Hi from Victoria

New to distillation, or simply new to the HD forums.
** Your first post MUST go here. Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your interest in distilling. Any posts asking distilling questions will be deleted. **

Moderator: Site Moderator

Locked
horseystevetoo
Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:39 pm

Hi from Victoria

Post by horseystevetoo »

Hi l'm Steve from Australia and l am just starting out, l worked in a malthouse for years and took the samples home each week to feed to my horses. l still have a few tons left so l thought l might have a go at making some whiskey.
l am waiting on a reflux still l bought on ebay to arrive that attaches to a 50 litre beer keg along with an STC 1000 controller for the heating element. Looking forward to an interesting and rewarding hobby l hope.
User avatar
res
Novice
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 2:59 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by res »

Welcome Steve
Tones of malt hey... where abouts in vic are you :angel: lol
More seriously though I'm not sure an STC 1000 will do the trick for your elements, I thought they were an on, off temperature sensor? If you want to control your elements you'll need something to vary the power.
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Winston Churchill
User avatar
thecroweater
retired
Posts: 6104
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:04 am
Location: Central Highlands Vic. Australia

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by thecroweater »

Hi ya, if that's whites malt house how about I buy your nags all the oats they could eat :D serious though welcome here
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Benjamin Franklin
horseystevetoo
Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:39 pm

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by horseystevetoo »

l am out west near Rokewood, l worked at the malthouse under the Nylex Clock till it closed down in around 2003. l read that folks use the stc 1000 on the aussiedistiller forum.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 10378
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by Saltbush Bill »

horseystevetoo wrote:l am waiting on a reflux still l bought on ebay to arrive
Mate with that much malted grain on hand the last thing you need is a reflux still. Hopefully a couple of the more clued up Victorians will be along shorty to take you under their wings.
emptyglass
Distiller
Posts: 1543
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:59 am
Location: Victoria, Australia.Usually the shed. Sometimes the cellar.

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by emptyglass »

I'm not far from you at all, Smythesdale way.

Reflux still might not be your best solution if you have that much malted grain available. All the flavour you have available will be left behind making vodka or neutral.

Even a classic 2" pot still might serve you better. Easily made, great for keeping flavour. Lots faster too.

And there is other stuff around.

Welcome and enjoy
You design it, I make it. Copper and Stainless. Down under. PM me.
User avatar
res
Novice
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 2:59 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by res »

horseystevetoo wrote:l am out west near Rokewood, l worked at the malthouse under the Nylex Clock till it closed down in around 2003. l read that folks use the stc 1000 on the aussiedistiller forum.
Am I reading that your malt is 14+ years old? :shock:
I'm not exactly sure how long the enzymes in malt last but I'd be betting they'll be pretty warn. A small test mash will confirm viability, probably be ok :?

Can't see how an STC will work. You don't run a still by the temperature of the wash in the boiler... STC's run two temperature controlled sockets, like for a fermentation chamber. Temp goes down it turns on the heat belt, gets to hot turns on the fridge.
We need a device to limit the power our elements draw. Standard elements maybe 2400w, my controler can go from 0-2400w depending on what's needed at the time.
You'll find diagrams for these on most of the forums, I'm just at work atm or I'd link one.

Sorry for all the negativity btw :D
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Winston Churchill
User avatar
res
Novice
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 2:59 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by res »

P.s got a link to the STC 1000 thread. I've been wrong before and always like to know.
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Winston Churchill
User avatar
res
Novice
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 2:59 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by res »

Here's a link to one on a Australian site.
http://coppercustomstillcomponents.com. ... f=77&t=123" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

To mods:
hope this Aussie link is ok, thought it would be useful since it relates to a country specific electrical question and the OP is located there.
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Winston Churchill
User avatar
Still Life
Distiller
Posts: 1545
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:24 pm
Location: Great State Of Missouri

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by Still Life »

You sure got some attention mentioning that grain, horseystevetoo!

Welcome.
horseystevetoo
Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:39 pm

Re: Hi from Victoria

Post by horseystevetoo »

Thanks for all the advice, my malt is stored in air tight 50 litre drums so l hope it has retained its goodness. Sadly it is an unknown blend of all the varieties of barley malt they processed, not sure if its worth the trouble but a friend has a feed mixer big enough to blend a couple of ton at a time so at least l would have consistency. l have a few hundred kg's of wheat malt too but maybe only good for beer and also plenty of malt dust removed from the air in the silos. l will post a pic of this still l have bought when it arrives and if need be l shall make a pot still as l have an engineering workshop at my disposal, just getting lazy turning to ebay.
Locked