Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I gave my second hand 5L Still Spirits Super Reflux its first run today. The manual say to run 500ml per minute of 20c water for cooling, more if the water is warmer. My water was 32c (from a sump) and the pump was recirculating at 1500ml per minute. Foreshots came off no problems. The flow rate was a nice drip, drip drip. About 300ml into the main run (only expecting 600ml) I noticed the boiler started to boil. At the same time it started seeping wash from the outer lid edge. I stopped the run.

Is there supposed to be a seal in the lid?
Also do they normally make a boiling sound? The thermometer did not move from the 79.9c it was sitting on. My 50L pot still doesn't make the boiling sound.

Cheers

OzKev

There should be what looks like silicon in the rim of the lid.This should seal very well.

There looks like a really thin what used to be a silicone seal in it. I wonder if I can still get a replacement?

Is the boiling normal?

OzKev wrote:There looks like a really thin what used to be a silicone seal in it. I wonder if I can still get a replacement?

Is the boiling normal?

You could make a new seal yourself out of silicon baking sheet. Yes it should boil, both of mine do. My t500 doesn't produce product until the wash boils.

Hi Ozkev

This is what my 5 liter boiler seal looks like




if it looks smooth then its probably Ok and original ...if its all rough ,then perhaps someones tried to scrape it out :think:

Or is your lid buckled ...have you placed it on a flat surface and check it ;-)

you can get replacement lids from HBS .

I tested the lid and it sat true. I ended up with a silicone backing dish from Flash Harries (discounters store) for $3.99. I found they were thicker than the baking sheets so thought a more positive seal. I had some silicone rated for use with fuel and in systems up to 3200c laying around and stuck the new seal into place. It definitely has a lot more pressure to clamp the lid on now. It will be a week or so before I have any wash ready to try it out. My plan is to spend a bit of time with soapy water testing for leaks.

Also got my power controller wired up today, so the next run I can drop the input power to ensure a slower spirit run and hopefully a better product. (on both this and my pot still)

Thanks for all the help.

If its not boiling how is vapor going to get to the condenser, then be cooled to turn back to liquid??

SBB wrote:If its not boiling how is vapor going to get to the condenser, then be cooled to turn back to liquid??

:text-+1: the wash has to be boiling to produce anything, wether you can hear it or not depends on your still.

Your better off looking for vapour leaks with a mirror and look for fogging, it has to be a big leak to see with your eyes :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I'm concerned about my inherited reflux still now.
Pic below ... Problem is there is nothing to secure the lid in place!
And there is no silicone seal at all and looks like there never has been ....
Can it work with no seal on the lid ... It looks like it's designed to just sit on top?

It needs a seal, even the tiniest pinprick of a hole can have vapor escaping. This is dangerous as the vapor is flammable. It needs a seal and to be tight on the seal. Would you consider upgrading boiler size to 25L or a 50L keg?

How does it connect to the boiler lid? can it be or have an flange? kegs have a 2" flange and you can attach to one of them quite easily. A member here may have an old T500 25L boiler they may sell/part with :think:

Hi BennyHiggo
I had a still like that many years ago. There is no seal or clamping on that still it seals with the vapor.
Mine did similar thing when the packing that I had put in the column was too tight or became blocked. If you are still using the marble as packing it may be stuck or your wash was frothing too much.
You should try using some stainless steel pot scrubbers in the column below the marble seating position this will increase the alcohol percent.
Good Luck
Torry

There should be a seal and a paint tin type clamp in there mate...

I'll be doing a cleaning run soon anyway so will check for any vapour escape then.
I will deffo be looking at upgrading sooner rather than later and think the best place to start is with a decent boiler!
And I will be more than happy to buy one ready rigged up at the right price ;)

Something like thie mate HBS prob have one

BennyHiggo wrote:I'll be doing a cleaning run soon anyway so will check for any vapour escape then.

Even with a cleaning run (if it is a sacrificial alcohol run) you will get highly flammable ethanol escaping.
Mate with a cigarette, fridge turning on, or all types of shit can happen.
Boom - no insurance, trouble with the law, time in hospital
Best you fix it before you go any further

Do a run with water only ;)

That type of old Still Spirits reflux still DIDN"T have any type of seal or clamp on them when new.
That type of boiler would be 10-15 years old and is an aluminum boiler and lid, Still Spirits then improved the boiler with a clamp and seal and a move to stainless steel.
The reflux head you have can easily be put on another boiler while you are building a better still head.

Torry

Yep totally agree Peterpan.
Last thing I want is police at the door!! I will be doing a cleaning run with vinegar and water. Will test for any leakage all over the still really carefully at this point. Will be doing this one indoors so that I will know for sure if any steam is escaping.
If it seems ok I will work out some sort of seal before a distilling run and will also do it outside just in case! Not a smoker so shouldn't be too much to worry about.
Tory the sooner I can get a decent boiler the better ... Just need a decent one to come up at the right price ;)

Stupid question time ....
Running a vinegar and water cleaning run .... Do I need to run the cooling water? Running it at the mo but not much is happening.
And how long should I run it for?

BennyHiggo wrote:Stupid question time ....
Running a vinegar and water cleaning run .... Do I need to run the cooling water? Running it at the mo but not much is happening.
And how long should I run it for?

Bit late but give it 20 minutes and no cooling so it steam cleans itself :handgestures-thumbupleft: