Tell us about your mistakes.

This hobby is fun & enjoyable, but it is not tiddlywinks. Be safe!

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NZChris
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by NZChris »

Letting someone weed a garden that had my Roman Wormwood growing in it. When I checked, there was only one tiny piece growing in a pot to the side of the garden, probably a seedling. It's putting out leaves now and I've planted it, but there is no sign of any coming up in any of the places where it used to grow like a weed.

I have been drying some of my excess every season so I'm not short of it, but I do prefer to use it fresh.

Sampling a 2020 now :D
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Kareltje
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by Kareltje »

NZChris wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2024 10:18 pm Letting someone weed a garden that had my Roman Wormwood growing in it. When I checked, there was only one tiny piece growing in a pot to the side of the garden, probably a seedling. It's putting out leaves now and I've planted it, but there is no sign of any coming up in any of the places where it used to grow like a weed.

I have been drying some of my excess every season so I'm not short of it, but I do prefer to use it fresh.

Sampling a 2020 now :D
That was a genuine mistake!
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NZChris
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Location: New Zealand

Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by NZChris »

NZChris wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2024 10:18 pm Letting someone weed a garden that had my Roman Wormwood growing in it. When I checked, there was only one tiny piece growing in a pot to the side of the garden, probably a seedling. It's putting out leaves now and I've planted it, but there is no sign of any coming up in any of the places where it used to grow like a weed.
I found an escapee today, so happy days, :thumbup: I have at least two plants.
SW_Shiner
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Location: South Waikato, New Zealand

Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by SW_Shiner »

Mashed in a single malt on saturday afternoon. Transferred off the grain and into fermenter to let it cool. Sunday morning pitched yeast. Sunday afternoon noticed a strange hissing noise coming from the laundry where i keep my ferments. Had a look to only to find that it had foamed up something crazy and some stray grains had gotten themselves stuck in the airlock. Carried it outside before it made too much of a mess. There was about 500ml or so on he wall and floor. After about 10 min, I went back outside to check, and the fermenter had started to swell and was forming a rounded bottom. Decided that the best move was to pull the airlock out, as i did, it shot a jet of foam and wash about 5 meters into the air. Thank everything that i caught it when i did. Lost about 10-15L, thankfully not inside the house.
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Steve Broady
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by Steve Broady »

This one isn’t safety related, just me being dumb. I found a pretty good deal on a 5.5kW element on aliexpress, so I jumped on it. Took ages to arrive, and even longer to get around to having anything to put it into. When I finally got a chance to test it, some quick math (thanks, Bolverk!) said I’m getting about 1/3 the power I should be.

I just assumed that the fine folks in China sent me the wrong element. They all look pretty similar, after all. But I went back to the original listing and..nope, I got what I ordered. A 5.5kW element, for running on 380VAC. Well crap. To be fair, the original listing does not make that fact clear (it mentions “120V/240V/380V” in one place), whereas the tag on the order very clear states 380V element.

Buyer beware. So now I have a rather low power element which I will likely turn into a mash heater in some form. And I ordered the right element for the new stripping still. Hopefully…
Learn from the past, live in the present, change the future.
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NZChris
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by NZChris »

Steve Broady wrote: Sat Nov 16, 2024 4:42 am This one isn’t safety related, just me being dumb. I found a pretty good deal on a 5.5kW element on aliexpress, so I jumped on it. Took ages to arrive, and even longer to get around to having anything to put it into. When I finally got a chance to test it, some quick math (thanks, Bolverk!) said I’m getting about 1/3 the power I should be.

I just assumed that the fine folks in China sent me the wrong element. They all look pretty similar, after all. But I went back to the original listing and..nope, I got what I ordered. A 5.5kW element, for running on 380VAC. Well crap. To be fair, the original listing does not make that fact clear (it mentions “120V/240V/380V” in one place), whereas the tag on the order very clear states 380V element.

Buyer beware. So now I have a rather low power element which I will likely turn into a mash heater in some form. And I ordered the right element for the new stripping still. Hopefully…
Low Watt density is good for distilling. Cut more holes and add more elements.
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shadylane
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by shadylane »

NZChris wrote: Sat Nov 16, 2024 9:39 pm
Low Watt density is good for distilling. Cut more holes and add more elements.
:thumbup:
juana_b
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by juana_b »

My first broken alcometer.
Found it busted on the ground after the last storms.
I left it on my work bench (outside), I knew the storm was coming but "almost remembered" (forgot) to put it away.
Pissed me off, I'm the laziest perfectionist I know.
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Yummyrum
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Re: Tell us about your mistakes.

Post by Yummyrum »

The gods will be pleased with your sacrifice :ebiggrin:
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