When to stop Stripping?

[DistillIT]

I am running my first mash in my pot still. How do you know when to stop stripping? I guess my question is when have you extracted all the alcohol vapor from the water?

[heartcut]

I run with a alcoholmeter and strip to 10%- some do 20%, depends on attitude and paitence. If you're going by smell, cut it off when the wet dog smell at the end starts going away.

[Mud Mechanik]

The theoretical answer would be either when your output proof falls to zero or if you have a thermometer, quit when you reach the boiling temp of water.
You will reach a point of diminishing returns somewhere before either of these occur, in other words...it is not worth the extra propane or electricity you are using for heat to continue to collect 10%abv stuff, for some it is not worth the energy used to continue to collect 20% ABV stuff...see where I'm headded?

Depending on the recipe you are using, you may want to strip it harder to have a low abv backset for the next wash.

[DistillIT]

I ran my wash last night for a little, I got 750ml but when testing with my tralles and proof hydrometer, it reads 20% proof.

Should run this 750ml again?

[midcarolina]

I ran my wash last night for a little, I got 750ml but when testing with my tralles and proof hydrometer, it reads 20% proof.

Should run this 750ml again?

Did you mean alcoholmeter? if so.............sounds like you had a very weak wash

[DistillIT]

I ran my wash last night for a little, I got 750ml but when testing with my tralles and proof hydrometer, it reads 20% proof.

Should run this 750ml again?

Did you mean alcoholmeter? if so.............sounds like you had a very weak wash

Yes, I believe they are the same. If it wash a week wash does that mean it didn't ferment all the way?

[midcarolina]

No........... they are not the same, aloholometer is used to measure proof and alc% of spirits.......hydrometer is used to measure specific gravity of the wash, need to know your sg at start and finish of wash to know ABV%..........it's anybody's guess if the wash finished or not.............

[DistillIT]

I checked it's a alcoholmeter. I don't know what the starting gravity was as my hydrometer didn't arrive in time.