Long time lurker first time sign upper

[Mashocist]

I have been a homebrewer for fifteen years and have always been a huge bourbon and scotch drinker. At some point I really wanted to know how the stuff I was drinking was made and I started pouring through the pages of information here and was quite impressed with the knowledge base. I will search thoroughly before I ask any baseline questions, I promise. I live in South Florida and have just recently acquired equipment to do small batches of distillation.

[Skid20]

Welcome to the fray! I’m new myself and Ill tell ya what you already know if you have been lurking for a while. There is a wealth of information and experience here, but they don’t suffer fools lightly. What kinda equipment you running??

[Mashocist]

I am running a grainfather with the alembic copper top; which I know I will get killed for because of the silicon gasket. I am trying to find a work-around (teflon gasket of same size) but until then I will not be asking any questions regarding my still. I already owned the grainfather for my home brew so this was an affordable way to get into distilling and see if it is something I enjoy.

[Skid20]

Ive got a website I can share with ya when I get home that carries the sanitary gaskets of varying sizes. I'll shoot you a PM later. I like the alembic but went the flute route for the flexability

[Mashocist]

Thanks Skid!

[Skid20]

try this http://www.jmesales.com/product/bradfor ... 5,7239.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[moosemilk]

use the forum search and look for "everlasting gasket". Easy to make ptfe gasket of whatever size you want.

[bitter]

Welcome + moosemilk on the everlast

B

[Mashocist]

I'm going to try making that everlasting gasket. A lot cheaper than the pre-made one that fits the top of the GF. Since it already has a silicon gasket I will just trace that onto my cardboard. Thanks guys!

[Mashocist]

OK so everlasting gasket for grain father took 2+ hours of wrapping and 4 rolls of PTFE tape for the big ass gasket! Hope it really lasts forever. So glad I did it though. Ran the vinegar and water and then my sacrificial run with a 6 gallon gerber wash I made a week and a half ago (without inverting because I cared not for the end flavor). At it's highest ABV it was running at 70% ABV and I collected down to 25% ABV ran out 1 and 3/4 gallons tossing 100ml of foreshot and saving the rest for possible future cleaning runs, although I might toss it out. It was cidery and yeasty; but now I have a far better understanding than from reading of the transitions between fores, heads, hearts and tails, and also some level of distinction of what flavors/smells come through the wash into the distillate. Now I just have to wait until my high gravity AG barley malt finishes out and I will try a real run on the thing. Overall I think the GF worked very well, although towards the top end I had to manually cut and re-start the boiler to sit around some of the evaporation points, but it gave me something to do other than pull measure and taste.

[moosemilk]

OK so everlasting gasket for grain father took 2+ hours of wrapping and 4 rolls of PTFE tape for the big ass gasket! Hope it really lasts forever. So glad I did it though. Ran the vinegar and water and then my sacrificial run with a 6 gallon gerber wash I made a week and a half ago (without inverting because I cared not for the end flavor). At it's highest ABV it was running at 70% ABV and I collected down to 25% ABV ran out 1 and 3/4 gallons tossing 100ml of foreshot and saving the rest for possible future cleaning runs, although I might toss it out. It was cidery and yeasty; but now I have a far better understanding than from reading of the transitions between fores, heads, hearts and tails, and also some level of distinction of what flavors/smells come through the wash into the distillate. Now I just have to wait until my high gravity AG barley malt finishes out and I will try a real run on the thing. Overall I think the GF worked very well, although towards the top end I had to manually cut and re-start the boiler to sit around some of the evaporation points, but it gave me something to do other than pull measure and taste.

When your gasket starts to show some wear, just unwrap it down to where it is undamaged, and put a couple fresh wraps on it.

[Big Bert]

Got me one of those Grainfather units, have not tried it making beer but I use it for whiskey with the dome and then with a special fitting I had made I run a 2 lnch reflux on top of dome for vodka.. Works for me..