Home Distiller

Today it took me 10 hours to get 1 liter from my super reflex still (started at 2.30pm, turn it off at 12.30am)
Why so slow? , I held the temp at 80c.

Welcome the the forums, MattNZ...

It sounds like you either didn't run with enough power input or you ran too much coolant which caused excessive reflux... If you were running flat out with mains power then it was definitely too much coolant flow... As I recall those units use a 2000W heating element so you may need a controller to throttle that wattage down once the still comes up to temperature...

Good luck...

Thanks for the welcome rad14701.


Yes this unit has a 2000w heating element that runs flat out. I keep the coolant flowing so the temp holds at between 78c -82c.

Thanks for the help.

Is it correct to hold the temp at between 78c -82c ?

yes, you want to try and hold at 78 idealy. the problem is those stills aren't really that great at it. What is the packing? the problem it isn't a very effective column so you're having to run it with so much reflux in order to keep the purity up, and that much reflux is going to drag your production a long way down

I thank you will have better luck running your product at least 2 times.

kiwistiller wrote:yes, you want to try and hold at 78 idealy. the problem is those stills aren't really that great at it. What is the packing? the problem it isn't a very effective column so you're having to run it with so much reflux in order to keep the purity up, and that much reflux is going to drag your production a long way down

I'm using copper mesh for the packing, it originally had ceramic saddles (that i have not used).

Dnderhead wrote:I thank you will have better luck running your product at least 2 times.

???

Yeah i already run it 2 times to improve quality. but thats not going to help get the run time down.

a stripping run will actually get the run time down. think of it as less purification that has to be done in the column per run. Have you read the how to on these stills in the new distillers reading lounge?

That looks more like brass than copper packing to me... I'd go with guaranteed copper or stainless steel... Essencia is known to use brass packing... Does or did the box actually say copper...???

kiwistiller wrote:a stripping run will actually get the run time down. think of it as less purification that has to be done in the column per run. Have you read the how to on these stills in the new distillers reading lounge?

Yes i have read your Brew Shop CM Still (novice guide)
What i was saying is i already did a stripping run, then the final run that took 10 hours to get 1 liter (will restart today to get the rest).

rad14701 wrote:That looks more like brass than copper packing to me... I'd go with guaranteed copper or stainless steel... Essencia is known to use brass packing... Does or did the box actually say copper...???

Its sold as copper

http://www.haurakihomebrew.co.nz/produc ... cts_id=954" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

you must be running too much water - how fine is your control?

sounds like you mite better have a pot still.

kiwistiller wrote:you must be running too much water - how fine is your control?

How can i keep the temp at 78c-82c without running the water at a high flow rate? - I use a valve that gives good control.

Dnderhead wrote:sounds like you mite better have a pot still.

I want to make neutral spirit. (vodka/gin)

If all your getting out of it is 80% I can do that with a pot still in less time

MattNZ wrote:

kiwistiller wrote:you must be running too much water - how fine is your control?

How can i keep the temp at 78c-82c without running the water at a high flow rate? - I use a valve that gives good control.

It's really fiddly - a little bit makes all the difference. turn it up, and inch it shut a bit at a time until the temp jumps. Then open just a tiny bit more. you'll need much less water on a run charged with 40% than on a charge of wash.
You can always make the handle of your valve longer as well, that can help provide finer adjustment.

If you're absolutely confident that you're running it as slow as possible without the temp rising, then there has to something that is making your column less effective than it should be - degraded / insufficent packing, packing has pushed past the retainer into the upper column....

Shit, maybe take your chance to return it, then you could build a better still

kiwistiller wrote:

MattNZ wrote:

kiwistiller wrote:you must be running too much water - how fine is your control?

How can i keep the temp at 78c-82c without running the water at a high flow rate? - I use a valve that gives good control.

It's really fiddly - a little bit makes all the difference. turn it up, and inch it shut a bit at a time until the temp jumps. Then open just a tiny bit more. you'll need much less water on a run charged with 40% than on a charge of wash.
You can always make the handle of your valve longer as well, that can help provide finer adjustment.

If you're absolutely confident that you're running it as slow as possible without the temp rising, then there has to something that is making your column less effective than it should be - degraded / insufficent packing, packing has pushed past the retainer into the upper column....

Shit, maybe take your chance to return it, then you could build a better still

The copper packing has discolored a bit. I've used it 4 time, cleaning with vinegar/salt then water after each use. Will go buy some new packing and see if that helps.

Is there anywhere in NZ i can buy a better condenser for this still.

Well, the essencia head would be a marginal improvement because of the bigger reflux jacket. Personally, when I outgrew my essencia, I decided that as every bit of the still was flawed, and would need modding, I'd start from scratch.

Still Spirits Turbo 500 Reflux Still
http://www.haurakihomebrew.co.nz/produc ... ts_id=1437" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Spirits Unlimited 30 Litre Euro Reflux Still
http://www.haurakihomebrew.co.nz/produc ... cts_id=689" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Any good?

not compared to what you can build, no.

I have restarted with new copper packing, 2 hours in i have collected only about 200ml. so no change by the looks of it.

I know good things take time, but it would take over 20 hours at this rate. Something must be wrong.

turn down the water?

kiwistiller wrote:turn down the water?

But if i turn the water down the temp will go above the 78c - 82c range.

I had the same problem a few month's back while helping a friend use his still (the same as this). Figured out he had it sitting on a thick steel bench, and it was working as a heat sink, sucking out all the heat the element was producing. Sat the boiler on some wood and it helped greatly.
What have you got the boiler sitting on??

Hoody

hoody wrote:I had the same problem a few month's back while helping a friend use his still (the same as this). Figured out he had it sitting on a thick steel bench, and it was working as a heat sink, sucking out all the heat the element was producing. Sat the boiler on some wood and it helped greatly.
What have you got the boiler sitting on??

Hoody

The still is sitting on a wooden bench

MattNZ wrote:

rad14701 wrote:That looks more like brass than copper packing to me... I'd go with guaranteed copper or stainless steel... Essencia is known to use brass packing... Does or did the box actually say copper...???

Its sold as copper

http://www.haurakihomebrew.co.nz/produc ... cts_id=954" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

copper is orange brass is yellow.

kiwistiller wrote:not compared to what you can build, no.

So your saying i should make my own still, what design. where can i get the parts...??? - Thanks for the help

I'd try using a controller... I think the problem is that you have to run too much coolant in order to account for the 2000W of unregulated power... That boiler should produce spirits with less than half that 2000W... I'm guessing 800W - 1000W...

As for the packing, I'm still thinking brass... Sure looks more brass yellow than coppery orange to me...