Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

1 2many wrote:

backyard brewdog wrote:Can you explain the way a Carter head works a little please mac or has it been mentioned else where?

Cheers

Mate if you click on the firs page of this thread all will be revealed if you read the whole thread. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I saw the photo but trying to get my head around why have a oil resovoir release? Is that from the falling flux that doesn't quite make it through to the output? Is it so it doesn't drop back into the boiler and affect the boiler charge? Or is what comes out from the release also fine to be used?

backyard brewdog wrote:

1 2many wrote:

backyard brewdog wrote:Can you explain the way a Carter head works a little please mac or has it been mentioned else where?

Cheers

Mate if you click on the firs page of this thread all will be revealed if you read the whole thread. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I saw the photo but trying to get my head around why have a oil resovoir release? Is that from the falling flux that doesn't quite make it through to the output? Is it so it doesn't drop back into the boiler and affect the boiler charge? Or is what comes out from the release also fine to be used?

The release is there for easy cleaning of the thumper section I'd assume...

Ok I will let you in on a little secret...I have an extra section below the oil reservoir that I collect the oil from the runs which are from 45 to 60 minutes long before changing botanicals...I run a second pot still beside metuselah and then seperate each baskets oils, drawing of the flavours and light aroma of the oils by re-distillation, to back blend into the otherwise collected gin...This is a great way to control the weight of the gin. Blend none at all for a light as an anoerxic fart, Bombay style, add all for a slightly heavier London with a headier nose. There is a lot of good stuff trapped in that oil, and as it mostly is from the reflux off the beginning of the baskets run it is quite citrus and coriander heavy. The length of the run also influences the weight and amount of juniper that is forward in the mix. As different botanicals come forward at different durations during the extraction. While whiskey is is the litmus of a distillers craft...I am starting to think of gin as it's best expression of science.
Doc

Nice work 5 Star and Doc. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

This hobby just keeps evolving, can't wait to see what's next. :clap:

Cherokee... why have you got a security camera in your kitchen...? :shifty:

Hello Urrazeb

I have 13 cameras in total (including a PTZ which has a mind of it’s own) the internal cameras cover
the four angles of the pool table. (amongst other things) To record my pissy pool nights, for posterity.
I live near a lane way but since the cameras were installed I haven't had any problems. CHEERS :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Here's just another reason to go modular with the FSD carter head, easily configured as a straight up pot still for distilling and infusing neutral hearts, and also be reconfigured into a 3" stripping still :dance:

Wonder what the carter head would look like on Blockhead. :think: :D

Digging up this post as I couldnt find answers elsewhere.

Looking into vapour infusion of my neutrals and like the carter head idea, because it allows changing botanicals mid-run with out the oils contaminating the boiler charge.
What is the preferred setup for the FSD carter head ? Run it in potstill mode as shown in Mac's pictures above, or after a packed section/plates (like Doc does) ?
Would it be compatible with a 4" column (and a neutralizer blockhead) ?
Cheers, RS

rumsponge wrote:Digging up this post as I couldnt find answers elsewhere.

Looking into vapour infusion of my neutrals and like the carter head idea, because it allows changing botanicals mid-run with out the oils contaminating the boiler charge.
What is the preferred setup for the FSD carter head ? Run it in potstill mode as shown in Mac's pictures above, or after a packed section/plates (like Doc does) ?
Would it be compatible with a 4" column (and a neutralizer blockhead) ?
Cheers, RS

I wouldn't bother trying to run the Carter head on a 4" Neutralizer as you would need to overpower the plates to get the Carter head running right, I'd be making my neutral spirit first and running the Carter head as a pot still if it were me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers,

Mac.

I have had some success doing stripping runs with 4 plates and a 500mm packed section, watering back down to 40% then running through the carter head over a packed section only for the gin run. All 4".

Tried the gin run over 4 plates and wasn't happy.

You need to throw a chunk of heat at a carter head for it to work well (more than most 4" plates would be happy with), getting a nice thump action from the bottom tube.

I find the secret to operating a carter head directly on a plated still, is to keep a hand on the dephlegmator, opening a touch to control the flood on the top plate and those below... by balancing the plates to run quite wet with a bit more heat than you would use for a vodka run...it is a balancing act, but once mastered is easily replicated run to run.... so overdrive the elements and control flood by dephlegmator. ... I hope this is clear.

Doc

Struggling to understand how these work if you put it in full reflux to add/change botanical basket don't you end up with good alcohol down in the waste sight glass thingy? Why not have the deflag directly above the boiler to cut off/ full reflux the alcohol back into the boiler? Or is the stuff that ends up in the bottom where the sight glass is not wasted? :think: Any good threads books on running a carter head? With lots of pictures :D

Carter head discussion.
http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=7750

Thanks all, :greetings-waveyellow:
bluc, the dephleg IS before the carter head. I was just wondering if I can have any plates/packed section before the RC to increase ABV. my boiler needs 15L minimum to cover the elements so at 40% low wines thats a lot of booze for a flavoured vodka (especially in the early recipe trialing phase). Was thinking of using 10-20% wash so kind a lowish output ABV in pot still mode, but maybe enough ?

cheers, rs

Just use the packed section. over power it :handgestures-thumbupleft: