by dist » Wed Jun 17, 2020 3:10 pm
Yougfella, still learning to use it...already done a few runs, both as mashing and distilling.
Overall it's a very positive experience, I like it.
For beer making its really good. Ability to set programs takes away a lot of the stress and makes the whole process more enjoyable.
For distilling, the boiler is ok (i mean you don't need much from it), but their still is crappy.
Reflux is advertised as FM (flow management), but behaves as CM. I only have 100L water tank and mid run temp rises to a point where my distillate comes out at 80c, so I loose volume due to evaporation.
That's when running in pot mode, with unpacked column. I checked water temp on exit and it gets to 40c.
Adding ice helps, but that's annoying and expensive (3 packs for $10), barely enough for 1 stripping run.
I'll use the pool next time, just need to relocate from the shed.
On the other hand, it's $150, so significantly cheaper then anything else you might buy or build, which is why I went for it.
As a tangent, made a liebig condenser on the weekend. Gonna attach it to Alcoengine and see if that makes my distillate cooler.