When can you safely take the lid off a pot still after a run?

[JM1010]

Newbie question here...

After shutting off the pot still (but letting the condenser run) and after the still has not been dripping for a good while, when is it safe to open the lid? Do you really have to wait till the still is cool to the touch or can we move on with cleaning when temp is below methanol boiling point or other temp threshold?

Thanks for clarifying.

JM

[Hambone]

I pop mine as soon as drips stop. No worries, but use gloves...

[Dr Griz]

Same here, but then I always run the ABV of my product pretty far down, so I don't reckon there is much left in the way of vapor to worry about getting released and catching a stray spark somewhere.

I'm just guessing here, but if you're one of them guys that stops running as soon as tails start, it may be wise to give the vapor in the still a chance to cool and settle back into the wash...

[Demy]

Immediately after finishing the distillation I start disassembling and cleaning, don't worry, the important thing is to pay attention to your hands (heat). If you have glass parts (eg glasses in a flute), remove it but leave the time that cools a little before wetting with fresh water.

[jonnys_spirit]

Agree! I have a drain hose going into the sink or bucket depending on whether I'm saving the backset for something and start draining it right away.... Sometime's if i'm mashing in right after a strip I'll empty all but the required backset for the next mash then top up with water to reboil for the corn gelatinization.. Careful for hot vapors and steam as you open it up though. It can stay pretty hot/warm overnight depending on how large it is... I like ot get the backset off the heating element as soon as I can though but letting it sit overnight also cleans the inside at least up to that liquid level. Then rinse with a cold water sprayer to cool it down and clear out any chunky residue there might be!

Cheers!
-j

[rull_bull]

Just a quick note, the hot warm vapours smells...
So when you open it and the vapour exits, the area where your still is will smell really much.

I am dumping it with a hose directly down the drain, keeps the smell to a minimum. But sometimes when keeping backset, the garage smells

[JM1010]

Thanks all for chipping in. So if I understand correctly as long as the still is not producing we can remove the lid. Is it fair to assume that the remaining moist vapor in the still is not "flammable" only a "burn" risk. Cheers. JM

[JesseMarques]

just to reinforce what rull_bull said:
If you live somewhere that's illegal to distill you must take care with smells

[NZChris]

Thanks all for chipping in. So if I understand correctly as long as the still is not producing we can remove the lid. Is it fair to assume that the remaining moist vapor in the still is not "flammable" only a "burn" risk. Cheers. JM

That would depend on the abv of the vapor. Put yer fag out before you take the lid off.

[shadylane]

Just a quick note, the hot warm vapours smells...
So when you open it and the vapour exits, the area where your still is will smell really much.

Ain't that a fact.
Not only will the area smell.
You will also and your glasses will fog up.

[Deplorable]

Just a quick note, the hot warm vapours smells...
So when you open it and the vapour exits, the area where your still is will smell really much.

Ain't that a fact.
Not only will the area smell.
You will also and your glasses will fog up.

Hahaha. I finished a run today, hurried to break down and clean up, and went to help at the winery bottling wine. Walked in, and the first thing the owner asked was what that smell was. I couldn't even smell it.

[shadylane]

That's called being nose blind.
Also known as, olfactory adaptation.
Or so I've been told.

[Dr Griz]

I did a run of smoked barley mash (waaay too much smoked barley, it turned out), and the bottom of the tails were the nastiest I've every encountered -- like something that came out of the back end of a dog with digestive issues.

Boy didn't that smell get into my beard -- I went nose blind pretty quick, but the missus near took the hose to me!

[BlueSasquatch]

Dunno, the smell doesn't directly point to distilling IMO, I do work frequently around grain processing facilities and grew up on the farm, alot of similar smells there. Well for all-grain distilling anyways. Anything else is just child's play

[Spark_Farmer]

I found with my pot still that the pressure reduction immediately after shutting off the heat was enough to draw water into the pot, through the condenser. (Immersed the output in a jug of water and kept it full) this cooled everything in a matter of minutes, and minimized the smell when I popped the top off to dump it.

Wife complained slightly less too.

[SmokyMtn]

I take the cap off immediately after the flame is out. My main concern is reducing the risk of oil canning.

[Hambone]

I take the cap off immediately after the flame is out. My main concern is reducing the risk of oil canning.

Yep. If you use a thumper you are kinda on the clock…