cleaning up distillate

[norcal]

An amature distiller I know had some problems with cloudy distillate. It was crystal clear untill he diluted. I didn't detect any off flavors or smells. Product was 88%abv before diluting. It sounded like he did everything riteas far as making the cuts by temp. I noticed he had some plastic in the vapor path. I think that is the problem. Good water, correct/same temp as spirit at time of mixing,etc.

My questionis this, can I clean up his spirit by running through my reflux? Will that make it safe to drink? Will the plastic stay behinde or carry over again? I told him I didn't think filtering would clean it up well enough. I also told him not to drink any more untill I got an answer. Am I on the correct path? I hate to tell him to toss it, but in the name of safety that may be best.

Thanks in advance for the help.

I did tell him about this site and told him to read it. And to get rid of th plastic.

[Tater]

Toss it

[knuklehead]

That sounds 100% like my very first run in my still. I also collected at 88% and it was clear, that is until I diluted it then it became cloudy. I had a plastic collection tube where the 88% distillant ran through into the collection jar. If you where to run it in your reflux still I'll bet that it would come out clear even after you diluted it BUT like you said "in the name of safety" tell him to just toss it out. It may come out clear after the distillation in the reflux still but all that means is that some of the compound contributed by the plastic has been removed and not necessarily that all have been removed. Some of the compounds may have the same boiling point as ethanol and may carry over at the same time making it impossible to separate. I totally agree with tater, tell him to toss it out. I know it's hard to do but it's the safe thing to do. Tell him to get rid of the plastic and he won't have this problem any more.

Telling him to read this site is a great suggestion. Also tell him that making cuts by temperature is not a really practice since there are may variables that could contribute to an inaccurate reading. If his currant thermometer is -1 degree and should he happen to replace it with one that is +1 degree his known temperatures readings will be way out. The temperature will tell him one thing while his senses tell him another and this alone is enough to drive a man insane. If he learns to trust his senses he will become a much better distiller.

[possum]

Toss it...I hate waste, but dont drink it. Use it to start your charcoal grill, or clean scraped knees, but don't drink it.
Knuckelhead's assessment of the plastic situation is entirely correct.
I also sugest that no plastic contact the product after the mash comes out of the fermenter.I dont even use plastic bottles for my first runs or final product.

[TN.Frank]

When in doubt, throw it out. The secret to clean distillant is to make sure that it doesn't come into contact with anything that'll comtaminate it. There's no real way to filter out stuff that I'd trust so if it doesn't come out crystal clear on the get go look at your still and try and figure out why. Once you fix your still then the stuff that comes out should be clear as water, if it's not keep working on your still until it comes out clear.

[decoy]

Tosss it is a bit harsh...
but dont drink it use it as a fire starter or get the missus to give you a back rub

[possum]

Back rub may be OK, but do not apply alcohol in any form (cologne included ) to the bits covered by your swim trunks....See Eddie Murphy's Grandma asking: "What are you doing with your dick in the sink ?".

[norcal]

Toss it it is. Thanks for the help guys.

As it is already diluted to drinkin' proof, don't think it'll light. I guess you could put in someone's car you don't like. Kind of a waste.

He already drank about a quart before I talked to him. That was several weeks ago. I guess it didn't kill him, ....yet.

Yeah, I totaly agree, no plastic.