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Almost set for the first run... I'm going with Birdwatchers recipe as it seems to be a good place to start. A few questions

-As mine is a vm and it only works when alcohol is present, I take it doing a vinegar run first isn't really necessary? Is there any benefit to doing one? I suppose it would still clean the keg and column. If it makes any difference its an entirely stainless rig. There may be a copper extension pipe actually after the liebig condenser to keep the collection jar farther from the open flame but no soldering.

-Secondly I'm wondering how much mash to run through on my cleaning run. I'm going to cut birdwatchers recipe in half and do a 40 liter mash. I was hoping I could use 20 liters of it for the cleaning run and then later that day run the rest as a first drinkable batch. Is this greedy? Is it worth running it all through?

-Also I have noticed here that people are doing stripping runs on their neutrals. I can see the advantage of this when doing rum and whiskey as you want higher proof while keeping the flavor. What is the benefit of doing this when making neutrals? Should I do a stripping run during my cleaning run?

Sorry for the long post and multiple questions, thanks for any help you can give!

My VM column produces 95% and in order to get a clean neutral I have found that I need to strip and do a spirit run. There are some members here that never put anything but low wines through there reflux column. I will be one of them as soon as the copper gets here for my potstill. 20L should be fine for a cleaning run, specially since your rig is stainless. As far as vinegar run it can't hurt, it will clean everything but the product condensor. If your product condensor is removable you could soak it in the sink.

Thanks Learjet! I'm going to do a stripping run first. It will give me a chance to clean my pot head as well.

I would run the stripping run for cleaning really hard and fast so you push as much hot vapor up the column as possible.

Thanks ks, I will run it hard.

What will it hurt to run vinegar vs what will it hurt if you don't and there is some contamination always by the tried and true keeps your belly from spewing goo

Thank you, still crazy. I have been searching for cleaning instructions, as I have a newly built reflux still. I know the cleaning instructions are here somewhere, I'm sure i'll find them. It would be nice, however, if instructions on cleaning a new still were "stickyed" in the "new distillers reading lounge". It seems to me that this is a crucial step, perhaps it should even posted in "saftey and related issues" (I checked there first). Just a thought, and thanks for all the great reading and advice.