liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
Moderator: Site Moderator
liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
I have a twenty gallon pot still, but I only run fifteen gallons. My thumper is dry at the beginning of a run, but at the end of the run, the thumper collects 1/2 a gallon of liquid. Sometimes 0 proof and sometimes 30 proof. Is there a problem with the design of the thumper keg?, size, what else could be causing this?
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Thu May 13, 2021 12:22 am
Re: liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
That's what they do. The vapor from your boiler will condense in the thumper, and will then be heated by the hot vapor until a second distillation happens. That leaves behind what doesnt make it into your final product. Usually people will fill the thumper about 1/3 full of something (water, fresh wash/wort) to facilitate this from the start. Since you aren't putting anything in there in the beginning, its taking some time to fill itself up by condensing on the walls. Its important to note that its not advised to fill it up past 1/3-1/2 in the beginning because it will get more full as time passes,.
By leaving it dry you're missing the point a bit, I think. I don't use a thumper, and I'm sure someone else will come in with a better answer, but maybe you should read some threads on thumper use.
By leaving it dry you're missing the point a bit, I think. I don't use a thumper, and I'm sure someone else will come in with a better answer, but maybe you should read some threads on thumper use.
- BlueSasquatch
- Site Donor
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2020 6:00 am
- Location: Midwest
Re: liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
Doesn't sound like an issue to me, but can you explain to me, what the purpose of your thumper is?
"In the silence of the study one can discuss theories, but only in practice one becomes an artist" - Meunier
-
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 3387
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 6:27 pm
- Location: Ontario
Re: liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
What ever happen since the info provided to you back in 2017.. you then used a thumper, and now you don't..
by wmautrey » Sat Sep 09, 2017 8:26 am
The next glass three liter container is 100 proof. I usually get one more three liter container but it is between 50-70 proof. Which I put in my thumper on the next run.
Mars
by wmautrey » Sat Sep 09, 2017 8:26 am
The next glass three liter container is 100 proof. I usually get one more three liter container but it is between 50-70 proof. Which I put in my thumper on the next run.
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
– Albert Einstein
– Albert Einstein
Re: liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
Is that enough to reach yer thump spear outlet and make it thump? If you're trying to run w a dry thump and/or it doesnt reach the bottom of the spear then take it off entirely so you aren't heating that metal wasting energy and in the second case wasting liquor
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
Re: liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
Your first problem is having a dry thumper to begin with. The whole purpose of having a thumper is to have it charged and providing a second distillation of your product. The thumper is SUPPOSED to collect liquid as the distillate enters, reboils, and exits leaving more of the water and undesirables behind...wmautrey wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 5:55 am I have a twenty gallon pot still, but I only run fifteen gallons. My thumper is dry at the beginning of a run, but at the end of the run, the thumper collects 1/2 a gallon of liquid. Sometimes 0 proof and sometimes 30 proof. Is there a problem with the design of the thumper keg?, size, what else could be causing this?
Re: liquid collecting in my thumper during a run...why?
You should begin with abt 1/3d charge in the thumper. I prefer to charge with clean feints from previous runs cut down to 30 or so abv but you can always use low wines, same as your boiler charge. The thumper’s purpose is to redistill what comes from the boiler. I routinely begin output in the low 80’s, run like hell until the fores start then cut back to get a thin stream that takes abt 15 min to fill a pint jar. At 40 abv or so I fire it up agin and run like hell to the 20’s or 30 for new feints. But that’s just me.
Double, Double, toil and trouble. Fire Burn and pot still bubble.