Looooong runs

[filmtech]

I've got an offset head LM still and I'm following the directions laid out in Huskers' LM operation instructions. My questions is, is it normal for a 5 gallon spirit run at 40%abv take 10-12 hours to run? I'm starting off with an hour of equalizing at around 172 F, and then a drop a second for 300ml of fores (removed fores from each stripping run). Re-equalize for 15 mins, then take heads 1-2 drips/second till the taste/smell dissapears, re-equalize for 15 mins then take hearts at 2-3 drips/second, finally turn the heat up and fast run the tails. Its been taking an average of 10-12 hours to run it from 172F to 190F, or 40%. Just seems to take longer than some of the guys on the site says it should. Thanks! Filmtech

[Usge]

That sounds about right to me filmtech. Running a reflux still like this is a much different proposition than running a potstill. The limiting factor here in the take off speed has a lot to do with the column diameter vs how much heat you can put up it before you just push vapor beyond the limits of being able to reflux properly inside. The best analogy I've seen for describing it is like this: an acrobat on a tightrope...carrying a sack of potatoes on each side of his balance stick. If you take the potatoes off/out slowly...he can adjust and maintain his balance (equillibrium...ie., 95%). But, if you take them away too fast..he cannot adjust his balance quickly enough and falls (your abv drops and the head temps go up). For every still/design/size column there is math that will determine what that speed is. It's a combination of heat, column diameter and packing height. For a 2" column your numbers seem well in the range of normal to me.

[filmtech]

Thanks, Usge! Makes me feel better knowing I'm not doing something totally wrong!!

[rad14701]

I have found that if I make at least partial cuts during my strip runs that I can then increase my take off rate during my refluxed spirit run without jeopardizing purity - to a point... I'd say my take off rate is almost twice that of a single pass reflux distillation run... It might be well worth experimenting a bit to see if your rig is capable of the same increase... If not then you can rerun whatever sample you take if you need to...

[filmtech]

Thanks Rad! I'll give that a try next time I do neutrals. I've got 5 galls of BirdWatchers going right now, but I think I'm going to try my hand at a whiskey and a rum. I'm thinking Kentucky Shinner's sweetfeed mash for the Whiskey and Pugidog's Pugirum for the rum!!! Just got my potstill built, so I'm itching to do more than just cleaning/vapor leak runs!!!

[rad14701]

Thanks Rad! I'll give that a try next time I do neutrals. I've got 5 galls of BirdWatchers going right now, but I think I'm going to try my hand at a whiskey and a rum. I'm thinking Kentucky Shinner's sweetfeed mash for the Whiskey and Pugidog's Pugirum for the rum!!! Just got my potstill built, so I'm itching to do more than just cleaning/vapor leak runs!!!

Rum and Whiskey are totally different beasts altogether... Let us know how increasing the take off rate works... You'll need to de-tune for Rum and Whiskey unless you have a different still head...