Home Distiller

Hi all,

I've got an old waterboiler which I'm transferring to a boiler. Normaly I will cut of the top, to remove all the stuff inside, but with this one I don't need to, so I'm thinking about keeping it so.
But.... a cut off top means an easy cleaning of the till, so I thougt, how do you guys with a keg clean you're boiler?

The boiler almost always requires very little 'cleaning'. Backset is acidic, and when hot (i.e. boiling), things get kept pretty clean. When I am done, I drop the level down to about 3 gallons or so, of still hot backset. I can then pick up the keg by hand, and swirl it. I do that, and it comes out clean enough. It can be hit with a hose if it requires anything more.

Now, I do heat with propane (want to get an elect boiler also, but I have not pulled the trigger yet). Someone with an elect element has to make sure that there are no burnt shit getting on the element. However, that can be done through removing the element also.

If something gets scorched or stuck bad, then you can put some river gravel in there, and water, and roll, swish it around. I have also heard of others using a SS chain, to do this abrasive work.

I cringe when I see someone new, that has cut a hole in their keg, because of plans / pix they have seen on the internet (including the out of date content in parts of the parent site). A keg is ideal to leave 'unmolested'. Now, I can not say for sure about this boiler you have. If you can utilize it without having to cut it up, I would recommend doing that. The cleaning thing really is not that big of an issue.

The one disclaimer to this, is if you will be distilling things like grape skins / pulp left over from a winery, then you WILL need a large opening. Something that is very pulpy, with lots of solids WILL require access. Also, if you plan on distilling 'on the grain', then it is also likely you will want better access. Large volumes of solids, no matter how careful you are, will at times scorch / burn to the bottom.

H.

Rinse with water!

Husker wrote: Now, I do heat with propane (want to get an elect boiler also, but I have not pulled the trigger yet). Someone with an elect element has to make sure that there are no burnt shit getting on the element. However, that can be done through removing the element also.

Damn, forgot I have to build in the electric element, have to try if I can install it from the hole on the top.

Husker wrote:The one disclaimer to this, is if you will be distilling things like grape skins / pulp left over from a winery, then you WILL need a large opening. Something that is very pulpy, with lots of solids WILL require access. Also, if you plan on distilling 'on the grain', then it is also likely you will want better access. Large volumes of solids, no matter how careful you are, will at times scorch / burn to the bottom.

Planning to do only sugarwashes, so no pulp or something like that. It'ss for my new reflux.
Thanks!

hstuurman wrote: Damn, forgot I have to build in the electric element, have to try if I can install it from the hole on the top.

Most of the time, you can get a heating element that will fit through a 1" fitting in the lower side of the keg. Get a hole drilled in there, then have a fitting welded in. I bet your boiler would be similar.

H.

Bushman wrote:Rinse with water!

+1

hstuurman wrote:Hi all,

I've got an old waterboiler which I'm transferring to a boiler. Normaly I will cut of the top, to remove all the stuff inside, but with this one I don't need to, so I'm thinking about keeping it so.
But.... a cut off top means an easy cleaning of the till, so I thougt, how do you guys with a keg clean you're boiler?

I have an unmolested keg set up coming supposedly and got a hot tip from somebody either on here or the BH forum that the Wally World brand of Oxyclean called Sun specifically will clean up the nastiest keg ever produced. You just put a scoop or two down the hole and fill it up with water and let set for two days. Come out pure and clean the fellow claimed. Aint used it yet cuz I aint got the keg set up yet. I have confidence it will work. The fella said his keg had six months worth of cruddded up Pabst in it. If it will clean out that nasty junk anything else should be easy.

Mine had been sitting for a few years with beer in it. All I had to do was rinse it out with hot water. Unless it was open and got some crusty crud in it.

I have an electric keg with a bottom drain and all I ever do is rinse with water, I will spray it around in the keg as best I can and it never seem to build up anything that I can see.
Oxyclean or generic brands (Scent free, no perfume odor) will clean most organic stuff especially when hot water is used.

Will red wine leave a residue? Will it come out easy enough? I have some sitting around that's bad and was thinking of running it.

Burbankbrewer wrote:Will red wine leave a residue? Will it come out easy enough? I have some sitting around that's bad and was thinking of running it.

I doubt it but I will find out this summer. I have some whine I need to get rid of. Not so good home made and old cheap wine and some oxidized stuff I am tired of looking at.

Every once in a great while I fill the boiler with water, add 2 scoops of Oxy-Clean and fire up the electricity.
Run the whole thing up to a slow rolling boil for a couple of hours, without the still head, and then drain and rinse.

Aw there you are darling, all that bright shiny stainless steel, You are as beautiful on the inside as you are ugly on the outside

Coyote

So there's no chance of mould when the boiler is left with water residue in it? That's my main concern

Underground44 wrote:So there's no chance of mould when the boiler is left with water residue in it? That's my main concern

Mold? Rinse it real good and flip it upside down to drain any excess water and let it air dry.

Underground44 wrote:So there's no chance of mould when the boiler is left with water residue in it? That's my main concern

Of course there is. There is also a chance mice will nest in there. Common sense and good hygiene will do the job. Good luck

AC

Car wash or pressure washer If I feel the need for more than a swish and drain.