Home Distillation Made Easy!
Balmoral
Member
Login to Send PM
Posts: 32
Mines still stuck at 1020. I notice on the packet it says fermentation will stick above 24 degrees, with the tank heater it has been spot on 24, having been too cold in the weeks previously. I don't suppose I have gone from being too cold to too warm?
Anyway, I think I've just ruined it, I put a packet of Allinsons easy bake yeast in there, which I found in the cupboard and rashly bunged it into the wash.
Will that get it moving, or did I boob?
bluecap
Member
Login to Send PM
Posts: 163
Hi Balmoral I doubt the Allison’s yeast will make a difference but all is not lost give it a couple of days if no joy with it clear it, and distil it there’s still alcohol in there.
Optic if it fizzing its giving gas off, all I can think of is your bucket is not air tight or a cracked airlock, try a different airlock.
Opus 27
Inebriate
Login to Send PM
Posts: 295
Two different yeast stains wont work the existing yeast colony will just kill the latter one. depending on the starting SG you might still have some useable alcohol in there. Just need to be carefull it does'nt foam up if you distill it. Not sure if Distillers Conditioner would help.
Opus 27
optic
Member
Login to Send PM
Posts: 204
Opus27
Hows the john stone wash going?,i take it as its a 40ltr wash you are going to do a couple of stripping runs and a spirit run through the super reflux,ive been looking at the still plans in johns book i would like to try and make one,the only part that is elusive is a needle valve,any ideas on where to source one from thing is i dont want to pay out for all the tubing and bits and pieces then find a valve isnt available.
Optic
Opus 27
Inebriate
Login to Send PM
Posts: 295
Hi Optic
The wash stuck at 1.020. So not too impressed I guess it's about 6 or 7%ABV. That took 3 weeks where as John Stone said 5+ days. Anyway I fined it and ran it through my Buon Vino Mini Jet Filter and as I type this it's coming out of the reflux. So far 750 Ml out of the first 20 Litres at 87%. The first 250 was 90%.
The still is puling 800 watts with 500ML of coolant a minute temperature is holding at 80 C. taken 3 hours for 750 Ml. Reflux is packed with 2 stainless steel scrubbers.
I'm looking at building a new head like yourself but still un-decided on the design. It may be possible to find a needle valve on one of the Model Engineer Sites as it's something you would use on a steam engine.
Opus
optic
Member
Login to Send PM
Posts: 204
Hi Opus 27
Thats one to put down to expirience then,the main thing is at least you are able to run it.Should think it will be some nice clean tasting spirit as the yeast obviously wasnt over stressed during fermentation,ive read quite a few posts on the other site and the general opinion is not to stress the yeast by pushing it to ferment to a high ABV.
Thanks for the info about the needle valve,at least i now know something they are used for,so im of now to google and try the model engineer sites
cheers Optic
Opus 27
Inebriate
Login to Send PM
Posts: 295
Finished result for the first 20 Litres is;
1700 ML at 86%. It took 9 hours in total. 1h 20m to get to working temp. Then by tweaking power and coolant I got a good reflux going for 1h 30m. just taking off about 70 ML of heads. I then tweaked a little more and took the 1700 ML over 6hrs.
Previously I would of used about 12.5 KWh. With the controller it was down to 8 KWh. With insulation on the boiler I could probably improve even more. Spirit smells nice in as much as it does'nt smell at all but I shall still run it through the Z Filter. Next I shall try Alcotec 48.
Hope all thats of some interest.
Opus 27
optic
Member
Login to Send PM
Posts: 204
Hi Opus 27
Have you thought about trying a column extension on the super reflux?,I know there is posts on here from Phantom about his result with a column extension.
With regards to you trying the Alcotec 48 next,have you tried the Vodka star,I have found this produces a nice clean spirit when run through the airstill,although it takes quite a bit longer to ferment than the usual turbos.
Opus 27
Inebriate
Login to Send PM
Posts: 295
Thanks Optic I'll take a look at that.
Opus 27
Balmoral
Member
Login to Send PM
Posts: 32
Well, my wash was well & truly stuck at 1020, depite the aquarium heater and several weeks of bubbles. Just distilling it now, getting a very small amount out of it at 60%, tailing off rapidly. Might get a litre or so of useable spirit out of the 25 litres of wash.
FAIL!
You must log in to post.