Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi Guys

I am hoping somebody out there might be able to help me out. I want to switch to bentonite clay for clearing. The wife is onto me about leaving the barrels around too long. I am using the TPW and would love to know how much clay to use and the best way to use it for clearing.

Any help would be appreciated.

From memory i use to hydrate it first with water before adding to fermenter and used a heaped tablespoon in 60l fermenter. I use to add it at start of fermentation it will get moved around and pull more solids out of suspension that way.. long time since I used it but from memory it used to work well..

bluc wrote:From memory i use to hydrate it first with water before adding to fermenter and used a heaped tablespoon in 60l fermenter. I use to add it at start of fermentation it will get moved around and pull more solids out of suspension that way.. long time since I used it but from memory it used to work well..

Legend, I will test it out first and see how I go

I’ve got to ask, why add something you wouldn’t normally stick in your mouth ?
I mean time will settle it so what add stuff ?

The Stig wrote:I’ve got to ask, why add something you wouldn’t normally stick in your mouth ?
I mean time will settle it so what add stuff ?

I have read quite a few articles that say it does an excellent job. I can't leave my barrels too long as they get in the way for the wife so I have to speed the clearing up.

There are two types of bentonite - sodium and calcium.
Calcium is preferred by and often used by winemakers
It is most effective if rehydrated Best rate is 10g per 5litres of wash
Mix with 15 x water and sit for 6 hours, than add to degassed wash, stirring well and allow to settle for a day or so.


It is often taken internally as a detox

Teddysad wrote:There are two types of bentonite - sodium and calcium.
Calcium is preferred by and often used by winemakers
It is most effective if rehydrated Best rate is 10g per 5litres of wash
Mix with 15 x water and sit for 6 hours, than add to degassed wash, stirring well and allow to settle for a day or so.


It is often taken internally as a detox

Legend, I will test it out.

This is going to sound harsh sorry.
But if you haven’t got an extra week to wait for a wash to finish , maybe you need a new hobby because this really is a hobby of patience , wait for the wash/mash, wait and sit with the still while it’s running , wait for booze to age . It goes on and on

Bentonite clay is what we used to put in the milk mix for poddy lambs when they got the scours.
It binds them back up.
Pretty sure it is just very fine very stable clay powder.
I suppose not everyone is blessed with a lot of space play with.

The Stig wrote:This is going to sound harsh sorry.
But if you haven’t got an extra week to wait for a wash to finish , maybe you need a new hobby because this really is a hobby of patience , wait for the wash/mash, wait and sit with the still while it’s running , wait for booze to age . It goes on and on

Nah, have to disagree. I am making great tasting booze and having too much fun. It is not about time it is about sharing the space the wife, when you live in a small place you have to compromise.

Hey guys, I have mucked around with the clay and what a difference. No strange flavours and cleared it perfectly. A wash I left for a month improved by a bucket load. I may have fluked the ratios but will post what I've done.

Honestly why would one need a expanding clay to clear of wash ??????

About 10 years I had a leaky dam so I bought a ton of this clay and used a bobcat to spread it around, now with the winter rains this dam sealed nicely but no way I would put anything like this clay in any of my booze...

You're putting kitty litter in your wash!

It's used in the wine industry, it does work :-B

:text-+1: That it does ...

Aldi has 10kg bags of pure Bentonite no additives, cat litter for a bit over $7. Bargin Sani pet is the brand.