A bit of a backstory. Twenty plus years ago I spent time with a Finnish engineer and we CO-designed a column system that we both built (at the time I had access to a tool shop with coded welders) and some fabulous booze was fractionated.
Over time, and many house moves, my hobby mojo moved onto other things and the kit I built from scratch with an old Burco boiler as heat source and a ball valve as flow rate controller got lost.
No affiliation at all, but bought a pre rigged system with a copper tower from ‘love brewing’ here in the UK and a second kettle from a German distributor which was almost identical.
Ran a wash (Alcotec 48) for a week and had a mediocre ABV but ran the still this afternoon and got 2.5 litres at 93% from 21L
Far from a stellar result, but it is very clean, without almost any volatiles. Without charcoal work it is drinkable (with a shed load of dilution).
Every day is a schoolday.
First run of new
Moderator: Site Moderator
Re: First run of new
Got any pics? I'd love to see it
There are two types of people in this world.
1. Those that can extrapolate from incomplete information.
1. Those that can extrapolate from incomplete information.
-
Saltbush Bill
- Site Mod
- Posts: 10364
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
- Location: Northern NSW Australia
Re: First run of new
Just turned your photo for you.
You might like to replace the silicone tubing where your booze leaves the product condenser.
This forum does not condone the use of silicone in any place where it comes in direct contact with any high ABV alcohol.
Please read the forum Rules for further clarification...rule I
.app.php/rules
You might like to replace the silicone tubing where your booze leaves the product condenser.
This forum does not condone the use of silicone in any place where it comes in direct contact with any high ABV alcohol.
Please read the forum Rules for further clarification...rule I
.app.php/rules
Re: First run of new
Thank you for the rotation.
I am however happy to tell you that the tube in question is very definitely not silicone, rather a stiff (I believe) HDPE food grade plastic tube, I agree that silicone and high ABV do not mix.
I am however happy to tell you that the tube in question is very definitely not silicone, rather a stiff (I believe) HDPE food grade plastic tube, I agree that silicone and high ABV do not mix.
Re: First run of new
Aha! Just realised the confusion point. The tube at the bottom of the condenser is the cooling water outflow. The condensate exits from the tube at 90 degrees. @saltbush bill
Last edited by Raggie on Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: First run of new
You'll need to read rule I again
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
Re: First run of new
Ah. OK. I hadn’t considered it an issue when cooled and purely a drip conduit, but fair enough. I’ll look to braze (not lead solder) a copper tail. I am an anti plastic guy in all walks of life - certainly no single use plastic in this house and not a man made fibre in my wardrobe.
Re: First run of new
Thank you for your efforts I go thru alot of straws and cups as a bartender required to furnish them to guests.
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
Re: First run of new
Maybe replace with some PTFE tubing:
And welcome to HD.
opus
And welcome to HD.
opus