 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/23/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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"hello , this is my first post . ive been reading some and decided to sign up .
i am seriously looking at buying the pro series 2 still . i have never made any before , but im ready to start now .
any feedback on that unit would be nice .
like i said i have never distilled anything before , just wine making .
looking forward to learning about what i hope to be a new hobby .
have a good one !"
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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Hey Gizmo..hearty welcome. Glad you found your way over here. I have developed a theory that hooch makers are similar to bbq pits in that if you buy small you will outgrow it rapidly. I would get the biggest and best I could afford. I think a home hobbyist sorta hits the glass ceiling with anything bigger than a 15 gallon boiler and fermenter and a 3" column. The logistics go to pot much past that point..and anything smaller is not quite enough. Would not even consider buying a hooching machine except off Brewhaus. Take care and keep us posted as the adventures unfold.
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/22/2012(UTC)
Posts: 201
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Welcome.. I recently started this myself and chose a good forum.. Everyone here likes to help and seems like a good community
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/23/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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thanks for the welcome . how much return do you expect from a 5 gallon recipe ? that is probably the first thing i need to know in determinig what size i really need .
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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I hate to agree with big wheel-- I have the 8 gallon bucket and never really had any complaints but i often make 2 or 3 6 gallon washes and the 15 gallon boiler would take the load easily is less tha2 loads
Get electric element couplings installed even if you intend to use propane, The tower is a winner all around.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/22/2012(UTC)
Posts: 201
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Originally Posted by: gizzmo  thanks for the welcome . how much return do you expect from a 5 gallon recipe ? that is probably the first thing i need to know in determinig what size i really need . My first two batches had some problems.. I'll keep you posted on this batch on what I get from mine. I expect about 24 oz of good drinking material once its all over with. Now my last batch came out at 65% so you will have more once you cut it down to 40%
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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Hey Gizmo..on comparing notes with some of these folks who have the 3" BH model the general tendencies seems to be 2-2.5 qts on a five six gallon run. 2.5 is about tops for me though have heard of some routinely going higher. My stuff hit 170 proof near each time..but I was lacking some packing in the column and added some and got to 175 last time. I have now added more to fill it plumb up and hoping for better next time. The big work on making the things tick is getting your ferment right then the set up warm up time. Ten gallons goes by surprising similar to what it takes five gallons. Big bucket just cuts the work load half in two. 3" pipe come out a third faster than a two incher. Or seems like I heard a smart feller say that one time. Course a four inch do it twice as fast I guess. Its only plastic..lol.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/23/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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" Originally Posted by: gizzmo thanks for the welcome . how much return do you expect from a 5 gallon recipe ? that is probably the first thing i need to know in determinig what size i really need . maybe i should talk aboot what i want to make . i have been getting various flavored ""shine"" for lack of better term . told it was around 70 proof , and believe it . the wife and i both like it alot . i live in the sticks and have time on my side . i have talked about this for years so it is time to do it . fully understanding consequences . my goal is to make safe drinkable base and flavor it . so any and all input is needed and appreciated . thank alot !"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 804
Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)
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"Gizmo, Welcome! Originally Posted by: gizzmo any feedback on that unit would be nice . I have the PSII HC with the 8 gal. premium kettle & 1500w hotplate. I like it. It.'s built very well and will last a lifetime with proper care. Plus Brewhaus has a great reputation and loyal customers ... and that says an awful lot. Good luck & keep us posted. Regards, --JB"
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/23/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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what kind of recipe do you use to get that ? im guessing the plastic comment is about credit cards .
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Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
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Yep on the credit card. I meant to say previously it normally hit 170 and hit 175 lat time with more packing. Here lately I have been doing a Sweet Feed and Rye variant of UJSM. Got the recipe up in the whiskey section. This be 2nd Gen on this without any added backset. Have it on purty good testimony it beats UJSM in taste tests. Started out with 5-6 gallon washes in the big milk bucket..but since laying in some propa largish fermenters been doing 10-12 gallon batches. Have also done cornmeal and that works good and give good flavor using the same general game plan. Can get a little messy for them who try to run it early. Did a couple of Bayous tomater paste neutrals for vodky. That is a great one for them who likes a neutral neutral. Dont use tomater sauce on that one. The hotplate works ok for 5 gallon batches and can even do 10 gallons ok..it just gets a little scary sitting ten gallons of liquid down on top of it. Not sure of the quishing flat as a pankcake limit on that. Go with the water heater elements. Takes a lot of headaches out of the procedure..if you got electric to support it of course. I am still joshing around on the right combo of elements but should have the bugs worked out shortly. Originally Posted by: gizzmo what kind of recipe do you use to get that ? im guessing the plastic comment is about credit cards .
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/22/2012(UTC)
Posts: 201
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I only ran just over 2 gallons and got 16oz of good likker and 12 oz of stinky stuff.. So I look forward to the other 2.5+gal and should have over 30-40 oz of good stuff from my 5gal
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/23/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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thanks for the reply , what kind of still are you using ? what type of recipe are you using ? what do you consider good lickher and stinky stuff ?
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/22/2012(UTC)
Posts: 201
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I'm using a homeade 12qt stainless stock pot.. Very thin and cheap but it works. I usually just do simple cornmeal and sugar recipe but this time I used some rye malt extract and sugar. And when you make your first run after you get your first few shot glasses probably 4-5 depending on the size of your still.. change your collection jar. The first stuff that comes out are your heads. After that you get the good stuff and near the end of the run are the tails.. Both the heads and tails smell and taste different... You will know the difference first smell if you Seperate them.. I keep mine and just rerun them in the next batch so it isn't wasted. I messed up and accidentally put my heads jar and collected some good stuff so it ruined it that's why I have a whole jar of heads/tails
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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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"gizzmo, drop back to the forums and read about -- making cuts--foreshots --heads---hearts---tails---what to keep and what to throw away. Something people never tell a newbie is that when you make hooch theres stuff you just must throw away. Foreshots are things like acetone - methanol - and several unpleasent compound that you dont want to drink. (((((No you wont go blind cause you wont drink enough to cause that))))) but you wont enjoy the flavor either, you'll just puke it back up. Thats enough to ruin your stillin expirence right from the start.
The very first stuff that comes of the still is no good and then later on the stuff towards the end is tails which is oily and smelly. These are basics that you really should learn and understand BEFORE you start making hooch. Its all in the forums -- so read and re-read and keep notes if needbe. Of course this is just my opinion so take it for what its worth but you CANT have to much knowledge in this hobby."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/1/2012(UTC)
Posts: 162
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Very good advice heeler! Thats's what I did, and it has brought me a very long way in a short time.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/23/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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thanks for the help guys . thats what i am here to do . learn . it will be a couple months before i buy a unit . so until then i am trying to read as much as possible .
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/1/2012(UTC)
Posts: 162
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Good plan Gizzmo, you can never learn too much. My old man always (and still does) told me "When you think you've learned all there is to know about something, it's time to quit, because you've just outlived your usefulness". In other words, keep learning!
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