Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi there.

Long time lurker, made a few posts trying to find a still. Ended up biting the bullet and got a turbo 500 from the local brew shop in bunbury.. could have got it cheaper in perth, but wanted to support the local gals.

I've run a tpw through a mates turbo 500 and was really happy with it, gonna use the turbo stuff just to get rid of it. Hopefully have my first batch done next weekend

Good on ya Mate.
Enjoy it :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I cut my teeth on the t500 as many have done. They aren't too bad to make flavoured stuff with.

Thanks guys.

I know the turbo has a bad rep, but no idea how long before i could afford a 5star modular pot, and ar least this way i can learn as much as possible before upgrading.

Welcome to the forum mate, I too started with a t500, with some simple modifications and running it correctly you can get a pretty good neutral out of it.
Have you read this thread ?

G'day WJ

Yep. Studied that one b4 i bought it. Will consult again befire i run the first wash.

A question.. in the manual it doesnt say anything about a cleaning run or anything before first use. Should I do anything? Or just run the turbo wash straight through?

I would do a cleaning run just in case there is any nastiness left over from the manufacturing process and to get a feel for how the unit runs.

Hey professor. Whats the best way to do a cleaning run on the t500?

There’s a thread in the Newbies section on cleaning runs. On the 2nd page.

I am still using my T500 but am researching the next step up from it, bubbler or pot.(not sure yet)
Just use the gear supplied for the first run. I still kept a litre or so of the hearts and made some spiced rum (essence)

I went straight to the TPW recipe on here after that and haven't had any issues at all.
Just put down a wash yesterday.(wrapped in electric blanket)

Go for it and enjoy

:obscene-drinkingdrunk:

Oldhoon wrote:I am still using my T500 but am researching the next step up from it, bubbler or pot.(not sure yet)
Just use the gear supplied for the first run. I still kept a litre or so of the hearts and made some spiced rum (essence)

I went straight to the TPW recipe on here after that and haven't had any issues at all.
Just put down a wash yesterday.(wrapped in electric blanket)

Go for it and enjoy

:obscene-drinkingdrunk:

You should never drink the product from a cleaning run. Save it for your next cleaning run :law-policered:

I don't think your supposed to follow the cleaning run tutorial on a t500 due to plastic bits melting. I would just do a sacrificial run...

bluc wrote:I don't think your supposed to follow the cleaning run tutorial on a t500 due to plastic bits melting. I would just do a sacrificial run...

Good point an something I had not considered. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Do i need to run a whole was through for the cleaning run, or will a 5l of box wine or mash do the job? The cleaning run tutorial didnt say how much?

Enough to cover the element in your boiler and to ensure you don't boil dry.
5 litre goon should be fine.

Thanks everyone for the welcome.

Looks like the turbo wash wont be ready this weekend, and just put a TPW down last night. Might need to get a heat pad as they're sitting around 22 deg. Lucky I'm a patient man.

So bit the bullet and ordered a turbo 500 pot condenser. Should be in at big gals in bunbury tomorrow.

Did a lot of reading and i know i could have built one for cheaper and better, but at the moment I'm going for ease of use.

Going to try a stripping run tomorrow night and see how it goes. Hoping to put a rum wash on next week

Hey Crikko

I put a rum wash down yesterday(first one) and with my TPW I have been wrapping the fermenter with a single electric blanket and a doona :music-deathmetal:

Its been working great and maintaining 30 deg C.

Bloody Perth winter! 4deg this morning.

OH

Oldhoon wrote:Hey Crikko

I put a rum wash down yesterday(first one) and with my TPW I have been wrapping the fermenter with a single electric blanket and a doona :music-deathmetal:

Its been working great and maintaining 30 deg C.

Bloody Perth winter! 4deg this morning.

OH

I know.. she was crazy today.. very mild night though... go figure.

I've been leaving my tpw on the kitchen bench (no longer married so can do as i please! Hense the new hobby). Luckily the tpw is very forgiving, bit leaving the heat belt on over night and off in the day has worked well. The most recent finished in 6 days doing that.

Where did you get the molasses from?

Oldhoon wrote:Hey Crikko

I put a rum wash down yesterday(first one) and with my TPW I have been wrapping the fermenter with a single electric blanket and a doona :music-deathmetal:

Its been working great and maintaining 30 deg C.

Bloody Perth winter! 4deg this morning.

OH

Sitting the fermenter next to a woodfire ticking away works pretty good!
I save my rum washs for the middle of summer when we get those weeks of hot weather, the hotter the better... plus its done in a couple days. :handgestures-thumbupleft: