Doing my sixth run in two days... need help!

[RueDumaine]

Ok, I am doing my sixth run in two days. I've had minor successes thus far, and just want to be clear on a few things. I am using a copper pot still (possibly with a thump keg), for a 5 gallon run. I just mashed flaked corn maize and a touch of six row barley for the first time, and the fermentation appears to be going well. The top of the bucket has formed a very thick, cake like porous cap, and the bubbling in the airlock has slowed a bit. Now for the questions...

1. Do I discard the cap before straining, or just dump the whole thing through the mesh?

2. Should I use the thump keg or not? If so, how, specifically?

3. Should I distill at a very low heat, or turn the burner up on high (the last time I did a sugar wash, it turned reddish in the still)? Also, my still is 5 gallons.

4. Should I do two full distillations, or do a stripping run without the thumper first, and then distill a second time with separation?

5. Between the foreshots, heads, middle and tails, should I allow the mash to cool down for a while, or just stop the boiling?

Any help that could be offered would be greatly appreciated... Salute'

[Whitedog]

Whoa.... slow down a bit (maybe alot)!!! Six runs in two days?? Is this production or personal use?

Back up and enter a post in the welcome center and tell us a bit about yourself, ie. experience level, type and size of equipment, recipe your using, and what your goals are etc...
Read the new distillers reading lounge!
Let your wash finish, the cap will fall down inside of itself.
Wash turning red in the still concerns me... WD

[Mud Mechanik]

I would recommend slowing down as well, do some reading. MM

[rednose]

Yep, you're asking how to distill.

It helps a lot to read the parent site and making some notes, if there's something you don't get ask.

Regarding to your still, some pics would help.

[RueDumaine]

Sorry guys, I meant it will be my sixth run total two days from now. So I've done six runs in about six months. I was on here 2 years ago, but forgot my login info. Ill hit the welcome center, then come back and post some pics.

[RueDumaine]

Ok, I hit the welcome center... Here is a pic of my still, and a few pics of this attempt so far...

[LWTCS]

1. Cap should fall when your ferment is done.
2. Your rig looks nice. I'd say use the thumper. Lots of folks would say to charge the thumper with enough fluid to just cover the inlet fill tube.
3. Bring it to temp relatively quickly if you like. When your lyn arm gets too hot to touch, turn the heat down to med low or so. Don't charge the still with much more than 3 gallons IMO. Let your discharge rate not exceed the thickness of a pencil lead. Perhaps a broken stream is best with no strip run prior. Slower the discharge, higher the ABV.
4. Employed my thumper so I could eliminate the strip. But you will really need to make that call. Ain't no rule. Only personal preference.
5. Collect in small jars so that you can more easily distinguish where the transitions are. Let it run its course. Discharge rate will slow as alcohol levels deplete. I usually turn the heat back to high when my tails loose the alcohol (hotness) bite. Do this to squeeze the last decent amount of alcohol.

[RueDumaine]

Awesome. Thanks a bunch. I will be back on to post my results and some pics of what happened. Thanks a lot. If everything is worked off, I'm planning to distill wed night at 9:13 pm.

[LWTCS]

If your stilling on the grain, be mindful not to run too much heat and plug up your rig.

[rubber duck]

I'll weigh in on #'s 3 and 5.

I think most of us just turn up the gas and get it heated up quickly then before it boils over turn the heat down. I think this method is fine if your running a well cleared wash. I like to run my washes off grain but I run mine dirty. When doing this it seems that a slow steady warm up produces a smother product. I don't know why this is but I think it works better.

As LWTCS said collect it small jars and also air them out for a day. This will make it easier to distinguish your cuts. You don't turn the still off or throttle it back to make cuts. I also goose the heat a little at the end of the run to squeeze the last bit of alcohol out of the wash.

[MuleKicker]

I'll weigh in on #'s 3 and 5.

I think most of us just turn up the gas and get it heated up quickly then before it boils over turn the heat down. I think this method is fine if your running a well cleared wash. I like to run my washes off grain but I run mine dirty. When doing this it seems that a slow steady warm up produces a smother product. I don't know why this is but I think it works better.

I agree RD. I couldnt figure out for the life in me why, I even thought I was crazy . Now I know I wasnt imagining things.

[MuleKicker]

I'll weigh in on #'s 3 and 5.

I think most of us just turn up the gas and get it heated up quickly then before it boils over turn the heat down. I think this method is fine if your running a well cleared wash. I like to run my washes off grain but I run mine dirty. When doing this it seems that a slow steady warm up produces a smother product. I don't know why this is but I think it works better.

I agree RD. I couldnt figure out for the life in me why, I even thought I was crazy . Now I know I wasnt imagining things. I think a vigorous warm up might scorch the junk in the wash and that carries over to final product.

[RueDumaine]

Im really hoping the cap isnt too thick. What would be a normal amount of grain to use in a 5 gallon run?

[rubber duck]

Im really hoping the cap isnt too thick. What would be a normal amount of grain to use in a 5 gallon run?

Two pounds of grain per gallon of water is the maximum. I think most folks go 1.5 lb per gallon, that's what I do anyway.


Your cap will fall. If you have a opportunity stir the cap in every day. On a open ferment that will keep it from molding.

Just relax ever thing will be fine.

RD

[RueDumaine]

Thanks. I needed to hear that. Im always a nervous wreck around this point.

[ScottishBoy]

Take a deep breath and relax.
Its a great hobby, but its like a mountain getaway with your favorite woman...a little at a time will cover the whole vacation..