Is my new still any good?

[olderbutnowiser]

Chinese still cutaway2.jpg

Chinese still.jpg

Bought this still recently. looks good workmanship, all stainless. Fitted a 240v element myself. First try made a quantity of product approx 40% abv but was expecting higher alcohol content.
Any comments?
Regards,
Don

[bluc]

Its a pot still, to improve quality you need to double distill. First time "strip run" run it as fast as you can collect down to 20%. Second time "spirit run" collect in small amounts 150-200mls per bottle-jar. Then use smell and taste to keep the best of it. You also need to discard foreshots completely discard first 200mls from strip and spirit orunsn 25l batch with a pot still. Have a read of novice guide to cuts in the beginers section for a better understanding of how cuts work.

Your still is not the best but ylu have it now and will do for a start.

[WTDist]

welcome, how much does one of those stills go for?

[rumdidlydum]

The fittings are brass.
Just be carefull with that it doesn't leak vapour ;-)

By the way welcome :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Undertaker]

What material is the boiler lid seal made from?

cheers Phil

[Doubleuj]

It can't be a pot, it must be a vm reflux as it's got a type of condenser in the column and a valve on top. :think:

[WTDist]

i thought as much but wasnt sure myself. they say it can have packing put in but is the "First Cooling" a reflux condenser or is it passive reflux they hope for?

he hasnt been here since he asked the question, his first post. I would want to know the answer if it was me :wtf:

[bluc]

In the picture it says you can put activated charchoal or ceramics on the mesh does it have a perf plate in first section? pc looks like a combo worm/shotgun..

[olderbutnowiser]

welcome, how much does one of those stills go for?

I found it for $280 on ebay

[olderbutnowiser]

i thought as much but wasnt sure myself. they say it can have packing put in but is the "First Cooling" a reflux condenser or is it passive reflux they hope for?

he hasnt been here since he asked the question, his first post. I would want to know the answer if it was me :wtf:

Thanks for the comments folks. I put some SS and copper pieces on that perforated plate. Now I'm thinking of packing above that with copper mesh to see how that affects things. Also, I have a feeling the first wash didn't ferment out fully as it was sitting in my shed in cooler temperatures.
So to follow from WTDist comment, is 'First Cooling' a reflux condenser?
Regards,
Don

[rumsponge]

yeah, not sure about that. the 'first cooling' looks to me just air-cooled (more like a thumper). I doubt you will get much reflux action except in the beginning of the run. To me this stills looks like fancy potstill.

[Doubleuj]

How about some more pics?

[olderbutnowiser]

How about some more pics?

I read about not using plastic after I did this run. Wasn't in the plastic for long. Now I need to source a decent sized glass container or two.

[olderbutnowiser]

What material is the boiler lid seal made from?

cheers Phil

Hi Phil,
Appears to be silicone formed gasket. The hoses that came with it are silicone as well. It is designed to use the boiler as a fermenter but I'm not keen to boil the sediment.
Regards,
Don

[Zak Griffin]

You should be collecting in small glass jars anyway mate, the reason you only pulled 40% out of your first run is because it was full of tails ;-)