Advice on my still

[jimslick]

G'day lads just wanting some advice on my still i've made? i've used the plans from this site http://www.moonshine-still.com/page9.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. i've tried to copy the still under "Top end materials". I've made it all out of stainless cause that's what i work with.
my first try i used a 50 litre keg, and tried heating it with a portable domestic hotplate. But the hot plate was to inefficient to heat the keg due to the thickness of the stainless keg.
So second run i swapped the boiler for a 12litre pot. this worked a lot better as i could start heating up the mash on my gas stove first then transfer to hotplate. but i would have to do two runs for the 25 litre mash i'd made...
So third run i bought a 1340 watt internal heating element, fitted it to the keg, But when i had it boiling i had to pump as much water as my submersable pump would flow through the still just to keep the temp at 80*....Also i noticed when i did this that the alcohol coming through the still was not 80* it was only 25-30*...

So does this mean that i have to put a device to stop the heating element from getting so hot? or is the efficiency of thistype of still no good?? sorry couldn't post pics of my acctual still, the wife's taken the camera on holiday..
Any help very welcome
Cheers Jim

[Dnderhead]

both I believe, but you should be able to achieve 80% with that still even though it is outdated. I'm not up on reflux stills
so other are better qualified to answer. but I say your over firing you still. another problem is the bottom reflux tube, moving it to the top whould be a better choice, then you can pack the column, and the reflux will be at the top where it belongs. as I say others will be along to add more, maybe with some suggestions on what you can do.but one thing no mater what you heat with or type of still have, you need a way to control the heat.

[kiwistiller]

You have two problems - lack of heat control and insufficient reflux condensing capacity. Fixing one will mean the other is no longer a critical problem. Fixing them both will allow you to run faster than just fixing one.

To fix your power problems, build a controller for the element.

To fix cooling problems, look at putting multiple lines in at the top of the column to provide more surface area for cooling. Or look to mod the still into a VM or LM. Or ditch the cooling lines and go for a coldfinger or coil instead.

Also, insulate the column if you haven't done so yet. It isn't related to the problems but is another thing that is good to do.

Cheers
Kiwi

[kiwistiller]

PS I wish we could get whoever the hell hosts that site to take down those bloody outdated designs.

[jimslick]

hey lads thanx for the suggestions. my first run i got 89% out of the still. but every run seems to have a "off" smell that i can't seem to get rid of, tried ageing/using carbon etc... the first 3 attempts i used alcotec's tubo 48 yeast, so maybe that's problem. as many have prob done i made my still then found this site . my aim is to make a scotch whisky eg. chivas regal type. so knowing that i should have started with a pot still instead. oh well my still only cost $30 for the tri fittings.
So back to the drawing board...

[kiwistiller]

well, that's easy, stop using the cross column cooling lines, take out the packing, insulate it, then you've got a pot still.

[WalkingWolf]

. . .oh well my still only cost $30 for the tri fittings.
So back to the drawing board...

Damn, I got more than that just in solder. Guess you could give a few pointers on being thrifty.

good stillin

[jimslick]

ah beautiful thanx kiwi. i wasn't to sure if the height of the column was too long(about 1100mm) to be a pot still.
also i'm currently using a recipe from this site and wondered if anyone has had any luck with it=
10 kg cracked maize
2 kg liquid malt extract
2 kg pale malt powder
22 kg sugar
1 pouch Alcotec turbo yeast
Water to make 100 lt (inclusive of above ingredients)

I've modified it to a 1/4 to fit my 25 litre still, and used a ale yeast instead of a turbo.

cheers for the help Jim

[kiwistiller]

sounds like a hell of a lot of sugar, without calculating it.

[jimslick]

yeah works out to be 5.5kgs of sugar. it's been 3 days and she's bubbling really really slow. but it is quite cool here at the moment.

cheers Jim

[WalkingWolf]

only a Yank will make that mistake. s'all good -- you aint the first one

[jimslick]

?? sorry does that mean there's too much sugar in the wash? i tried using a recipe with a malt extract because, well i'm lazy...
cheers jim

[Dnderhead]

25L total wash with 5.5 kg sugar=13% alcohol. you should make it.

[WalkingWolf]

ah beautiful thanx kiwi. i wasn't to sure if the height of the column was too long(about 1100mm) to be a pot still.
also i'm currently using a recipe from this site and wondered if anyone has had any luck with it=
10 kg cracked maize
2 kg liquid malt extract
2 kg pale malt powder
22 kg sugar 1 pouch Alcotec turbo yeast
Water to make 100 lt (inclusive of above ingredients)

I've modified it to a 1/4 to fit my 25 litre still, and used a ale yeast instead of a turbo.

cheers for the help Jim

Then writes, 'works out to 5.5kg of sugar'

Can't help with anything else. Maybe tomorrow when I can think a little clearer

[jimslick]

beauty thanx dndr. any simple(using malt extract) recipes i should try next time?
cheers jim

[Dnderhead]

He divided the wash by 4.

[WalkingWolf]

my bad
thanks dndrhead

[kiwistiller]

it works out to 5.5kg of sugar plus the makt and malt extract, but yeah for some reason I was adding 2 kilos of malt in my head

[jimslick]

sorry lads should have broken down exactly what i used=
so the recipe i used was
2.5 kg crushed maize
0.5kg brewcraft dry malt,light
0.5kg blackrock light malt liquid extract
5.5kg refined white sugar
1 sachet of Notingham brewing yeast
and 25 litre's of filtered water (3 ltrs boiling to break down sugar) and the rest room temp water..
cheers jim

[Dnderhead]

If your going to ply with malt,,malt x ,grain, then a beer calc. will help. for sugar either go to "preparing wash"/sugar.
when useing malt,malt x use the liter ones as sugar does not carry over anyway.
http://beercalculus.hopville.com/recipe