Home Distiller

I have been talking with the other mods from time to time and we think this board could use a FAQ for the newbies. I realize there is a link for FAQ at the top of this board but it is mainly for how the board operates.

We seem to rehash alot of the same information over and over. I think everyone loves the hobby and enjoys helping others, but it would be alot more fun to the old timers if we didn't have to repeat ourselves so much. I miss some of the more detailed discussions on the art of the topic and, like the others, feel that if we could speed up the learning curve for the new folks we may even end up with a larger knowledge base.

Of course this is not going to be a replacement for exhaustive reading of Tony's site or past posts on this forum but it may ease my guilt a tad for passing over the questions by folks asking if baker's yeast is ok to use for distilling.

I'm gonna post this as a sticky at the top and leave it up for a while. This will undoubtedly take a while to complete. Would everyone would please add what they feel to be concise, to the point newbie questions. All we are lookin for right now is the questions themselves. Pease don't answer the questions now or clog up the thread with discussions.

After awhile we can remove the list of questions and pass them out amongst several of the more knowledgeable members for a well written, single answer to the questions and then repost them as a single locked thread containing the questions and answers....perhaps Uncle Jesse can even find a way to post it at the very top with an icon like the search function.

I think the newbies need to read, read, read and then try what they read first before asking us the simple questions starting off. The answers are out there for most subjects we talk about but you have to search and read. I myself am going back this spring and do more talking to some old timers from Golden Pond to get answers to some questions I have.

Golden Pond's suggestion might be a good first FAQ:

"Where can I find information on starting off as a home distiller?"

Which we could follow with a list of resources online and otherwise about this hobby.

I'd also suggest we include:
"What materials are safe in still construction?"

and

"Is it ever safe to use plastics in constructing your still?"

Please pardon my interjection, I have thought for some time that a Glossary of terms would also be helpful for newbies and to keep us all on the same page. I see many terms used in the wrong context. Not hard to figure what they mean most times.
I have great respect for what you guys do for this board and understand it ain't always easy.

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO ANSWER THIS!#@$Z%&^* QUESTION???????????????

Thanks to all the MODS for trying to improve the forum!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep Hillbilly that glossary of terms would be helpful, I have been around distilling for 40+ years and there's terms used here I can only guess what they mean.

Don't we already have a glossary of sorts on our wiki?

Off the top of the head:

Fermentation
1. What water is "good water"?
2. What kind of yeast should I use?
3. Do I need "nutrients"?
4. How much sugar should I use (osmotic stress)?
5. How do I know when fermentation is complete?
6. What ingredients should I stay away from? Why?
7. How should I deal with sanitation?
8. What should I do if my fermentation "sticks"?
9. What's a basic, beginning wash recipe?
10. Are there special considerations when fermenting fruits?

Still-making
1. How do I keep from blowing myself up?
2. What materials should I avoid?
3. Pot still or reflux?
4. What's the best heat source? How do I control it?
5. How much cooling water do I need?
6. Do I need a thermometer?
7. How do I pack a column?
8. How do I size the column?
9. How do I size the condenser?
10. How do I clean my still?

Distilling
1. Do I add the wash, grains and all, to the still, or separate the grain?
2 What are "cuts"? How do I make them?
3. What about methanol?
4. How fast should I distill?
5. How do I determine the alcohol concentration of the distillate?
6. How do "heads", "tails", and "middle-run" contribute to the final flavor?
7. Should I distill once, twice, or three times?
8. Are there specific "tricks" for distilling different types of beverages?
9. How do I keep my distillation constant?
10. What safety precautions should I take while distilling?

Post-distillation
1. Should I reduce the proof of my distillate immediately?
2. Should I age with wood? What kind? How?
3. What "additives" work well?
4. Do I need to filter (carbon, etc.)?
5. How long will my distillate "keep"?
6. Can I sweeten my distillate to make a liquer?
7. My new-make distillate is very rough, what do I do?
8. I like this stuff, how do I duplicate it? (to stress record keeping!)
9. How should I do comparative tastings?
10. I can't think of a toast worthy of my "baby". What is YOUR favorite?

Damn chemist .lol See that came right off top of your head.Good work

tater wrote:Damn chemist .lol See that came right off top of your head.Good work

Well, I do give it A LOT of thought at work!!!

This is a great idea, but how do you make the answers to those questions short and concise? Seems like it would almost be like rewriting Tonys site. Maybe including links to other articles or sites might help too.

Sounds great Chemist and looks like you have it all covered also! But still wouldn't hurt to have a glossary of terms in it also. We probley use different terms than the Aussies, Europeans and others on here. Like me being a dummy is the "tails" what I'd call "singles"??

Hi Guys,
I am a newbie, an Aussie Newbie and I want to congratulate you all on what you have done and are doing on this site. The Newbie FAQs is a great idea. A list of questions as 'Chemist' has suggested with the answers as a direct link to a page or item within the site that the Newbie would have to read to get his answer is the way to go. The list can be added to at any time and becomes a virtual referdex for the site.
You guys have been around for a long time so have heaps of answers stored in your head. The site has heaps of answers stored in its memory but finding a specific answer can be a bit daunting, especially when some differ a little and when an answer is need in a relatively short time.
I gained several answers from you guys over the past couple of weeks and my new still is taking shape. I will post photos when complete. Thanks for being there for us.
Cheers,
OldStormy

Hmm, I learned mainly by reading the http://homedistiller.org onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow site itself (and asking a few dumb questions, I admit it). At least 10 times over the whole thing by now. I still find something new when I flip through it occasionally.

I agree though there should be a more concise FAQ of sorts - the site has so much Goddamn information on it, it was quite overwhelming to first read. Of course to me, it was overwhelming and encouraged me to learn it all.

To many, it may be overwhelming and encourage them to quit from the complexity of it all - or to just not read it, and ask the same questions that everyone is getting tired of answering.

I've thought many times of making a "basics of safe distilling" site. In fact, I even started working on one once before being distracted by a million other things in my life . I don't believe there is a site out there that tells someone just how to make a simple sugar wash and potstill, that isn't full of false information, correct me if i'm wrong.

The Wiki, I think, is supposed to eventually grow into an ever-changing repository of recipies, designs, techniques, etc etc that sums up all our knowledge. Given the naturally tangled structure of a relatively unregulated Wiki... not exactly a good newbie resource.

Hi guys!

As you know, I'm a newbie...

I started readin' Tony's site in may 2005... I've readen it for min five times, some parts maybe more... So did I with the step by step guide "Building a home distillation apparatus"... After hundreds hours of this reading, I started to build my still in july... First batch and distillation in the beginning of august... Great results at the first time (Thankyou Tony!!!)
After more then ten distillations, some questions appeared and I had the desire to communicate with others... I didn't dare to post on the forum before to read all the site several times and have a minimum practice by myself.
I think the faq would be a good thing but will never replace this communication with more experimented distillers...
Please don't forget that...

I see it as a way to point newbee in direction where they know what question they need to ask . hope to use links in faq as well to point out where to read more on subject

How about a list of books that anyone can read and educate themselves about distillation and the different aspects of it, with reviews by members that have read them and can give advice about whether they will help readers or not?

There is at least one thread on here like that listing peoples favorite references, but a FAQ with a list of other reading references is a good idea.

Tater had an excellent idea about the development of the FAQ section. Originally I had said we would hand out several of the questions to some of the more knowledgable members for answering, but that probably isn't the best way. We should allow everyone the chance to answer.

Since the FAQ's will be for the entire board, to get the best possible answers, and avoid slighting anyone by not giving them a chance to contribute an answer, we will post a newbie question and leave it up for several days. Everyone will get the oppourtunity to give an answer to the posted question. This will even add more data to the board's history that will be recorded for all time and should be ample information for any newbies willing to search beyond the FAQ section.

After a couple of days we will post a poll to allow the entire board to vote for the contributor with the best answer. It will be a competition of sorts for everyone to show how much you know, how well you can answer the question, and how well you can research and include a few links to more detailed information with your answer.

In defense of us "Newbies"
Speaking for myself. I bought a book and read it.
And I have read hours and hours of websites on the subject of my new found hobby.
Save for Tony's website, After a while you become "brain dead" from conflicting information on the websites. And some websites are so technical you can't understand them. (Who cares about a picture of the molecular breakdown of starch!)
There's recipes out there that some steps are assumed and not included.
As an example: Most recipes say 'Pitch the yeast"
OK what type? how much? Nutrients? How long?
I saw the term here: Sparging.
I went to the dictionary( A book) and it said: Thrifty or frugal"
These are simple things that most of you "Masters" take for granted because you've done it for so long.
I think this forum is a great resource for experienced distillers and novices.
Who knows, maybe one of those novices may find a great resource for supplies or equipment that you "know it all's" will need?
Please remember:
All of you started out like us and probably asked stupid questions (maybe not on this forum) until you got to where you are now.
Thanks folks for all the help now and in future!

Whats the number 1 most asked newbie question?

Well a good newbie question is "What kind of materials can I use in building my still" If they are just starting out then that is where they will be starting, the building of the still. I think this area needs a lot of clarification in the fact that it's not what distillate will do to the material but what the material will do to the distillant. It could be linked with places to find plans for building as still.
When newbies who start up can not solder or weld it is amazing the idea's that they come up for sealing joints

knuklehead wrote: When newbies who start up can not solder or weld it is amazing the idea's that they come up for sealing joints

Are you saying the Superglue was a mistake?

Materials: BRAINS

Thats a great idea. If i did it, I wld have them read 2 books and Tony's site before they can even ask questions.

However, I'd also have the FAQs handled differtley also. Once a question has been formulated, and placed in the FAQ list, I'd have the link/book reference for the answer beside it and let them get the info themselves.

Why, because if they are spoonfed when they first start, they will keep making the common mistakes and expecting to get the answer w/o any effort on their part. IOW, there learning/retention curves will be lower than if they spent some brain time researching. IE., "the teach a man to fish" parable.

Maybe that is to harsh. I like helping people on here and the other distiller forums but I cant make a living doing it. Who can?

Anywho, there def aught to be a list, just a list, of books and references and links for the newbies. Take UJ's list in Resources >Reading List as a starter and just list all, w/o descriptions, plus any additions to it.

Rasie one for me!

BR

here it is, the post i was wanting!

this would be an easy thing to do in the wiki, where any of us could see and revise it at any time

bibliography:

http://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Bibliography

Wow Uj now thats really something..

And we can add stuff too?

How, clik edit?

ho can i just copy and paste all my links to the wiki..that may help someone too.

BR

click "edit" and you'll see how the pages are formatted.

you can also add the isbn tag so that the books can be searched online which is pretty nifty!

actually it's a bit confusing.

click this link:

http://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Books

i just created it. we'll have to add in the other books in the bibliography.

edit the page and you will see how pages are edited. have fun

chemist has it sussed on the questions front, lol had some spare time at work )

as far as how to go about it i think it would be good to put each question under a new post, and to answer the question with a brief written answer linking to the page on tonys site and to the wiki describing in more detail.

The best brief answer can be picked out by vote after some days of being "open for suggestions"

and perhaps a dictionary on the wiki for terms used

Brett wrote:and perhaps a dictionary on the wiki for terms used

http://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Glossary