This was my first "trial" in the art of distillation, but i haven't reached that point yet. I mixed about a cup of cornmeal, 2 cups of sugar, about 1/4 cup yeast, and mixed it in a cranberry juice container w/ water.
I've had it for about a week (longer than it needed). When it all settles I can tell that there are layers: the cornmeal, then whats left of the sugar, then liquids of what seems to be 3 different opacities.
I was thinking that it could be what was on the bottom could have been the water, then the methanol, then the ethanol. This didn't really work out when I tried to burn it though. didn't taste strong either. not enough yeast?
What did I make?
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RadicalEd1
- Bootlegger
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:20 pm
- Location: Mitten State, USA
Sloooooow down there, tiger.
First off, I recommend you read the recipes section of the home site, it will give you some really good ideas from cultures all around the world. Next, I would take a look at the recipes section here in the forum. Good stuff, really.
I would recommend you give yourself a fresh start with one of the suggested sugar washes; they are very easy to put together and can give a great tasting product. I know it's real hard to not just forge off into the great unknown with some interesting ideas, but believe me, you want to get the basics of the process down now. After that you can go nuts
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As for the layering, what you probably saw was not sugar, but yeast, on the bottom of your fermenter. If fermentation properly finished, then you should not have any sugar left in your wash; the yeast should have converted it to alcohol. The different layers are probably simply the effects of the remaining yeast and sediment slowly settling out of solution. They are not, in any way, shape, or form, the layering of alcohols. Methanol and ethanol are very friendly with each other, and are very difficult to separate. Which is why they "denature" ethanol using methanol.
What do you mean by "burn"? If you simply tried to burn the liquid, then there's no surprise; can you set a normal wine on fire? No, the alcohol level is far too low, probably in the neighborhood of 10%. If you want to separate the alcohol from the water, you will need to distill it.
I hate to come into a new thread and just shout "read read read", but I'm afraid that right now that is really the best thing you can do. Give the main site a very thorough read in your spare time, and after that, please feel free to ask us any questions.
Hope that helps!
First off, I recommend you read the recipes section of the home site, it will give you some really good ideas from cultures all around the world. Next, I would take a look at the recipes section here in the forum. Good stuff, really.
I would recommend you give yourself a fresh start with one of the suggested sugar washes; they are very easy to put together and can give a great tasting product. I know it's real hard to not just forge off into the great unknown with some interesting ideas, but believe me, you want to get the basics of the process down now. After that you can go nuts
.As for the layering, what you probably saw was not sugar, but yeast, on the bottom of your fermenter. If fermentation properly finished, then you should not have any sugar left in your wash; the yeast should have converted it to alcohol. The different layers are probably simply the effects of the remaining yeast and sediment slowly settling out of solution. They are not, in any way, shape, or form, the layering of alcohols. Methanol and ethanol are very friendly with each other, and are very difficult to separate. Which is why they "denature" ethanol using methanol.
What do you mean by "burn"? If you simply tried to burn the liquid, then there's no surprise; can you set a normal wine on fire? No, the alcohol level is far too low, probably in the neighborhood of 10%. If you want to separate the alcohol from the water, you will need to distill it.
I hate to come into a new thread and just shout "read read read", but I'm afraid that right now that is really the best thing you can do. Give the main site a very thorough read in your spare time, and after that, please feel free to ask us any questions.
Hope that helps!
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GRedd25
- Novice
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:43 pm
Ah. I forgot to mention I hadn't done as much research as I should have, thats why I made so little. It kind-of got started as a joke for an applied engineering final in my class. I wanted to make ethanol "for fuel" and for water sanitation, so we built a solar still. It leaked, and was awful, got a high B though.
You were a tremendous help. Before I get serious w/ this, I will need a still. Any recommendations on maybe plans for a cheap one?
thanks for all the help!
You were a tremendous help. Before I get serious w/ this, I will need a still. Any recommendations on maybe plans for a cheap one?
thanks for all the help!
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RadicalEd1
- Bootlegger
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:20 pm
- Location: Mitten State, USA
Hey now, I'm an electrical engineer, so let's not knock the people who design/create/process nearly everything you use, mkay?Engineering??? I Glad I a hill billy.
Maybe i cant spell but-----------
We don't hate on the keyboard challenged. As for a still, there's as many different stills as there are distillers. I know a lot of people have made stills out of 15.5 gallon beer kegs with great success; I'd recommend you check out some of the threads on that if you have the space for it. I personally just made a pot still out of a 20qt stainless steel pot, some copper fitting, and pipe. Flour paste works beautifully to seal it up. I a simple schematic for it around here somewhere; give it a quick search in the "stills and appurtences" section. Shouldn't be any trouble if you have any soldering/brazing/welding experience, and soldering at least is easy to learn.