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T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:16 pm
by blatto
Just beginning to get into distilling, I have looked and spoken to 2 local home brew shops, one independent the other part of a chain, both very helpful one has the T 500 kit the other their Black Maximus kit, as a beginner kit what do you guys recommend?

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:43 pm
by Professor Green
Neither! :laughing-rolling:

Have a bit of a search though some of the threads on HBS stills before you part with your hard earned.

What sort of spirits are you looking to make?

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:07 pm
by blatto
Thanks Prof Green, Scotch, Bourbon, Rum, what do you recommend?

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:12 pm
by rumsponge
looks like you need a bubbler (=plated column) or potstill if you cant afford one right now.
I have just posted this in another thread, but appears useful here as well:
http://www.aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=3117

Have a good read of the different types of stills (t500 is a CM still, black maximus appears to be LM), neither are good for retaining much flavour (good for clean vodka, but bad for rum/whiskey, bourbon).

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:15 pm
by Professor Green
If you're looking to do flavoured spirits like whisky and rum then a pot still would be the way to go. The T500 is a reflux still and will strip the flavour out of your whisky and rum washes.

How handy are you with tools? You could knock yourself up a pot still very quickly and quite cheaply if you can wrangle a propane torch. Otherwise you could look at a ready made pot still from 5 Star.

I see rum sponge beat me me to it!

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 11:24 pm
by Undertaker
Neither if you have some skills
blatto wrote:.....one has the T 500 kit the other their Black Maximus...
Have a read online, check the for sale section, check what FSD has available if its beyond your capabilities. Anything here, including other members looking to offload their T 500s will be better than any info or stills bought online

Cheers Phil

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 6:58 am
by blatto
Thanks everyone for the heads up, I'll drill down more in the forum, and will ask some more questions if need be, I take I am better off looking for a pot still rather than a reflux? Any recommendations?

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 9:17 am
by scythe
A 50L milk can boiler and a modular 4" pot still is my recommendation.
From "5 star distilling" of course.

If you balk at the price sit down and actually do the sums for what you are getting, you will be miles ahead if you don't have the inclination to build your own.

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 9:56 am
by wynnum1
First thing you need to look at is where can you set up and operate no good going big if do not have suitable space to operate .

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:29 pm
by Pugdog1
I will second that recommendation for the 5 star distilling gear. I have a t500 myself and I don't drink all that much. But I still wish I'd bought that 100L boiler and a 4" modular still from 5 star initially. It cost a lot for setup but 4 batches of booze in and you have almost made your money's worth. And if you're making premium quality scotches out of it than it's worth even more to you

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:02 am
by bluc
Best thing about grabbing a pot from 5 star is you can turn it into a bubbler when you have the funds..

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:42 am
by tipsy
All of the above :D

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 2:38 pm
by Yurugaboy
There is a great FSD pot still for sale on the for sale section. If you don't want to go down the make your own line.then just add a boiler.
I suggest buying off the forum rather than form a HB shop. A lot of them don't know distilling. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 4:30 pm
by Lowie
I'm about to post my old super reflux still for sale. This still is easily modified to run in potstill mode for your whiskeys and rums and likewise in original form for vodkas. It's a great beginners still and a cheap alternative before you get into the really good stuff!

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2017 7:17 am
by Woodsy71
T500 vs Black Maximus?? :wtf:


...sounds like a vibrator comparison down at the local porn shop... :laughing-rolling:

Re: T500 vs Black Maximus

PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2017 9:09 pm
by Azza76
Woodsy71 wrote:T500 vs Black Maximus?? :wtf:


...sounds like a vibrator comparison down at the local porn shop... :laughing-rolling:


Ha Ha just the name black maximus sounds like a winner lol :scared-eek: