what type of reflux still do you have? they each run a little different.

[Hawke]

Is your reflux condenser open to the atmosphere? If not, you are running a bomb.
That would explain the lack of heat at the takeoff when the valve is closed.
Water should have gone straight to 99 or 100* vapor temp.

[fender77]

alcohol is going to act different than water. try some cheep alcohol threw it. it needs cleaning anyway.(you can run the same one several times diluting between)
and why you are going to run "wine" threw it if it a reflux still.? to make wine vodka?
also what type of reflux still do you have? they each run a little different.

I have a "wine of plum" for a schnapps and a "merlo wine" to make grapa (frome the grapes peel) and cognac.

the typ of my still is a "Alex's (Bokakob) mini-still"

[fender77]

Is your reflux condenser open to the atmosphere? If not, you are running a bomb.
That would explain the lack of heat at the takeoff when the valve is closed.
Water should have gone straight to 99 or 100* vapor temp.

the condenser is open to the air no water inside it is clear..

[Hawke]

That sounds like you weren't using enough heat then.
For a water run, temp should climb to 98 to 100* and stay there. If it drops below that, it needs more heat.

When you put a wash in there, it should climb to around 85*, then as it equalizes, it will drop back to 78* or so on it's own. Once the temp has bottomed out, let it run for another 15 to 30 minutes before you start taking off product.

[MuleKicker]

dont know exactly what you got, but read this thread on running a reflux, its about the best.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 07&start=0

[fender77]

thank you very much guys,

Indeed I think in retrospect that I didn't boil my water enough, I will take the offer to run some alchohol with water its much preferable,

Very good details about how to run a reflux, bravo for the link.

I will be happy to to share after I will practice

Cheers!

what a sad world would be without alcohol...