by MacStill » Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:25 pm
After running this rig in various ways I've learnt a lot about larger volume stills, this things runs by itself basically and is so easy to drive.
The last few times I've run this has been by power management and not by controlling the reflux valve, by this I mean building the power up until it overwhelms the reflux condenser and adjusting the flow rates via the controller.... for now I'll say that the carry over of flavours by running so hard while slowing the output is excellent.
From a 80L boiler charge today I started off collecting fores drip by drip until the 250ml mark, then powered up a bit for heads to about 2 L/PH, once 800ml of heads was taken I powered up again to around 4.5- 5 L/PH for the body of the run.
Where things got really interesting was once the alcometer hit 90% ABV I slowed the output to around 3 L/PH and collected another 900ml before the output became irregular, then powered up, changed jars & collected 400ml from 90% down to 20% in 3 minutes :scared-eek:
Overall run time from turning power on until turning off was just over 3 hours for an 80L wash for a total of 5.5L of really beautiful hearts.
Couldnt be happier :dance:
So with all the feints from the pears and plums I've been getting I've been tipping it back in on the marc from the best plum ferment, I figure by the time I get a boiler full of marinated feints to run at 40% ABV I'll have this baby purring like a kitten and cant wait to see the take off rates with a 40% ABV boiler charge.
What a still this is, it fits right in perfectly between the serious hobbyist and the pro micro distilleries, I truly believe the 6" rig has a very bright future :D