 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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I'm not positive I'll be back home in two weeks so I'm gonna go for it today. Should be a late night. Getting ready for my first run now. Too bad I can't let it settle, but them Yeasties munched it down to 0.990. Doesn't taste so good though. Smells kinda like a gym shoe. I kept it in a water bath that I kept replenishing with warm water to keep the wash at about 85*. The yeast bag said that 89* would take about two days. I only rushed it 'cause I wouldn't get the opportunity again for a couple weeks at best. If the whole batch becomes charcoal-starting fluid that's okay.
I've learned about 1% of what I need to know this weekend reading this forum. But I'm not being lippy! That 1% is 100% more than I knew Thursday. I certainly have lots more reading to do, but now it's time to cook.
Thanks, good folks.
I'm gonna to start the stripping-run but still not sure why I have to do it naked. Maybe I'll stop stripping at the Fruit-of-the-Looms and just watch for the temperature to rise.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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13:35 - Hot-plate on!
Because I didn't let it clear, I took out all but one roll of packing just up under the reflux tubes 'cause if she foams and pukes I don't want to gum-up the packing for the spirit run. This "stripping run" has no reflux, right? If the 1500 what plate pushes the top over the azeotrope temp should I turn it down or add a little reflux?
Oh, and dork question #2: That aluminum plate that came with the kit... is that just for gas burners? I put it between the hot-plate and the kettle anyway. The hot-plate's diameter is obviously smaller than the kettle's bottom (I got the cool-looking milk can kettle). Those folks at Brewhaus make nice stuff.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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Newbie problem #1:
I moved the rig and got an extension cord for the hot-plate. I plugged the hot-plate into the extension cord and just then the cooling hose blew. I fixed that and sat and watched.... and watched... and watched... then, after about an hour, I plugged in the extension cord. I'm not very bright.
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/16/2010(UTC)
Posts: 453
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" Originally Posted by: Max Reflux  Newbie problem #1:
I moved the rig and got an extension cord for the hot-plate. I plugged the hot-plate into the extension cord and just then the cooling hose blew. I fixed that and sat and watched.... and watched... and watched... then, after about an hour, I plugged in the extension cord. I'm not very bright. :) That's funny."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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The first six ounces smelled like hot acetone. The next smelled like something I don't want to ingest. Temperature seems way too high: trying to hold 173* and nothing drips. Only above 175* does anything come out. Pressure here is 30.12 at the moment and my temperature instrumentation is right on. Something's weird. Maybe banjo music will help. Other than that, I haven't got a clue.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"Max,
Don't worry about temps on your strip run (R U nekked?).
Your only concern is to strip the bulk amount of water out of your boiler charge.
Just need to manage your heat enough so that your product condenser knocks down 100% of your vapor."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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"What kind of temps should be seen for a stripping run?
Mistake #1: pushing the Yeastie Boys. I think they made some funk.
Mistake #2: Didn't let it settle.
Mistake #3: The extension cord fiasco.
Was this mistake #4?: I left out the column extension and just put one roll of packing in the top of the head.
Jar #7 smells like jars 6, 5, 4, and 3. Kinda like a mixture of yeast and Sherwin Williams paint. White, I think."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"What kind of temps should be seen for a stripping run?[COLOR=""RoyalBlue""][/COLOR]
Hopefully someone can chime in for this as I don't use a thermo.
I gage my input to produce a toothpic / pencil lead sized stream....What it is is what it is. I strip to 20%.
Temps as you know will be predicated on the alcohol content within the wash. So 7% gonna be different than 12% and it will be some where between 174 and 212.
PM me with your email and I'll send you a temp to abv chart."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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So as an example a 10% boiler charge gonna start you out at 199 f and go up from there.
40% boiler charge gonna start at 183f
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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"I don't get it.
How does the top know what's in the bottom?
Just having fun, I refluxed to 173 and nothing dripped.
I forgot to check the SG before I pitched, but it was 14#'s of sugar in an end volume of 25-liters. 1.110 I think. 0.990 when the Yeasties went to sleep.
And all this time I thought I was so darn smart."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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Has to do with latent heat of evaporation and other egghead shit like that there.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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"Great graph, thank you, sir.
A little shift for altitude or barometric pressure and I'll nail it!
Too bad I can't get the stench out of this distillate.
It smells like I'm boiling a sweet sneaker."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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" Originally Posted by: LWTCS Has to do with latent heat of evaporation and other egghead shit like that there. I get the boiler temp thing, I just can't wrap my head around the why the top would change, other than not enough reflux. You know my motto: MORE REFLUX! This stripping run is a good experience. My thanks to you and others for encouraging me."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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Wow! Collection sure sped up nearing the end of this run. Played on the internet for just a bit and almost overflowed a jar.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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"Whoa.
I just realized I filled up pages of a general thread.
Sorry, folks.
Administrator, delete at will!"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 36
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"Stripping run yielded only 57% abv.
I diluted down to 35%, added the fully-packed column extension and turned the heat on."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"57% is good to a lowly pot stiller.
Your column should behave quit well with a proofier boiler charge.
Hope you let it equalize for a good long while then collect your heads fraction nice and slow and then equalize again for 15-20 mins before collecting the body of your run."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
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"Juuuuust one more little snippet.....you are reading WAY TOO MUCH INTO THIS STILLIN THING. I'm sure you've heard of the ""KISS Method"". It really is as simple as you make it. You said collection sure sped up near the end of the run, I bet it did cause your hot plate finally got hot enough to push it through all that packing. You said, you cant wrap your head around why the top would change...the column is cooler at the top past your cooling lines which is why lots of folks put the thermomenter at the top. More heat in the boiler means more heat at the top. Some dont use a thermometer and thats ok too. Keep cooking and it will all just sort of come together. You'll see what works and what does'nt.  "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"Max said [COLOR=""Blue""]""Wow! Collection sure sped up nearing the end of this run.""[/COLOR]
Heeler said [COLOR=""SeaGreen""]""It really is as simple as you make it. You said collection sure sped up near the end of the run, I bet it did cause your hot plate finally got hot enough to push it through all that packing.""[/COLOR]
Good points by Heeler,,,,especially because your output should slow as your alcohol is liberated and finally depleted. I recon your hot plate would make me want to stick an ice pick in my ear."
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