Minimum 1st runs in 5 gallon pot still

[KWKRUN]

I am interested in knowing the minimum volume of 1st runs required in a 5 gallon pot still to be most effective in producing a result without smiling the pot dry? My first runs average by volume are 50-55 abv.

[Usge]

Not sure the question there? Do you mean what's the min volume overall? Or just of first runs vs stripped/low-wines? Two different questions:

1) overall volume:
You never want to boil your kettle dry. It's easy enough to keep track of....what you start with, minus what you take off...leaves what is left in the pot. It also depends on the shape of your boiler...but on mine...I usually try and never let it get below 1/3 volume. If you have electric element in your boiler...you never want it to be uncovered. So, start by measuring how much water it takes to cover the element completely Then never let your pot volume go below that amount. (subtract the volume you take off ...from the volume you started with. With single runs..since there is less overall alc to start with...the overall volume you'll be taking off even if you took it down to zero percent alc...is going to be lower than if you were running higher abv still charge to start with. On 5 gals of wash...I usually only get back about 1 gal and that's running it down to 20% or less. So, particularly with wash runs...you aren't going to be taking off a lot of volume vs what you start with because the abv is so low.

2) taste/effectiveness:
That's entirely relative. You can mix and match wash/low-wines/feints anyway you see fit. Using more low-wines will obviously increase the abv of your starting still charge. This will make the overall abv go up a bit, and will also increase your yield. If in this question you are referring to efficiency.....some people ferment a larger wash than their still holds...run half of it down to low-wines...then mix that with the wash that is left. There's any number of ways to do it. You'll need to experiment to find what works best for you and has the flavor profile you want (single run whiskey tastes different than double run).

I personally like to use more low-wines with my 5 gal still charges. Mainly because 5 gals of wash is just not a lot of alc to work with.

[KWKRUN]

Thanks for the response as it is exactly what I was looking for. I have 5 pints from a 4 gallon run of peach mash through the pot and thumper which produced a 60-65 abv. The sad thing is it smells like peaches but tastes like soap. I wanted to run it through again hoping for a more refined taste and the information you provided makes me feel better about doing this without evaporating the pot dry. I will need to test the bottom of the still as you suggest to see how much liquid is required to cover the element as the bottom is far from being level. As I am only working with 5 pints I do not have much room for error. Maybe I will consider blending with some other corn likker to provide the needed volume.

[Usge]

You can also just add water — although it will not raise your abv or add to volume as adding corn distillate would. Or you could do both. I'd add water up to cover the element...then toss in what you want to run.

Since you are running a thumper, you could also run another peach wash and either run your gal of spirit in the pot with it, or in the thumper. Just make absolutely sure no matter what you do that your heating element does not come uncovered and that you do not boil your kettle dry.