 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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"I'm just looking for the starting line.
If I am working up a fifteen gal batch of mash, will the neighbors complain about the smell?
Same question once the still starts to work...
Hope this question isn't too basic/dumb."
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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i dont think you will have any problem with that amount. you doing it outside ?
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2012(UTC)
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What kind of still you running and how are you heating it and how close are the neighbors and how well do you know them?
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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"Thanks for the comments.
I live in an apartment and have been considering the PSII HIGH CAPACITY (15 GAL).
Neighbors here are your basic ships passing in the night, but there is always the occasional busy body so I thought a storage unit might be the answer. You would be surprise how many little mom and pop operations run out of these places."
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/24/2013(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: J C  Thanks for the comments.
I live in an apartment and have been considering the PSII HIGH CAPACITY (15 GAL).
Neighbors here are your basic ships passing in the night, but there is always the occasional busy body so I thought a storage unit might be the answer. You would be surprise how many little mom and pop operations run out of these places. I wouldn't worry - Dont Talk about it, dont brag about it and dont sell it and if they ask " What that - I'm brewing beer"...people see the tv shows and think thats what a moonshiner looks like - let 'em keep thinking that very thought! I had a guy at work say that I had too many teeth to be a 'shinner- LOL- I have dentures and if he only knew....keep it to yer self and close friends= no worrys
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2012(UTC)
Posts: 118
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"Welcome JC, I live in town, have the PSII HC 15gal, and honestly I could have gone with the 5 gal. Using a gas turkey fryer (which I wouldnt recommend using in the house) in a shed it takes me 2 to 2 1/2 hours for a 5 gallon run, and about 5 hrs for a 10 gallon run. The first few runs i sat and stared at the machine, and my eyes crossed! I now have a small radio, and will take a book, but look up every minute or so and dont go out of sight for more time than it takes to pee. I dont get on the pc, i dont play cards, i dont cook, or anything else when brewing. I had a close call early on and it got my attention.
If your gonna use a hotplate, (which I hope you will in an apartment) a 10 gallon run could be an all day event.
Something to consider
Farmin
PS, as to smell, its never been an issue with me, and i have neighbors on all sides. I do try to ""farm"" at night, early morning or early afternoon, when traffic is light. The burner might be a little loud in an apartment, so your back to hotplate."
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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"Thanks for the input. I kind of think using the turkey fryer indoors wasn't too bright, but I could die of boredon before the hotplate cooked off a batch. so that puts me on the patio or someplace else. A storage unit comes to mind. You would be surprise how many small businesses are run out of storage units. There is one nearby that a fireman runs a small body shop from.
My main concern was the smell from the mash working. I don't want to give my nosy neighbors thinking I was running a ""methlab"" out of the house.
Thanks again..."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/17/2013(UTC)
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Use a seal with an airlock..you'll be okay. Just keep it in a cool closet and you won't har anything to worry about. Also how. If is your boiler? You could consider using a hot water heater element. Propane is a no no indoors an way too loud if you're aroun others.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/25/2013(UTC)
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Thanks for the comment. The answers on the turkey fryer are pretty consistent. I guess it is time to rethink that one. The airlock sounds pretty good to me.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2012(UTC)
Posts: 118
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Another thing I remembered JC, is how tall the damm thing is...with the 15 gal kettle the unit is well over 6 feet, maybe closer to 7. On my turkey fryer in the shed it reaches into the ceiling joists, barely. I started with a pretty big cooler with 3 liter bottle of ice for a water supply, but that was no way near enough cool water to condense the vapor. I put a 55 gal barrel in the shed, filled it up, and placed my pump near the bottom and the return near the top. I still use frozen water bottles in warm weather...the pump goes thru about 55 gallons in about 30 mins, ( i know because ive drained the barrel a time or two and replaced the water) so it probably uses 250-300 gals for a 5 gallon wash...if ur using a sink and fawcett. The only issue with smell is while your brewing, and you can tell neighbors your makin beer...I dont smell anything when distilling.
Farmin
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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"Hey Nite Farmer, i guess that stack height kills the ""on the patio idea. I guess I will have to keep thinking on it.
You have me completely bumfuzzled on the water problem, I keep looking at stills, just to make sure that I make the right decision when I jump off the cliff. The condenser size seems to be pretty consistent on everything I have looked at and supposedly they do the job. I'm not an engineer, but I can't imagine using a 55 gal barrel to cool the water wouldn't get the job done. Are U recirculating the water or letting it run out on the ground?"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 143
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"The big exception to the smell thing is when you make a sour mash, it's pretty pungent and someone who has ever smelled it before will know exactly what it is.
Stick with a sugar wash or wheat germ or something similar and you will not have to worry about the smell. By the way welcome."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/17/2013(UTC)
Posts: 67
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I use a 2 maybe 3 gallon sink with a pump..when the water gets warm I turn cold water on and drain some water...maybe every 20minets if that..You don't need a huge cooling setup like a 55gsllon drum.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2012(UTC)
Posts: 118
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Well, Im in Texas, where it gets hotter than hades in summer, and my choices were a medium sized cooler or the 55 galon barrel. I recirculate the water...i didnt want the neighbors asking "why is there a water hose coming out of your shop and why is it running water?" I actually have to use 3 liter bottles of ice to keep the temp down, or the distilate has that hot flavor no one likes. If i was in an apartment and doing it inside, then id probably just run it out of the sink. So i guess it all depends on how cool your water is to begin with. I've noticed in winter if i use much water refluxing my output slows WAAAYYY down, so i only have the reflux valve at a trickle. In summer, its wide open. JC, if your trying to go small, and use a hotplate, I'd recommend the PSII HC w/ the 8 gallon kettle...I honestly hardly ever fill mine over 6 gallons.
Regards.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/25/2013(UTC)
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I can use a friends garage. Is there any explosion danger here using a gas burner with the garage door opena bou half way?
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/27/2012(UTC)
Posts: 526
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Hi JC, I use propane for a burner and have been for quite a while. ETOH vapor is HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE. Soooo always check for leaks while running and keep a small, cerial, bowl of flour paste handy to cover leakages with. I also have a fire extinguisher at hand, the A-B-C type.
Put an extension comming off of your condenser to get your collection jar away from the boiler and flame and make sure that any air flow dose'nt push the fumes from your collection area towards the burner.
Another good thing to do is take a 2 or 4 quats sauce pan with about an inch of water in the bottom and put your collection jar in it while collecting. That way it's less likely to spill all over the place. If it does get knocked over then it will be less likely to be much of a fire hazard as it will be diluted by the water.
If you do have a spill you can use your condenser water return hose to dilute the product and you have the fire extinguisher at hand for larger problems.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2012(UTC)
Posts: 118
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JC, I always keep a charged water line on hand while im "farmin", it comes in handy for washing things down. I see your planning on using the PSII HC, I replaced all the hose clamps with small radiator screw-type clamps and have never had a leak of any kind.
The only problem I ever had was once I was in the middle of a run when i decided my kettle was sitting unlevel on the burner, and decided to "adjust" it while running. I had the plastic hose from the condensor in a quart jar, which i only fill halfway, BTW. When i moved the kettle on the burner the hose came out of the jar and swung in the air, spreading 180 proof liquid on the floor, which eventually got onto the burner itself. Needless to say things got a little western for a minute or two, but cooler heads prevailed and nothing was damaged but my pride. But a valuable lesson was learned. I DONT adjust anything after the fire is lit. I leave both doors closed when farmin in the daytime, but will open them during summer months at night...it gets too damm hot to shut the doors.
Regards,
Farmin
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