Losing Alcohol

[Duckhunter18]

Ive been cooking 12 gallon cooks 9 gallons of low wines 3 gallons heads tails.... before i cut it down im only gettinf maybe 2 gallons out of 12....???? I found a very small leak on my coil could this make me lose alot of liquor????

[fizzix]

That's a 16.7% return. How much were you expecting?

[bitter]

Something does not sounds right.

What % was everything? What % is the 2 g your getting? Is that after cuts?

I like to look at thing in terms of how much I started with I will use 10% potential for easy math but normally use abotu 8.5% potential

Say you had 2 40g barrels of 10% to run that 8g of potential alcohol before cuts. Or about 26g at 30% after stripping.

from that run for whisky get about 7g whiskey at 63.5% to age. If you were doing neutral the take would be a bit higher but volume would be less sing would be at 95-96% end volume before cuttng to drinking would be about 5.5g of 95%

clean up the leaks. About is just a guesstimate (used about 54% take for whiskey and 65% for neutral based on what I average) depending on cuts could be less, depends on the ferment and how things go.

B

[Copperhead road]

I am lucky to get 6 or 7% after cuts.
Are you using turbo yeast or something??

[bitter]

6-7% of potential alcohol after cuts sounds really low..

Make sure you have really clean fermentation. Crappy fermentation will make yields supper low. Turbo yeast is not what you want. I use everything from bakers to a good ale yeast.

B

[Duckhunter18]

All my low wines where 50% 100pf to the tee!!! Could i have a bad hydrometer?? Small leak?? What is the Best Hydrometer to buy?

[bitter]

Make sure your using the correct meter. Tails vs hydrometer

B

[Duckhunter18]

Yes i have a LD Carlson alcohol Hydrometer i know its accurate!! I tested it with store bought whiskey at 60 degrees it was dead on... i did find a very small leak in my coil Could i lose that much alcohol with a small leak??

[bitter]

possible. dangerous to run with a leak... fix it before you go any further.

[Swedish Pride]

I've lost alot of alcyhole too, some shithead has drank it all on me

[Expat]

I've lost alot of alcyhole too, some shithead has drank it all on me

Goddam Angels keep getting mine

[kiwi Bruce]

possible. dangerous to run with a leak... fix it before you go any further.

+1 Bitter...remember your dealing with high test hot racing fuel vapors, if you suspect that you have a leak, test your copper from pot to condenser with soapy water, you will see the bubbles long before you smell it. If your using an electric heat source slap flour gasket on it and repair the leak when your done...HOWEVER if you are using an open flame heat source YOU MUST SHUT DOWN !!! (not directed at you personally Duckhunter18, but any-nubee who runs into this problem) If you suspect a leak before you run a wash, use water or a water/vinegar mix and test for bubbles. Don't shi# around with this...be safe!

[kiwi Bruce]

I've lost alot of alcyhole too, some shithead has drank it all on me

Don't know if flour gasket and soap bubbles with help with your loss...but it may be worth a try...

[Pikey]

I've lost alot of alcyhole too, some shithead has drank it all on me

Seems like a never ending struggle, just to keep one step ahead of the thieving buggers doesn't it ?

I don't think you CAN stop it in honesty !

Got a cunning plan this year, Spring's here now and I'm going to try and get a bit ahead of it if I can.

Aiming to end up in the Autumn (Fall) with every bit of glassware I have full of ageing product and every fermenter I have, full of "Done" wash / mash.

That way I can do all the fruit liqueurs in the back end without having to worry about trying to keep ferments going through the cold.

[Antler24]

I usually get 10% return. 12 gallon batches, I end up with 1.2 gallons of 60-62% after cuts.

[skow69]

In addition to the safety issues...
tiny leaks will steal enormous amounts of ethanol.
Seal them immediately. Your labor and materials are literally disappearing into thin air.

[Duckhunter18]

I found a small leak on my coil by a compression fitting!!will that make me loose a few gallons of alcohol per cook?

[Pikey]

I found a small leak on my coil by a compression fitting!!will that make me loose a few gallons of alcohol per cook?

If ya found a leak - FIX it !

[Duckhunter18]

I found a small leak on my coil by a compression fitting!!will that make me loose a few gallons of alcohol per cook?

If ya found a leak - FIX it !

will that make me loose a bunch of alcohol??


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[Pikey]

If ya found a leak - FIX it !

will that make me loose a bunch of alcohol??


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Fix it then you tell us !

It's your leak, not ours !

IF you're content to drive around with a pipe spewing 80% alcohol into the open air - Alcohol you've already paid for, be my guest - But it just seems like simple stupidity to me !

[Duckhunter18]

If ya found a leak - FIX it !

will that make me loose a bunch of alcohol??


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Fix it then you tell us !

It's your leak, not ours !

IF you're content to drive around with a pipe spewing 80% alcohol into the open air - Alcohol you've already paid for, be my guest - But it just seems like simple stupidity to me !

thats why im asking! I didnt know a small leak would cause me to lose 4 gallons of alcohol!!


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[Antler24]

If ya found a leak - FIX it !

will that make me loose a bunch of alcohol??


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Fix it then you tell us !

It's your leak, not ours !

IF you're content to drive around with a pipe spewing 80% alcohol into the open air - Alcohol you've already paid for, be my guest - But it just seems like simple stupidity to me !

thats why im asking! I didnt know a small leak would cause me to lose 4 gallons of alcohol!!


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It can cause you to lose all that alcohol. It can also cause your house to burn down and your life to end if that leaking vapor gets spark or open flame. Fix it.

[Duckhunter18]

will that make me loose a bunch of alcohol??


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Fix it then you tell us !

It's your leak, not ours !

IF you're content to drive around with a pipe spewing 80% alcohol into the open air - Alcohol you've already paid for, be my guest - But it just seems like simple stupidity to me !

thats why im asking! I didnt know a small leak would cause me to lose 4 gallons of alcohol!!


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It can cause you to lose all that alcohol. It can also cause your house to burn down and your life to end if that leaking vapor gets spark or open flame. Fix it.

thanks buddy i appreciate it!!


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[Duckhunter18]

I ran some low wines earlier after really tightening down on the compression fittings i didnt see any leaks!! Used soap and water! But i wonder if i should maybe solder around the copper and brass as well to be 110% sure it has deff stopped!


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[Pikey]

I ran some low wines earlier after really tightening down on the compression fittings i didnt see any leaks!! Used soap and water! But i wonder if i should maybe solder around the copper and brass as well to be 110% sure it has deff stopped!


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If you've stopped the leak as shown by no bubbles with a soap/water test, that should be fine.

Now do a run of a known abv wash and let's see if your problem has disappeared or not.

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