mrsupraboy wrote:Thanks guys. Been doing a lot of reading and was wondering if anyone has post a diy Job on making a pot still out of copper.
mrsupraboy wrote:Thanks guys. Been doing a lot of reading and was wondering if anyone has post a diy Job on making a pot still out of copper.
mrsupraboy wrote:Ok so the pot stiller doesn't produce as high abv. as the reflux is that correct.
One distillation has the same effect regardless...a reflux still can perform many distillations in one go before collecting your product.
If I were to use the pot stiller is it the same process as what I wrote above or slightly different.
Unfortunately as mentioned, everything you detailed is what someone at the home brew shop would tell you to do, and is exactly what we recommend people not to do...it's not a matter of different process for different type of still...people were pointing out that your turbo wash with dextrose and carbon filtering will make a shite product...
I was. Looking into making one cause it actually looks quite easy.
It is :handgestures-thumbupleft:
My understanding of how a reflux works is that the wash is boiled which causes vapour to the top, which with the vapour turns back into a liquid and drops into a tundish then overflows then back into the boiler. Once temp is hit right you then open the outlet to a drip. You throw the 1st tiny bit out and and the keep the rest. And should have an abv above 85.
Is that correct. But from hearing all the comments it comes out as a neutral taste. It takes taste out or something like that.
There is no 'tundish', isn't that something used for recirculating wort in beer brewing?
A pot still performs one simple distillation; wash boils, vapour rises, vapour is condensed and collected. A reflux still has a reflux condenser on top of the column, will condense those rising vapours and the liquid will fall back down the column...a packing material (ie. copper mesh) will give a large surface area for the rising vapours and falling liquid distillate to make contact, effectively raising the number of distillations achieved within the column.
Forget about temperature, it's rarely about any specific number as the home brew shop may lead you to believe...there are threads around here on this exact topic.
You don't just throw out a tiny bit and keep the rest...these are called cuts. You learn the varying smells and tastes and know which is which. There are your foreshots which you most definitely toss, then there are your heads, hearts and tails...the hearts being the only stuff you want kept in your drink. You will need to develop your senses to pick these points up to make a decent product.
For a reflux column, if it is made well and ran right, you can achieve an output of 95% alcohol. This will still have heads, hearts and tails, but the hearts will be completely neutral and perfect to be diluted for vodka/neutral for mixing. Yes, the more distillations, the less flavour in it.
My next question is, is that with the pot stiller there is none of that. No tundish and no way of restricting the alcohol from coming out to fast/going into the section were is runs down. Does it need one would it make it better.
Again, doesn't make sense in distillation terms :wtf: A pot still is only controlled by the amount of power put in at the boiler. The more power, the more vapour pushed up the column, the more distillate collected. Faster means more flavour carry over, and slower means cleaner. Usually several strip runs are performed hard and fast, and then a combined striup run is performed slowly to achieve a good flavoured product (you can research this topic).
My main drinks are sambuka and vodka. But parentals love the scotch.
Unfortunately for you, they require a very different setup. For your vodka, you will want a decent reflux still that can output 95% alcohol, I would suggest looking at a Boka. You can also make Sambuca with your vodka by macerating a few different things or using various flavourings and essences. For your parentals Scotch, you really need a pot still, and a really good recipe and well practiced process...moving up to all grain barley washes would be the ultimate result for that.
mrsupraboy wrote:I read up on the cuts/fractions. Understood half and the other half went over my head
So with the pot still u basically keep running it through a few times and end up with say 4 litres at the end.
mrsupraboy wrote:So I'm buying the reflux tomorrow.
mrsupraboy wrote:Instead of telling me to do nothing explain why. I think all u guys by the sounds of it just want me to buy one of the forums
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