Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Looking for thoughts on ideal wash sizes to use with a 50L keg boiler.

I am trying to maximise efficiency of my time in both preparing a wash and running it. I don't get to run much during winter due to ferments taking forever in the cold and it is frowned on if I spend more than one weekend a month in summer in my outdoor "shed" all day ignoring the family.

To eliminate puking I don't like to fill my boiler with more than about 40 litres of wash and need about 15 litres to cover my elements safely.

I am thinking that 75 litres is going to be my ideal amount but am interested in others thoughts.

If I pot still the first 40 litres to strip it quickly then recharge with the remaining wash and the low wines for the spirit run I can get both runs done in an easy day.

What do others do when time is critical?

Cheers,

Richard

Not sure if this is what you are asking about.....
Fermenters

Your ideal wash size depends on so many variables.
How much time do you have to do distilling runs?
What space do you have available for fermenters?
How easy can you get ?? sized fermenters?
How much booze do you intend making?

Start with what you have and you will soon see if you have enough fermenters, space, time etc.
I started with 30ltr beer fermenters, moved onto 50lt kegs and now bundle the lot into one 300ltr rainwater tank.

Make a start with what's at hand and take it from there. :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

If you mean size of the wash in your boiler... for a 50ltr boiler I'd run 40ltrs and leave head space. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

DBV

Include the family while you're doing it, do 200L washes, everyone wins.

Sorry to hijack,
If you do these big ferments like 100l + and start taking washes out as you run them through your still and you start getting a massive head space with a wash that's thats already fermented and increase chance of infection?.
I'm in a similar position as OP and can't run my washes whenever I want

stretch69 wrote:Sorry to hijack,
If you do these big ferments like 100l + and start taking washes out as you run them through your still and you start getting a massive head space with a wash that's thats already fermented and increase chance of infection?.
I'm in a similar position as OP and can't run my washes whenever I want

I think this was covered on another thread.... just not sure which one.
From what I read it would depend on the wash you are doing.

I've done a UJSSM at 270ltrs and it took 2 months to get to it and at least a month to run it through.
Didn't get infected, perhaps because it was 10% alc in the wash.
But
It is better to run it as soon as possible.... :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

As said originally, start with what you have and you will soon see if it's the right amount for you. :-D

DBV

60lt would be my suggestion.

With grains and liquid left from the brew you'll have a little over 45lt, but you don't have to fill it up now either. 60lt fermenter will give you the opportunity to have a wash done in one run and another gen started.

I fill to 45lt, works for me.

I have stripped a lot ferments because it's a lot faster than doing runs and I can put other washes on at the same time as it does not require the same amount of attention as a spirits run ..ie changing jars .but I still never leave my still unattended .
I often strip 2 washes ,then ad them to the 3rh wash and then do a spirit spirit run through the bubbler with 4 plates and run it pretty fast,having a 100l boiler helps me do this aswell :handgestures-thumbupleft:
It has always turned out great an works out quicker than doing 3 separate runs :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Genius! I'm gonna do that next. Thanks bayshine :handgestures-thumbupleft: