 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2012(UTC)
Posts: 157
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"I have 3 batches ready to strip and wondering if after doing the 3 striping runs could I then (after waiting for everything to cool), attach the reflux column and go straight into the reflux run after combining all 3 batches and diluting? IOW, does the distillate need any time to mature before taking it to the second stage? Thanks for all your input.
Regards to all."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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I dont have any ill will toward bored make work type folks..but why dont you just reflux the whole mess and save a few dozen steps or so? Color me clueless. Now did Obamie or Alfgore happen to send you a free making Ethanol to save the Earth Permit? That usually cost five bucks. Are you making rocket fuel or something? Thanks.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2012(UTC)
Posts: 157
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" Originally Posted by: bigwheel  I dont have any ill will toward bored make work type folks..but why dont you just reflux the whole mess and save a few dozen steps or so? Color me clueless. Now did Obamie or Alfgore happen to send you a free making Ethanol to save the Earth Permit? That usually cost five bucks. Are you making rocket fuel or something? Thanks. The one reflux run I did do with 5 gals took 10+ hours. The last striping run I did was about 4 hours so my hope is by reducing the volume the time running in reflux would be shortened. At least that's my reasoning. I plan on keeping times on each run as well as volume produced."
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 89
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No maturation time is necessary, as Scotty sez "Just do it". But you'll be tied to the still all day. Your reflux run won't be any shorter, but you'll end up with a greater volume of spirits in the one run. When I have the time, I do a strip and the next day will reflux cuz the wife still wants some attention 
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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I dont know what nefarious deeds yall are doing to the hooch makers to make them run so slow. I knock out 5-6 gallon of wash in 3.5 hrs all day long..including the 90 min warm up time for the hot plate. Yall watching nudie movies in the hooching shack or something? It dont take that long to do that bidness. Ten gallons takes a little longer and adds 15 mins to the warm up time. I may have to come up there.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/16/2011(UTC)
Posts: 89
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"BW..
I can do a pot still run (6 gal) in 3 hours. Minimum of 6 hr for a good reflux run. Months back I asked for help as I couldn't get better than 88-89% abv on a reflux. I was given some good tips by Ratflinger on refluxing....now I routinely get 92-94% abv; but it takes time. Pot stillin for flavor, reflux for max abv"
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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Ok gotcha. Ratflinger knows what is up in this hobby. Now I never break 170 proof. I am currently getting the Warden to try doing the math on that deal to cough up some solid ABV type figgers. Should have done it myself and could have prob had the answer before now. I am fixing to back hand the fire out of her. I do not take much bull off wimmen.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2012(UTC)
Posts: 157
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" Originally Posted by: cczero The one reflux run I did do with 5 gals took 10+ hours. The last striping run I did was about 4 hours so my hope is by reducing the volume the time running in reflux would be shortened. At least that's my reasoning. I plan on keeping times on each run as well as volume produced. Did the stripping run yesterday with the following results. Ran from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm when the digital thermometer showed 205. Produced 9 pints of distillate ranging from ABV on the 1st pint of 86 and the last being 45. I had to shutdown for a little bit as I ran out of propane and found a leaky propane supply line I had to fix. Is this about normal? Setting up to do 2 more tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for you input. Regards to all."
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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Sounds like you had good results. Congrats. Glad you caught the leaky hose. Those propane gizmos spitting fire in the wrong place can cause a bad hair day.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/17/2008(UTC)
Posts: 424
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"Thanks for the kind words, but everything I know is built upon the foundations that others have laid. Even new guys sometimes have epiphanous ideas.
Listen - when stripping, temp is not an issue. Run it so that you get a nice steady stream out. Quantity not quality is the objective.
Reflux is a different matter - slow & controlled is the key - otherwise we'd just all buy vodka from the store & be happy. I only make neutral spirits, when I want whiskey I get a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 & go to town. But I digress. If you can't devote the whole day to a reflux run - then wait until another day. That's half the fun - lounging on the back porch, having a drink, telling the gov to KMA - you know. Practice is the only way, I can't tell you when to make cuts, but your tongue can. Practice makes perfect. I usually run strips (12 gal) one day & the reflux the next, but just got my 15 gal kettle & am looking forward to seeing if I can easily do this in one day. If I can fine, but I have no need to rush. This is a hobby - meant to enjoy not to be a chore."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/1/2012(UTC)
Posts: 157
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" Originally Posted by: ratflinger Thanks for the kind words, but everything I know is built upon the foundations that others have laid. Even new guys sometimes have epiphanous ideas.
Listen - when stripping, temp is not an issue. Run it so that you get a nice steady stream out. Quantity not quality is the objective.
Reflux is a different matter - slow & controlled is the key - otherwise we'd just all buy vodka from the store & be happy. I only make neutral spirits, when I want whiskey I get a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 & go to town. But I digress. If you can't devote the whole day to a reflux run - then wait until another day. That's half the fun - lounging on the back porch, having a drink, telling the gov to KMA - you know. Practice is the only way, I can't tell you when to make cuts, but your tongue can. Practice makes perfect. I usually run strips (12 gal) one day & the reflux the next, but just got my 15 gal kettle & am looking forward to seeing if I can easily do this in one day. If I can fine, but I have no need to rush. This is a hobby - meant to enjoy not to be a chore. My plan was to do 3 striping runs this weekend. I've completed 2 and will try to get the last one tomorrow. It's just been so HOT here and with the burner going in a tin shed well you get the picture. Plan on firing up around daybreak. I've gotten 9+pints each from the 5 gals washes with ABV starting in the 80's and finishing in the 30's which leads me to a question. What I read on this forum is to stop the striping run when temp gets to 204 which is what I've done so far. Is there a rule of thumb though to stop at a certain ABV. IOW, the pints I've been collecting start high and drop with each successive one until the last is 30 or so ABV. At what point, ABV wise, is it okay stop the striping run or should I just keep going? I ran about 6 hours today, drew off the 9 pints and the temp was 197 (I have the HC PII running pot still) and was still going strong but the ABV was dropping fast. Is there a point of diminishing return? Thanks for your help."
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