I would like to do a rough airstill guide and any added comments that are informative I'd like to add, I feel that Frank may comment.
More of a guide for novice stillers who go to the LHBS and think, Airstill, Sounds great.
Quick comments here being that, if you are reading this and contemplating an airstill and using it as a comparison to other stills at the LHBS etc T500 etc etc, stop, think, and read.
If i could redo it I'd love to have got a kegstill with a leibig condensor first.
Quick cost comparison.
As a KIT cost note that.
Still Spirits T500 - $900
Airstill Kit Combo $470 (what I paid)
This is the higher cost of buying keg and leibig condensor.
Depending how technically minded you are you can either
get a 50l Sanke Keg for $55 from Kegking,
Or get a 50l Sanke Keg with keg fittings removed and predrilled hole for element at $100,
Keg King Element $50 - I know people will cringe as they are not highly recommended (posts here on where to get other good elements would be good, not sure if there are any other non weld elements like keg kings)
This is a high quote to either build your own leibig or buy of other people who are happy to accomodate on AD or ebay (Not sure on ebay reputation, input here)
Leibig $200.
So when we add up an expensive cost being
$350 for a 50l Keg Pot Still with Leibig condensor
Or you can knock off over $100 to Drill your own holes in your keg an dissassemble. This is a rough quote.
Questions about kegs,
A 50l Keg with an element works out cheaper than buying a boiler and adding a different head to it.
You can dissasemble your own keg, its a bit fiddly but once you get it you save time and money. (look up dissasemble keg youtube)
Drilling your keg requires either a Hole saw, or a step drill bit, remember its stainless steel (look up how to drill stainless steel youtube)
What you will need,
It is easy to obtain a fermenter at relatively cheap costs, you will need one.
You will need a hydromoter
An Alcomotor.
A funnel.
You will need to read about cuts,
Carbon filtering sounds awesome right? well it is useful, but also cheaper to do if you dont buy Still Spirits Filter products, $100 + for a couple of plastic cups etc.
There are other methods, active carbon granules, DIY filters, Look it up (add more info here if possible.
Stil spirits turbo products appear great but are also expensive, it is cheaper to get a good spirit yourself with a bit of time and effort.
The Tomotoe Paste Wash is a highly reputable wash, *look under Tried and True Recipes on forum Board*.
As cuts are harder to make with an airstill but not totally impossible.
My TPW run through an airstill
5-6kg of Sugar
I small tin of Tomatoe Paste - Homebrand etc
Half a lemon squeezed in
Quarter of a tin of Lohans Bread Making yeast - cheap.
4 litres boiling water, add sugar, add tomatoe paste, add lemon juice, top to 25litre mark and pitch yeast.
I prefer warmer starts when I ferment my washes and find that breadmaking yeasts are capable of this, 30-34 degree starts.
OG 1.70 - 1.80 FG - 0.990 - 0.995
The most efficient way to run this through an airstill is to,
I put 1 litre of TPW in the still and turn on the boiler, leaving the fan off, I put 3litres in a pot over the stove and heat to high until boil starts, once boil commences add to still spirits Boiler, attach lid, and wait 15-30 mins to commence stilling spirits.
I discard the first 100ml,
And collect two pint glasses of wash, -1000ml per run, I then collect this into 4litre demijohns for the whole batch of TPW, I will run 50litres over two to three days through the trusty airstill.
Once finished my run's I will dilute my spirit down to 40% with water. And double distill my collected 40% low wine.
Same method, 1 litre in boiler, 3 litres on the stove,
I will use 7 glasses,
1st glass 100ml as foreshots - either down the drain or collect as window cleaner,
2nd glass 200ml - Heads will add to low wines for restill
3rd glass 200ml - Heads will use 100ml to keep as spirits and 100ml back to low wines for restill
4th glass 200ml - Hearts will keeps
5th glass 200ml - Hearts will keep
6th glass 200ml - Tails will use 100 ml to keep and 100ml back for low wines for restill
7th glass 200ml - Tails will add to low wines for restill - This is a very distinguishable smells, like cardboard.
I am left with maybe 600-700 ml spirit which I dilute to 50 percent ABV with bottled water or tap water, once diluted I end up with maybe 2litres of 40percent spirit.
Per 50 litres TPW through an airstill I will get 3-4 double distill runs
collecting roughly 6-8 litres of good spirit at the cost of $20-24 dollars in wash products. I dont count time as money cause I enjoy this hobby.
I plan On running UJSM through this week, and will update on that also.
If i missed anything useful please add,
Also if you find this thread useful inform me, otherwise I will delete it :P
I do not claim to be the master by all means, I still only have an airstill, moving up to keg potstill, just thought it would be useful and avoid silly questions that I asked everyone when I joined this forum and continue to ask.
Haha
Cheers
Rae