Speed of LM/VM stills

[pat_00]

Hi,

I'm just finishing up my still build, it is a 2" Boka slanted plate still with a VM takeoff point just below the plates.

What I've been reading that has me second guessing my direction is some experiences of slow take-off rates (1L -1.5L per hour). I will be using a 50l boiler and plan to do low wine runs, and I don't like the idea of having to babysit the still for 10 hours +.

Is this what I should be expecting?

[Nathan02]

mate on spirit runs my 2" boka in pot mode pours out the nectar, the only reason i check is to change collection jars. its pretty much set and forget. i havent done a neutral spirit run yet because in all honesty neutrals doesnt really interest me but they operate a fair bit slower but the neutral that comes off is really high quality. just depends what you plan to do. i strip a 25l rum wash in 2.5 hours after i reach temp. getting 4.5L

[hillzabilly]

G-day Pat,one thing that will also effect speed is the length of packing,short colomn of 600mm will need ta be run slower than a 1mt plus colomn as there is less packing (fewer theoretical plates) ta do the purification,and the more power you can use the faster your speed will be too,and finaly the quality of wash ifn its turdbo you will need slower runs or possibly two spirit runs ta get the same quality as a better fine ferment,so you will see that speed is not just about the still but a combination of several factors.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

[pat_00]

Thanks for the responses.

I should have mentioned, I am using 1300mm of copper/stainless packed section. And I will be using a 2400w element. My Reflux condensor is 180mm double coil 6mm copper. i'm yet to make my Product Condensor for the VM side, but I'm looking at making a 2" shotgun or a long liebig.

I'll be doing stripping runs and whiskey/rum etc. from my pot still.

[pat_00]

I'm also looking at TPW and/or Kale wash. Coming from an AG brewing background I feel I have the fermentation side pretty sorted.

[db1979]

Go the 2" shotgun over a liebig, you're using electricity so you don't need to have the product come a long way out from the boiler so a long liebig is not needed. Shotguns work better anyway.

[Sam.]

mate on spirit runs my 2" boka in pot mode pours out the nectar, the only reason i check is to change collection jars. its pretty much set and forget.

If you think any still is "set and forget" you are one step closer to burning your house down. :naughty:

[Nathan02]

i dont set it and walk away, just using it as a term to describe the operation of it. jars take normally 10mins to fill

[Sam.]

All good mate, just needs to be clarified for newbies reading it :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[pat_00]

Yeah, I've read up on the safety aspects of stilling. It'll be under supervision.

In other news, I've had a set back while doing a vinegar bath. I was using a bottle brush to help cleaning and accidentally left it in the vinegar solution with the copper bits. What I ended up with a black layer all over the copper. Turns out the metal stem of the brush was plating the copper. It's taken a fair bit of stuffing around and a step up to citric acid to get it all off again.

Looks like my first run will be this weekend.

[scythe]

You could probably have gotten it back off by attaching a battery to the offending brush stem and your copper amd reversed the electroplating.

[pat_00]

I did think of that, but a soak in citric and some rubbing with steel wool got it off.