First still :)

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:54 am

Hey everyone, my names Mark, Markme... me mark.
what ever you feel like calling me.

So for my first setup i purchased a 25lt 3 in 1 boiler
super reflux condenser with ceramic saddles for packing
four 30L fermenter buckets,
little water pump,
a fuselex collumn carbon filter
yeasts, sugars, oak and rum chips
carbon soaking bucket and all the other instruments needed

And ive put my first two washes on, Sugar washes reccomended by the shop, turbos came with some of the stuff i bought so i used it for one and i used some other super pure yeast for the second wash.

One question i do have is how do i regulate the temperature in my still, will it sit at around the 78-82 mark by default or will i have to get some form of power regulator for the still.
Or is it just the cooling water that i pump through that regulates the temperature?

plonker · Post by **plonker** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:51 am

Hi Markme,
I believe you control those units by the cooling water, however there are a couple of guys here that know all about them.

Check this out for heaps of info on the super reflux http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=11265

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:17 am

thank you very much for the reply, i will read up on that thread

Post by **rad14701** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:32 pm

Welcome to the forums, Markme...

Part of your introduction story, "reccomended by the shop", sounds familiar... Now that you've found this site and have joined the forums you'll learn that the folks at the shop are not your friends... They are salespeople trying to make sales... Do yourself a favor and stop listening to them... Very few local brew shops have anyone on staff who has ever delved into home distillation and, therefore, aren't qualified to give accurate opinions regarding what you do or don't need... They're only concerned with sales figures and/or commissions... I won't go so far as to say stop giving them your business, just be an educated consumer...

Yeah, I don't like brew shops... Heck, I don't even have one nearby anymore because they all went out of business... Never got any of my money though... Almost bitten, twice shy was my experience... I'm sure they aren't all as bad as they were around here, however...

At any rate it sounds like you've got your supplies together and have a wash fermenting, so you're on your way... Read like a sponge and ask questions along the way... The membership is here to help you with any questions you can't find answers to...

Good luck...

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:45 pm

Hey Rad,
The brew shop people near my place were pretty good to me, gave me free sugars and yeasts, but i guess i spent an arm and a leg so i deserved it.
I brought in a wash recipe(lemon juice, tomato paste, sugar, yeast, one of the popular ones on here) that i was going to do and they told me to do it and bring them a sample as they were interested and had never seen some one do it before. They even rang a few of their friends to ask them what they thought and they were also interested in seeing me bring a sample in.

im still just trying to grasp how i keep my still temperature @ 78 degrees, is it actually infact the water cooling or should i get my electrician friend to make me some sort of gadget to control the power output?

Post by **kiwistiller** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:53 pm

cooling water... you sure you've read through that thread about cm operation?

airhill · Post by **airhill** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:39 pm

Whats a super reflux condenser and what wattage is the boiler element?

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:03 pm

kiwistiller wrote:cooling water... you sure you've read through that thread about cm operation?

I skimmed it last night, but i full just read through it right then, its a good read.
I should have just taken the time last night to read it in between research.

my element is 1380W i believe. or its 1280W I havnt really played with it all that much yet though so the numbers loosely sitting in my mind

airhill · Post by **airhill** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:58 pm

Ok the 'super reflux condenser' appears to be the brewcraft one, sorry if I'm a bit slow

Kiwi's the expert on them.
Seem to be very pricey for basically no column.

Post by **HookLine** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:04 pm

I skimmed it last night, but i full just read through it right then, its a good read.
I should have just taken the time last night to read it in between research.

Markme, this hobby is not stamp collecting. You can seriously hurt yourself, or worse other people, if you do not do it right. If you make the effort at the start to get to grips with the basics, especially safety, it will repay you big time in the longer run.

Post by **rad14701** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:38 am

Also, Markme, you stated that you chatted with the folks at the brew shop and that they called several other people about what you would be attempting... Does the phrase "Loose lips sink ships" sound familiar...??? Broadcasting your intended illegal activities is a good way to get a personal visit from Johnny Law... While some brew shops may sell just about everything you need to get started with home distillation that still doesn't make it legal... If you're located in New Zealand you can disregard this warning...

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:12 pm

The original reason i didnt read about the still right away(referring to hooklines post) is because i was just busy monitoring my washes' because they were almost over heating, sitting right about 34-35, they have since cooled down to about 28-30c after i filled the bathtub with water and added some ice. so i kinda figured READ READ READ about making a wash because im putting two more on today. I know its very dangerous and has the capacity to hurt anyone who drinks it if its done wrong. And i appreciate your concerns and warnings, I have added a little spot in my mind to remember how dangerous this really is.

And Loose lips do sink ships, they would have probably got just as busted for selling me the kit fully made together with the super reflux condenser bolted to the top of the 25L fermenter. They were telling me how they have a 200L boiler at their house, which i thought was pretty insane.

And a side note, my first to washes are coming along quite well, my whole bathroom reeks of fermentation

and they are bubbling quite well. The packet of turbo yeast and ultra pure yeast,( which was still a turbo anyway) Said 7 Days, but the lady at the brew shop told me to leave it for about 2-3 weeks, but then again she also told me that "homedistiller.org" is a rubbish place for advice and not to believe anything i read.... i made my own educated decision on the matter

Post by **LWTCS** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:26 pm

Markme wrote:but then again she also told me that "homedistiller.org" is a rubbish place for advice and not to believe anything i read.... i made my own educated decision on the matter

How so?

Post by **rad14701** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:43 pm

LWTCS wrote:
Markme wrote:but then again she also told me that "homedistiller.org" is a rubbish place for advice and not to believe anything i read.... i made my own educated decision on the matter
How so?

He's still here...

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:58 pm

haha yes thats correct

.

Its not hard to see whos trying to help and whos trying to make money.
When i asked for a non turbo yeast, they said they didnt have it and told me that using other yeasts wasnt worthwhile because it would turn out crap,
but the two washes im going to put on today will be bakers yeast, tomato paste and lemon juice with 5kg of sugar.

haha i asked bundaberg sugar whats their minimum buy for 25kg bags of sugar... they replied with i have to buy 48 bags minimum, so looks like ive gotta go try source cheap sugar some where else.

One thing, does it matter what sugar i use? i know that dextrose will yield the best result, but the brew shop people were telling me how that they didnt reccomend anything that wasnt dextrose or close very unprocessed sugar because all the nutrients have been leached out of them. is there any truth to that/

Post by **rad14701** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:05 pm

Markme wrote:One thing, does it matter what sugar i use? i know that dextrose will yield the best result, but the brew shop people were telling me how that they didnt reccomend anything that wasnt dextrose or close very unprocessed sugar because all the nutrients have been leached out of them. is there any truth to that/

Most of us just grab the cheapest sugar we can find, whether on the supermarket shelf, a restaurant supply warehouse, or elsewhere... I've tried at least a half dozen brands and can't say as I've ever noticed a difference other than granule size... Once dissolved they all perform the same... I should add that I almost always invert my sugar but some folks don't...

noobsauce · Post by **noobsauce** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:59 pm

Last ime i checked dextrose doesnt have nutrients either...so they seem to be full of shit (pardon the language as i have been drinking my good quality homebrew)) on that point also.

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:04 pm

just a quick question, ive read many articles on fermenting your wash, but with a turbo that i was given the packet said 7 days. so should i be able to distill straight away next thursday if it is clear?

Post by **kiwistiller** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:16 pm

sounds like you know the answer to your own question. if it's finished and clear, run it.

airhill · Post by **airhill** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:51 pm

Mark

Easiest is just sip and spit (and rinse your mouth out after

), if it tastes sweet it isn't finished, if it tastes dry (think cheap champagne) it is.

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:28 pm

haha ok i will try that, but i think if my airlock is still bubbling its still going for now anyway, one batch is still producing foam.

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:25 pm

ok soo one of the washs has stopped foaming and bubbling unless i stir it and then immediately put the lid back on.
it has a SG of 990, but the wash doesnt seam to have cleared, it is a yellow water colour but i cant see my stirer at the bottom of the fermenter when i put it in.
Also i did use a turbo and it came with a clearing agent to put in when ready, but im wondering has this cleared out fully or do i need to wait a few more days before putting the clearing agent in?

airhill · Post by **airhill** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:30 pm

I usually just rack it off into another fermenter and leave it on the floor (cool) for a day or so. Never bother trying to get it completely clear.

Post by **ScottishBoy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:58 am

That may have been their quiet way of discouraging you from pursuing this hobby. They obviously know it's illegal where you are, but dont want to offend a paying customer by telling them that. Most people will let other's do their thing...others...not so much.

I would caution you to keep it quiet and make sure none of it ever gets sold or leaves your property. You can never tell when someone will get a bug in their bonnet and decide the law would love to know about you.
Im not tellin...Im just sayin.

SB

Markme · Post by **Markme** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:43 pm

scottishboy im not sure what post your refering to?
ive tried cooling my wash on the tiles, it gets hotter.
i put it on the tiles in my bathroom and it got up to 35 degrees pretty fast so i have it sitting in the bathtub with some cooler water in it and its keeping at about 26 degrees.

im going to put in the clearing agent today as it has definiately stopped bubbling through the airlock, it only has a few bubbles when i open the fermenter and stir it a few times, but it has the champagne taste to it so i believe that in 24 hours after the clearing agent it will be ready to distill, but i just need to get my electrician friend to put a power plug on my water pump, it was formerly used to pump water in my gfs parents garden water feature.

i will then start my next wash, and im waiting for the other fermenters to arrive.

i measured my wash with an alcometer today and it said that my wash was only around the 10-12% mark, when i added 8kg of dextros with some turbo yeast, would waiting any longer make it any stronger(put the wash together a week ago tommorow.

noobsauce · Post by **noobsauce** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:05 am

So you are waiting for it to clear yet keep stirring it now and then...k

Post by **ScottishBoy** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:52 am

Markme wrote:scottishboy im not sure what post your refering to?

Sorry. I was referring to the post where they told you this site was rubbish. They MAY have been trying to get you to ease away from this hobby. I was actually going to apply for a permit from the ATF, but the overwhelming consensus from my friends was just STFU and be cautious.

Post by **rad14701** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:58 am

At least here in the US, until the laws are changed it is truly easier to STFU and be cautious... The problem with applying for a permits is, as soon as you start the process you are agreeing to allow unannounced visits to any address filed on the paperwork (at least from what I have gathered)... That means that even though you need to have your setup in a building not attached to your dwelling they still have the right to search any and all parts of the properties listed... If you already have a still on the property they can find it, confiscate your equipment, and prosecute you, essentially killing any further attempts at going legal and leaving you with a criminal record...

In short, you cannot own a still or possess spirits until the entire permit process is completed and you have to jump through a lot of hoops before that happens, if it ever does happen... You have to complete a lot of steps, at significant expense, with no guarantee that you'll ever be granted a permit... All back-asswards in my opinion, but that's the way they do it...

<<< Who is is this "they" that everyone talks about...??? >>>

Post by **ScottishBoy** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:41 pm

rad14701 wrote:<<< Who is is this "they" that everyone talks about...??? >>>

They are everywhere....shhhhhhhhhh....

Captain Morgan · Post by **Captain Morgan** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:51 am

Markme wrote:The original reason i didnt read about the still right away(referring to hooklines post) is because i was just busy monitoring my washes' because they were almost over heating, sitting right about 34-35, they have since cooled down to about 28-30c after i filled the bathtub with water and added some ice. so i kinda figured READ READ READ about making a wash because im putting two more on today.)

What? I dont wanna sound harsh or anything but what?? We didn't all come down in the last shower. There is no way it took less time to write a post on here then wait for a response than it would take to read the A4 bit of paper with your still instructions.

Home Distiller

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