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Originally Posted by: Farmin in the woods 
CC, you said your stripping run takes you about 3 hours and your spirit run takes you 12 hours, correct? Is that for a 5 gallon wash? Are you using gas or hot plate for heat?
I guess the $64,000 question is am I running my still too fast? The neutral run gives me a smooth product almost everyone likes. I've tried turning down the heat further, but the stream turns to a trickle and I dont notice a difference in taste.
I'm not knocking what you are doing, I'm trying to figure out if I'm doing this right. I've only done 14 runs thus far, so I'm far from a expert.
Farmin
The striping runs I've done so far have been from 3 to 3+ hours. I'm using propane heat with a steel diffuser. Looking back over my spreadsheet the first jar (I decided to use quart jars for striping runs) comes off at about 1 1/2 hours into turning on the propane. That's after collecting and discarding 150 ml. This is only my second set of 3 striping runs so am still looking for advice and guidance. I used this basic procedure for all 3 striping runs and seemed to have worked out well. I used to use 1/2 pint, then 1 pint jars, but because everything will go thru a REFLUX run I decided to use quart jars this time. As the jars come off (32 oz) using paper coffee filters, I'll number the jar, write the temp range, eg, 174-175, and the ABV of that jar. Screw on the lid and set it aside. When the ABV drops to between 10 and 20 I stop the run by turning of the heat, pump and removing the rubber stopper.
I have been trying to speed up these runs but seems the temp get out of control. I imagine I'll eventually learn to use the heat and cooling to better advantage. Once I see a steady un-broken stream, I'll try to leave it there as long as I can. I've noticed on the last 3 runs the best output is between 174-180.
I've only used Birdwatchers sugar wash recipe for a 5 gal wash but because of raking and leaving head space, only about 4 1/2 gals make it to the boiler.
The time between jars is 15 - 40 minutes. Seems the last, 5th quart, takes the most time.
My REFLUX run, like I said is around 12 hours. I've only done a couple but have had good results by lowering the heat and collecting a drop every 1/2 to 1 second. My bottom column is packed completely, the top column only has 1 roll of copper at the intersection of the cooling tubes. Though I think for my next REFLUX run I'll fill up the upper column as well.
Maybe we're comparing apples to oranges here though. I'm talking about striping runs using just the upper tower of my PSII HC, while you're talking about REFLUXing using both columns. I'll combine all output, 15 quarts, and dilute to around 5 gals then start the REFLUX. My last REFLUX run produced 5 pints (here I use the smaller jars) of around 190 proof. I use the same procedure here, number the jars, record the temp range, and the ABV. I'm hoping, eventually, I'll be able to use these numbers to help make 'cuts'."
