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Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 10:39 am
by Fireplace01
25l sugar wash
Super 6 yeast
6kg sugar
Ferment 26-28deg
Initial gravity 1.8-1.9
Final gravity .98-.99
Running copperhead reflux still, more or less same design as t500 etc

Running water from word go, getting 92%ish off
Pulling about 3l, cutting/throwing 5-600ml
So getting about 2.5l good booze, is this sounding like a normal yield
Realist not a straight question just wanting to know if I'm on the right track or not
First time ever distilling just started

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 10:47 am
by Doubleuj
Hi Fireplace, I've moved your post to the welcome centre as it's your first post :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Welcome to the forum
As far as your question, because you're following the manufacturers methods your results are spot on to what they aim for. However, their method and instructions are wrong, with some simple steps you'll see a world of improvement from what you already think is good. (Trust me, I started out exactly the same, most of us did)
Have a big read through the threads in the newbies corner and recipes

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 1:21 pm
by Lowie
Welcome fella.
2.5 litres from 25 litre wash is about right. You can push it further but, imho, you're just wasting power, water and time. TPW and bran washes are so cheap it's not worth the extra effort. Chuck out your first 100-200ml (I always chuck 200) that's your fores. The other 300ml is the start of your heads (some people keep these for a feints run later). No need to run water from the get go, your just wasting it. Turn your tap on when you see the temperature gauge rise rapidly. Btw, that's a lot of sugar for 25l. 4kg ok.

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 3:26 pm
by Fireplace01
cheers folks,
funnly enough, if I follow the instructions, they say 40deg output water temp before boils etc etc, can expect 2-3.5l of 90odd%
running the water early I am trying to compress heads

Yeah just following the instructions with the yeast for the amount of sugar, but thats the next thing to try, once I have technique better will try TPW, I just figure keep things constant for now

One last question, by my maths in a 25l boiler, I should be able to get 3.5l out from a 14% wash?
what does TPW usually come out at, being bread yeast I would have thought get a lower % as less enzimes in it?

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 3:52 pm
by Plumby
Somewhere around 10% usually, you will get less but quality is 1000% better especially if you follow this guide. viewtopic.php?f=57&t=2859. It is for a pot still but the same basic principles apply for a reflux still. For the cost of a turdbo wash you can do at least 3 tpw's and have better alcohol. Its all about quality over quantity, if you want bulk alcohol keep doing the turdbo washes, if you want nice drinking alcohol that has no hangover try the tpw with cuts. Keep your feints from all your runs and when you have enough do an all feints run.

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 7:15 pm
by Kenster
FP01, as has been cleared up all your numbers are close enough not to stress. The best point made is quality... my mate would never go to TPW or Kale just stuck with Turdbo, it always produced more and it was always shit. Dont chase an extra few % as the production costs are so low that it is not worth the effort to produce poor booze. He finally tried a TPW and Kale and was blown away and never went back. He too is now prepared to
'lose' a bit of output for a superior result. He also saved heaps without having to run thru carbon, cos otherwise it was undrinkable.

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 7:52 pm
by Sam.
Lowie wrote:Welcome fella.
2.5 litres from 25 litre wash is about right. You can push it further but, imho, you're just wasting power, water and time. TPW and bran washes are so cheap it's not worth the extra effort. Chuck out your first 100-200ml (I always chuck 200) that's your fores. The other 300ml is the start of your heads (some people keep these for a feints run later). No need to run water from the get go, your just wasting it. Turn your tap on when you see the temperature gauge rise rapidly. Btw, that's a lot of sugar for 25l. 4kg ok.


I disagree, the water should be on as soon as the power is. If you miss that critical moment of rising temp you are going to be shooting ethanol vapour out of your still :-B

Also welcome mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

TPW and cuts is the best thing for you right now :-D

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2017 8:13 pm
by maddogpearse
Welcome to the rabbit hole of distilling friend! Enjoy getting educated :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Copperhead reflux still yield

PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2017 4:25 am
by Fireplace01
Haha sweet looks like tpw it is going forward
Just nice to know I the right track