Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi,
Have done 2 runs on a new 4 plate bubbler (after vinegar and SAC) with FFV 46L. With the RC on full cooling each time I noticed before the plates even began to load up, that there was a surge of hot vapours that passed through the RC hitting a vapour temperature of 60C before cooling down to room temperature again. No condensate collected but fruity notes could be smelt. I assume this is a normal thing? Not heard it mentioned before.

Acetone and methanol have low boiling points

Pretty standard to get a few drops of fores come through, even at full reflux.

I know what you're talking about mate. Its a sickly sweet smell that I get everytime when my still comes up to temp. No condensate drips out and no steam escapes but I still get the smell. I figured it was just something with a lower MP than acetone boiling off.

Most likely methanol/acetone azeotrope, maybe along with some methyl acetate - it's a sweet smelling ester. Was it like a fruity nail polish?

That's a pretty good description actually. Fruity nail polish is hitting the nail on the head.

Yep not sure if it’s a good thing or not but I get it too.

Minpac wrote:Most likely methanol/acetone azeotrope, maybe along with some methyl acetate - it's a sweet smelling ester. Was it like a fruity nail polish?

He wasn't smelling methanol, Part of why it's potentially dangerous is it has no smell.

Funny you should mention this. I always got same thing on my pot/liebig combo. I switched to a shotgun condenser i now get(even on full power) drips for good 10 mins before stream starts. This 10mins is also the time it takes for temp to equalize in keg. (Bottom to top.Temp probe in bottom).