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Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 1:28 pm
by SWstill
Hi all,

Moved from the UK last July and based in Melbourne. I have been playing with distilling in the UK on a small 2.5 litre copper pot still making Gins using cheap shop brought Vodka. Now looking to get more serious into the hobby and produce our own neural spirit, produced the first wash with HBS kit and ran through pot still but not the cleanest result. Looking at buying a T500 setup but doing research into alternatives, not a huge budget to start with but want something that will last!

Enjoy making gin but looking to make some clean vodka and rum down the line. Recommendations on beginner setups welcomed! I am not good with tools etc so will have to be shop / second hand.

Look forward to learning more and enjoying the process.
Sam

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 2:01 pm
by Sam.
Welcome here mate, have a real good read through here before commiting to anything :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Also unlucky picking Melbourne 8-}

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:17 pm
by SWstill
I am leaning towards the FSD Boka 2" with 25L Boiler, looks to do the trick for short / medium term anyway.

Yup, not ideal but lockdown has provided time to read up on distilling!

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:22 pm
by Carol
Hi SWstill
I have a 2" FSD boka and pot. There is a thread on the boka in reflux stills. Happy to answer any questions you might have.
Cheers
Carol

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:33 pm
by Wellsy
Hello SWstill
I was on the exact same path as you mate. I looking at whiskeys not gin, but all research suggest T500 would not suit as it stripped flavours. I needed a pot still and 2” 5 star pot was suggested and settled on. I then spoke with Andrew and said I would’ve considering expansion only to find the 25 litre boiler would not support anything bigger than the pot set up so I ended up with a 50 litre boiler and 4 inch pot still. Blew the crumpet out of the budget but I am happy with the decision as it gives me future options. Have a chat to Andrew you will get nothing but good advice and no pressure at all. He has a way of clarifying the road ahead mate I can not recommend him highly enough

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:08 pm
by RC Al
Welcome mate

+1 on a bigger boiler, they help tremendously with the quantity you can strip and then on spirit runs by helping the still fraction - more of each fraction comes through at a given time, letting the column work with bigger "chunks" of the different volatile's, making cuts easier/more defined

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:03 pm
by The Stig
It also comes down to space and realistic expectations , as well as needs .
Sometimes a smaller boiler is a better fit :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 10:20 pm
by Tesla101
The Stig wrote:It also comes down to space and realistic expectations , as well as needs .
Sometimes a smaller boiler is a better fit :handgestures-thumbupleft:


:text-+1: on the smaller boiler too. I was just thinking the same thing tonight. The 25L Mangrove Jacks boiler is great for small or experimental batches. If siphoning off a 25L ferment into it, it's pretty easy to lift back on the bench. Also very easy to clean afterwards - easy to pick up and give a scrub in the laundry sink and then rinse out. Great for doing a gin run if you want to ditill "on the herbs", no fear of scorching.

The only gripe I have is it doesn't come with power control.

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 11:53 pm
by crow
Sam. wrote:Welcome here mate, have a real good read through here before commiting to anything :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Also unlucky picking Melbourne 8-}

Dunno bout that Sam ole boy UK weather and Melbourne would be reasonable match to acclimatise :laughing-rolling:
Welcome here SWstill and definitely do some research before making a decision, even if you go the home brew shop path the t500 is far from the best option.

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:59 am
by SWstill
I did consider the larger 50 litre boiler and 4 inch column but for our needs it will just be over kill, potentially upgrading to the 2 inch pot still down the line to help with stripping runs etc. Stig also hit the nail on the head, we live in an apartment so space is limited.

Spoke with FSD Andrew and very helpful, explained the upgrade options so have a clear path ahead. Once the banker gets the taste for home still spirits i will have more flexibility on spending!

The only gripe I have is it doesn't come with power control.

Andrew recommended a separate power controller which is added to the shopping list which should solve this problem.

I have a 2" FSD boka and pot. There is a thread on the boka in reflux stills. Happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thanks Carol, i have read a few of the posts and this made me lean this way, no doubt be reading a lot more.

Re: Hi from Melbourne

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:03 am
by SWstill
crow wrote:Dunno bout that Sam ole boy UK weather and Melbourne would be reasonable match to acclimatise :laughing-rolling:
Welcome here SWstill and definitely do some research before making a decision, even if you go the home brew shop path the t500 is far from the best option.


This is why we picked Melbourne! We wouldn't survive up north :))