Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi all,
I have an awesome 5 Star 4 plate column still that i really love :handgestures-thumbupleft: however i have recently been thinking maybe i can squeeze another plate in but i would then have to connect my boiler almost directly to the first plate (remove the reducers in the pic below) is there any benefit to having more space between the boiler and the first plate :think:

I recently replaced the 1st two reducers you have there with a single 4" 100 mm straight section. You could put the 1st tee straight on the boiler lid but the extra hundred millimetres gives a bit more protection against puking. This configuration also made my 4 plate column a lot more stable and has given me enough room to add a fifth plate and packed section.

Thanks rahl
I didn't even consider the results of a puke, touch wood I've been lucky to date and haven't had any issues with puking, my other issue is I'm running out of head room in my shed when i run the packed section for neutrals :angry-banghead: but i think i should be able to fit a straight 100mm section

You would probably get away without a 100 mm section because my keg lid is flatter and my 1st tee would only be about an inch above the top of the boiler without a spacer.

My 4" go straight onto 4" ferrule on keg. Bottom plate sits on the keg ferrule. Occaisional puke but even with a 100mm section if it pukes it will foam up above that. If you have a sight glass on boiler you will see z puke coming long before it gets to the bottom plate..no matter where it is :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Hey decky, with the raised lid that you have you could easily place a plate and tee directly into that

Agree with what everyone else has said before, I run 6 plates 4" with bottom connecting straight to 4" ferrule on boiler.

If I'm running something "pukey" i'll swap a 4" 100mm section, but that's just a tiny bit of insurance, having a sight glass and being able to see it coming is really all you need mate

Just remember more plates = less flavour
So unless you’re running a neutral then you’re stripping flavour out.

Yep if your going more than 4 plates for Brown spirits use shallower bath depth. I found when I ran 5 plates and 20mm bath the flavour was still good :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks Everyone for the info, i rearranged the still and it all looks good :handgestures-thumbupleft:



Doubleuj I've been enjoying my gins of late so hence thinking about the extra plate to run with my packed section to try produce better neutrals

Get shot of those braided hoses as well, you’ll get better flow with larger internal diam hose

The Stig wrote:Get shit if those braided hoses as well, you’ll get better flow with larger internal diam hose

Any recommendations on better hoses?

Anything with a minimum 10mm internal diameter would be good, 1/2" garden hose or 13mm reinforced pressure hose should be OK. I think the concern with the braided hoses is they are about 6mm ID which significantly restricts your water flow, especially if you are running a low flow, low head pump like a fountain or sump pump in a recirculating setup.

The_decky wrote:

The Stig wrote:Get shit if those braided hoses as well, you’ll get better flow with larger internal diam hose

Any recommendations on better hoses?

Check this thread : viewtopic.php?f=36&t=12399

I use 16 mm clear pvc tubing from bunnings. I use it with 19 mm barb connectors, the tube needs to be soaked in boiling water for a few minutes and then can be stretched over the barbs. Works well no leaks and you can easily see if you've got air in your lines and when your RC starts to degas your cooling water you can see that happening. Best of all you can cut it all to size, and it's cheap with lots of different fittings including taps, snap-on connectors and elbows. The internal diameter is 16mm so it doesn't go anywhere near impeding flow.

Thanks again peeps time for trip down to Bunnings to replace the hoses :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Or , hang in there for a week or so.
We have some “stuff” arriving next week that may appeal
Pics etc will flow on

Hi decky can I ask what you want the 5th plate for? I don't have a five star still but I do have a still that was hand made by McStill himself that had 4 plates and found this to be just fine. . I did end up adding a 100 mm collar to the base and a 5th plate on top of that but that was expressly for using in conjunction with a packed reflux section for rectifying spirit to neutral. As far as running say a rum of whisky etc the extra plate seems to make very little difference, basically none to flavour and maybe 1 or 2 % abv. I don't know why that is or if it is the same with all plated columns but there seems to be a very big difference between 3 and 4 plates and somewhat of a difference between 4 and 6 plates but not so between 4 and 5 in my experience anyway.
Edit :
I should add that a plate straight on the boiler ( base of the column) is more likely than not going to give you issues with foam ups and may induce puking , also I should add the reason for the 5th plate with neutral production in that that 1 or 2 % abv increase will make a significant difference as the plated column pack section seems for effective at stripping flavour than at raising proof.

The Stig wrote:Or , hang in there for a week or so.
We have some “stuff” arriving next week that may appeal
Pics etc will flow on

That sounds enticing Stig....looking forward to seeing the "stuff"

Hey Crow just like you I'm fine with 4 plates for my rums and whisky, the 5th plate and now with the new set up i might be able to squeeze a 6th plate, plus my packed reflux section is just for neutrals