New Member from Yass, NSW

by **djfrestyla** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 1:02 pm

Hi all,
I am just touching base and introducing myself.
Mark from Yass NSW, I have been Distilling for around 2 months (still learning heaps), i started with the idea while i was off work for 2 weeks, following a wrist fusion (result of the ground comming up too fast after falling from a Postie Bike), i started with a 55L electric keg, 2" valve reflux that i made myself 1 handed.
I started out with the "dreaded" Turbo Yeast, while this was ok for drinks like Sambucca, that covers the turbo flavour, i soon progressed to the infamous tomato paste wash.
TPW opened up a whole new feild with neutral wash's and i am very happy with the outcome.
The main reason i started distilling, was to make my own rum, so the next thing i want to try is a molassis wash.
I was wondering if i can run my valve reflux as a pot still by removeing the packing aqnd just opening up my output, and closing off the reflux line ??

by **Camikaze** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 1:22 pm

Welcome Mark! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **googe** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 1:26 pm

Welcome mate, can't help you with your still sorry, never had one except a potstill. Can say, try the rum recipe here, it's bloody beautiful!!!!. Can't stop drinking the shit :handgestures-thumbupleft: . Now, about my mail getting stuffed up all the time..... Kidding :laughing-rolling:

by **Kimbo** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 2:05 pm

Hi Mark,
welcome to the forum mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Post a pic of your reflux still and we'll try and help ya out ;-)

by **crow** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 2:22 pm

Hi ya Mark welcome here bud :handgestures-thumbupleft:
The postie here went arse up on that skinny wheeled bike told them they could jam it and then bought himself a quad

by **djfrestyla** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 2:29 pm

here it is

by **Kimbo** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 3:17 pm

Yes you could remove the packing, infact you can experiment with different amounts of packing which will give you varying levels of flavour/ABV. ;-)

by **bluess57** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 3:57 pm

Welcome aboard - a member in my neck of the woods.

by **JayD** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 4:18 pm

Welcome to the forum...Bud.
J

by **Sam.** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 4:47 pm

Pretty shmick for one handed! Welcome aboard mate

by **djfrestyla** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:13 pm

Hi again, i am having trouble after doing a stripping run.
Yesterday, i stripped 90L of TPW this is the first time i have done this (usually i just do a reflux run @96%)
I added sodium carbonate @ 1teaspoon/ 1L.
Now i have tried to do a reflux run, but cannot stop the bastard puking, i have tried vegetable oil, siphoned 20L out, but my column temp gets up to 82c then pukes.
I am just stripping at the moment to try to save what i can.
Anyone had this sort of problem ?
could it be the Sodium Carbonate ?