stripping / spirits run.

[Infinitebrainspace]

OK, I'm feeling a bit NOOB right now... of all the stuff I've read, I havent't figured out what a stripping VS spirit run is. I looked for a forum on HD that had simple definitions for all the terms used regarding this hobby, and didn't find any. Maybe I don't know as much as I think I do ( and I don't think I know much ). Now I know why my dad always said "Wisdom is finding out your not as smart as you think you are".

[Dnderhead]

stripping is just a fast run to make the overall amount less .so you can take 3-4 washes strip,combine and then make one spirits run. spirits run is the final run.

[Infinitebrainspace]

So If I have 3 batches of 15 gallons each ready to run, and I run them (taking the cuts for each batch), then take the final results (lets say I get 6 gallons ranging between 110proof and 80 proof. I can run that 6 gallons as a spirits run. is that what you mean?

[Prairiepiss]

A strip run is hard and fast. As fast as your still will let you safely do it. Depending on what kind of still you run? So it will come out around 50%ABV on a pot still. Give or take. You will need to measure yours. But you do this 3 times. Throw out the foreshots in every strip run. Save everything else you collect. Now combine all that was collected and dilute to below 40% ABV and run it as a spirit run. Nice and slow. And make your cuts on this run.

[Infinitebrainspace]

my still is a 20gal ss pot (i only run 12 - 13 gal at a time). Electric 4500w 240v. I have little control over the speed, but it takes about 40 minutes to go from 60 degrees(F) to boil. This seems like a long time when yer sittin there staring at a thermometer. would you consider that "Nice and Slow"?

[Dnderhead]

with a pot still slow is when product drips out,fast is when the product runs out in a big stream.

[NcHooch]

my still is a 20gal ss pot (i only run 12 - 13 gal at a time). Electric 4500w 240v. I have little control over the speed, but it takes about 40 minutes to go from 60 degrees(F) to boil. This seems like a long time when yer sittin there staring at a thermometer. would you consider that "Nice and Slow"?

If you don't have a MK5000 controller for that heating element, you're prolly gionna need one for a spirit run.

[Infinitebrainspace]

If you don't have a MK5000 controller for that heating element, you're prolly gionna need one for a spirit run.

Just for the record... I'm not selling my product , so I have to fund this hobby on a small budget .

What does the mk5000 do? Is it just a switch type thermostat, or a variable output thermostat? My biggest fear is putting 40% ABV into a pot with a potentially VERY hot element. I know that water keeps the thing from getting red hot, but I dont know how it will react with alcohol. dont want any BOOM's in my life. I'm comfortable with the 20% and lower beer / wash, just dont know if higher ABV has any problem with a full power element. Wonder if just ran 110v into the element... should give me half the wattage right?

[rad14701]

If you don't have a MK5000 controller for that heating element, you're prolly gionna need one for a spirit run.

Just for the record... I'm not selling my product , so I have to fund this hobby on a small budget .

What does the mk5000 do? Is it just a switch type thermostat, or a variable output thermostat? My biggest fear is putting 40% ABV into a pot with a potentially VERY hot element. I know that water keeps the thing from getting red hot, but I dont know how it will react with alcohol. dont want any BOOM's in my life. I'm comfortable with the 20% and lower beer / wash, just dont know if higher ABV has any problem with a full power element. Wonder if just ran 110v into the element... should give me half the wattage right?

It is a "power controller", not a thermostat or "temperature controller"... There is a big difference...

40% is not a problem even with an internal element... The alcohol is not flammable at that %ABV, only the vapor in the headspace which is devoid of ample oxygen required for ignition...

Running a 240V element on 120V yields 1/4 the wattage, not 1/2... Ohms Law at work there...

[Prairiepiss]

No 110v will only give you about a quarter the watts. Not half.

You really need a controller to run that still proper. You need to adjust how much heat you put into it. And it needs to be a steady heat. No cycling. That's how you adjust the output rate. More research needs to be done about this on your part. It's kinda important.

And the 40% ABV mark is a safety thing. 40% or above is flammable. Under 40% is not. So if you charge a still with 40% as soon as it gets hot and releases some alcohol vapors its no longer flammable. Look around at how many of us are using electric elements and run this way. We wouldn't tell you to do something unsafe. But again mire research on your part should be done.

Now that said. Many say you will get a better product if you dilution to 30% for the spirit run. 40% is just a safety precaution.

Posting while Rad was. Sory.

[Infinitebrainspace]

Huh, typed in a post last night, and it didnt post.....

didn't mean to imply that you would give me bad info.... Guess I should have thought about the statement before I wrote it. sorry.
if the original post actually posts sometime, it will look strange....

I think I understand the stripping / spirits thing a bit better now. Thanks for the help.