SLOW Spirit Run

[Apsey]

Hi everyone,

Great site with tons of awesome advice which has made my fledgling distilling hobby so much easier, thanks to all who've unwittingly helped me along the way! And thanks of course to Mac for helping me get set up :)

First post ever so be gentle! Been watching & learning for a few months now and having some great fun with my FSD pot still (50L beer keg conversion, 2 x 2400W elements, shotgun condenser etc.) and now i've learnt the ropes and done a few runs (with good results on the simple stuff like MacRum etc.) i reckon i stand a chance of posting a not-too-stupid question.

Read a lot about a "slow" spirit run, but i cannot fathom how to slow the run down without the use of an electric controller. I run the still to boiling with the 2 x elements, then as i hit temperature I switch the upper one off. ...the issue i have is (when reading everything here) is that every one talks about a product stream "no thicker than a toothpick" or "3-4 drops per second" whereas i get a reasonable stream- say the thickness of a pencil lead....not huge but seems faster than everyone implies on their posts.

My question......is this too fast? If not, then I will carry on as usual; if it's too quick is there an easy way to slow this down (condenser water control or lower wattage element ir something)? I kind of got the impression that by slowing down the run it would reduce smearing and make the cuts easier etc.

I have trawled the whole forum so I hope i havent lost my forum virginity on a question that's been answered a 1000 times!

Cheers
Apsey

[Andy]

have a bit of a read of this
http://homedistiller.org/distill/dtw/use_pot

i am not that fussed with my product. i insulate the boiler when I strip, then I don't insult when I do a spirit run. makes the very slightest difference.

You can get voltage controllers or get a smaller size element, but it is a personal preference.

[Linny]

unfortunately a pot with your size element will need a voltage controller, im sure someone in WA can help you out there. only other way to reduce the vapour speed is to increase the surface area (ie ss scrubbers) or with reflux ... both which will strip flavour out of your drink. a slower speeds makes cuts easier to define :handgestures-thumbupleft: good luck .

[Kimbo]

Hi Apsey,
a pencil lead thickness will be fine. once upon a time on only ever ran with a 2400w element for stripping and spirit runs and i never had an issue. ;-)
( you just need to keep an eye on your cuts)

[Apsey]

Thanks guys,

I just needed some clarification as my first product (strip & spirit runs on MacRum) has actually turned out bloody lovely! I also made conservative cuts to make sure! So i won't worry too much about it for now while i learn my "trade" a little better ;)

But at least i now know the final solution would be a voltage controller which i know i can get knocked up over here pretty easily- cheers!

Apsey

[Andy]

holy moly i just looked at your location- you are like 5 mins away from me haha

[Kimbo]

holy moly i just looked at your location- you are like 5 mins away from me haha

Bloody Mexicans :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

[Andy]

^ what?

[Zak Griffin]

Mexico, as in 'below the river'. Usually applies to Victorians, but I guess SOR Perth works as well haha

[MacStill]

holy moly i just looked at your location- you are like 5 mins away from me haha

Bloody Mexicans :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Not bad coming from a Victorian :teasing-tease:

:))

[Kimbo]

I'm not the Victorian.... the wife is :obscene-smokingsombrero:

[Sam.]

I'm not the Victorian.... the wife is :obscene-smokingsombrero:

Guilty by association :laughing-rolling:

[Kimbo]

I'm not the Victorian.... the wife is :obscene-smokingsombrero:

Guilty by association :laughing-rolling:

Wanka :laughing-rolling:

[Apsey]

Andy,

Follow the smell of the peated whiskey stripping run today and you'll find me ;)

[MacStill]

Hey Apsey,

Where you getting your peated malt from in Perth mate ?

[Apsey]

Hey Mac,

Picked it up in TWOC Bibra Lake while I was rummaging around for Macwiskey ingredients. Same price as the pilsner malt. Stripping right now and you can really smell the difference.

[Andy]

Andy,

Follow the smell of the peated whiskey stripping run today and you'll find me ;)

cool man. let us know how it goes. if it turns out might have to copy you

[Apsey]

Will do mate, spirit run next week so I'll know whether its a success by then!

The recipe was just a take on MacWiskey, amped up for a 50l wash:

2kg peated malt (steeped in 10-15l boiling water for an hour to soften)
6kg raw sugar
2 x tins of dark malt extract
Pinch Epsom salts
Lowans bakers yeast (about 100g)

Got about 13l of low wines from the stripping run- I've also backset the next gen with about 10l hot dunder/ sugar & 1/2 kg fresh grains....watch this space....!