Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Reflux still design and discussion

Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby nathanvdr84 » Sun Jun 25, 2017 8:05 pm

Ok I will have a look at them. I was mainly just going to use the upright of the t500 then make something off that. At a later date I intend to make a 60 ltr still using a keg
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby freebeertomorrow » Sun Jun 25, 2017 8:48 pm

Doubleuj wrote:
freebeertomorrow wrote:2nd TPW run today, first drip at 30 degrees.

I'm 1 hour in and I've only collected around 120mls of fores - I think I'm running things a bit too slow?

I know the guide said to run slow but at around 32 degrees this is going to take forever. I've just raised the temp to 38 degrees and after I discard 150ml of fores I'll bring the temp up to around 40 aiming for a drip drip dribble.

Am I doing the right thing here? Would appreciate any input.

Cheers

How'd you end up?


Your PM put my mind at ease Doubleuj, thanks again for your help - I ended up raising the temp to around 50 degrees which gave me the drop, drop, drop, dribble I was aiming for.

Ended up with 11 x 200ml jars from a 25 litre TPW charge, I'm airing the jars for the next 48 hours where I will then pretend I know what I'm doing and make cuts :laughing-rolling:

Put a kale wash on too while I was waiting, my spare room now smells like a marijuana grow house instead are of a Campbell's soup factory :))
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Ohbilly » Mon Jun 26, 2017 1:27 am

I have a T500 reflux. Last week the old man started a run, while it was heating up he decided he would just nick inside to do something, got distracted and by the time he came back out it had overheated and melted the plastic cap. I have modified it by brazing on a copper cap, made a slightly bigger condenser and separated the cooling for the reflux column.

My question is, if I remove all the saddles and turn off the reflux cooling, would this work the same as a pot still?
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Doubleuj » Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:35 am

You could have had a major fire there, one that would not be covered by insurance, never leave a still unattended :handgestures-thumbdown:
Post a pic of the modified still and we'll be better able to answer the pot still question
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Ohbilly » Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:41 pm

The problem is I work 6 nights a week, 14 hours a night...so I wasn't there when the old man decided to do a run.

Anyway...
T500mod.jpg


That's what it is so far. I still need to put a 45 angle and length for the condenser and then clean it all up.

That's the only pic I have at the moment.
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Last edited by Ohbilly on Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Zak Griffin » Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:44 pm

Muuuch better!

Just make sure you do the cleaning runs before your next proper run :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Doubleuj » Mon Jun 26, 2017 1:28 pm

Ohbilly wrote:The problem is I work 6 nights a week, 14 hours a night...so I wasn't there when the old man decided to do a run.

Anyway...
T500mod.jpg


That's what it is so far. I still need to put a 45 angle and length for the condenser and then clean it all up.

That's the only pic I have at the moment.

That's an awesome mod billy :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Can you post a seperate build thread? I'm sure heaps of t500 users could benefit from this.
Plus I reckon you could run that flat out as a pot still no worries
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Ohbilly » Mon Jun 26, 2017 3:28 pm

I'll try posting a thread about it, this is the first forum I've ever used and joind so I'm still working out how to post stuff...it took me a while working out how to post an image.
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Doubleuj » Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:10 pm

Have a few good reads at this thread
Resizing images as you have done.
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby UND312DOG » Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:51 am

Following you post to a t mate. Replaced the ceramics with as scrubbers. 48 deg seems a sweet spot. Currently running out at 97%. It's bloody nectar. :)
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Bobsyauncle » Thu Aug 10, 2017 3:14 pm

97%?! Shit wish mine went that high :o
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Doubleuj » Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:50 pm

Well done Dog, glad I could help. :handgestures-thumbupleft: as Bob's brought to my attention though, technicality you can't get above 96.5ish, if you're getting that type of reading then you're in pure asetope and will have some really pure neutral. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby woodduck » Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:51 pm

:text-+1: that's great mate :handgestures-thumbupleft: but yer just check the temp of your alc, all alcometers have a temp they are calibrated for. There should be a table on the alcometer tube that tells you how to adjust the readings for each temperature.
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Pottsy1985 » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:30 am

After replacing the plastic output tube to 1/2" copper tube, am I required to do another sacrificial run?
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Doubleuj » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:51 am

I'd just give it a citric bath overnight, then a good rinse off. You're fores and heads will do the rest
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Pottsy1985 » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:57 am

Doubleuj wrote:I'd just give it a citric bath overnight, then a good rinse off. You're fores and heads will do the rest



Excellent. Thanks
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Pottsy1985 » Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:43 pm

Ok so I thought I'd whip down to bunnings and give this a go tonight. Now the fit is tight enough that I can change the output pipe to a shorter one I've made when needed. Is that ok? Tight but not as tight as a fishes arsehole. I figured it's all liquid coming out at that point so as long as no visible liquid can drop out it should be fine?

Added a couple of extra photos to show the small piece of original tubing and plumbers tape incase people didn't understand the instructions.

Not sure how to straighten the 3 photos that are on their side :D
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Pottsy1985 » Sat Aug 19, 2017 5:21 pm

Sorry for replying to my own messsage, but I am a noob lol. And I don't wanna run this wash until I know this tightish fit will be ok. (I'm to young to die)
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby Plumby » Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:54 pm

Should be good to go man. My reflux still had a plastic outlet tube, i took it off,I wrapped the stump on the PC in plumber's tape and pushed some copper tube on and it doesn't leak.
On a side note, be wary of that jar with the orange gasket on the lid, I used some for storage of neutral a while ago and ended up with a real funky taste afterwards. I still use the jars for oaking whiskey I just took the gasket off and use paper towel doubled over then close the lid.
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Re: Running a T500, the Proper Way - Discussion Thread

Postby scythe » Sat Aug 19, 2017 7:47 pm

Yep looks fine to me.
Alcohol vapours are the dangerous part to watch for which is hard because vapour leaks are easy to miss.
Liquid not so much unless you have an open flame nearby.
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