Ok, I finally set up and used the basic pvc or plastic filter system that comes with the gold fermenter kit. While I'm not crazy in love with it and it was a gigantic pain in the ass to set up it did do the job and did not cost 130 bucks. First thing you want to do is put the filter system together. Take one of the tubes and generously coat the first 1 1/2 inches with the sealant, slide on one of the 3 inch outer sleeves about halfway, give it a gentle turn while sliding it on to evenly spread the sealant. I think the sleeves are a bit to large for the tubes they cover and a great source of leaks-so when I say a generous amount of sealant I mean a lot to the point where it can drip off. I set up a jig so at horizontal it with the sleeves on would sit level. Give a few minutes for the sealant to set up and then grap the second tube, generously coat the first 1 1/2 inches with sealant and while holding the sleeve gently turn the tube while pushing in to meet the first tube. Push both tube sections together and hold for a few minutes while the sealant to set up. It is important to keep the assembly as level as you can while the sealant sets up. Give the assembly a few mminutes to set up and repeat the process to add the third section of tube and second sleeve. Now let the whole assembly sit level for about 24 hours until the sealant cures. Time to get your carbon washed and ready to use. Grab your bag of carbon (one bag will fill the tube) and a good sized bucket (2 gallon size is plenty). Pour all of the carbon from the bag into the bucket and cover with warm water (gallon to a gallon and a half). Give it all a good stir and let it sit for 20 or 30 minutes to let the carbon settle to the bottom and all the ash and oils float to the top. Gently pour off the water and all the muck floating on top of the water. Try to not pour off the settled carbon. Recover with water, stir and let sit for seperation, pour off the crap and repeat. 3 times should be enough and after the 3rd time you can let the carbon sit overnight. Here is a good tip. Find a way to temporarily plug one end of your tube assembly and fill it with water, note and repair any leaks (remember the sleeves are a bit to large for the tubes), repeat until there are no more leaks. You don't want to wait until the tube is filled with wet carbon to find out you have a leak (don't ask how I found my leaks). When you are sure you have no leaks attach 8-10 coffee filters to one end of the tube using the supplied hose clamp. I just shaped the filters around the tube end and the slid the hose clamp over that and tightened (tip: Before placling the coffee filters over the tube end I place a temp probe in the tube). Next place the rubber sleeve on the tapered end of the funnel and squeeze it into top of the tube assembly. Take the screen out of the funnel, you won't need it. Take your wet carbon and start slowly filling up the tube assembly. Put a good sized spoonful in the funnel and tap the tube until it carbon works its way down the tube. You want to fill the tube and not have any gaps in the carbon. repeat until all the carbon is in the tube. This is a pain in the ass and it takes some time to do. When the carbon tube assembly is all ready I would suggest firmly securing it to something that will hold it while you filter your product. This tube filled with carbon and your product will be heavy and if not secured will fall. I clamped mine to a 6 foot wire rack high enough so the bottom would just fit in a 25l ferment bucket. When the filter assembly is finally secured and ready to use I would suggest pouring in about 2 quarts of very hot water (not boiling just very hot 120f is good). This is why I put the temp probe in the bottom. You have to keep the carbon wet thru the entire filter process and this will help tell you when the hot water will have filtered out and your alcohol is now coming out. Also when you are done filtering your alcohol the carbon is still holding an entire tubes worth so you put in another 2 quarts of very hot water and when the temp probe starts registering the hotter temp you will know that you got all of your alcohol. I have to say that carbon filtering is a very long process (it took me 10 hours to do 10 quarts)-almost as long as the distilling process but if you need to clean up a bad taste or oder in you product even the basic filter system will work. Like I said even though I'm not crazy about it and it was a gigantic pain in the ass to set up--it did work and it did not cost 130 bucks. I also think the if the sleeves were a better fit to the tubes it would actually be a pretty good system. Hope this helps you out and as always I welcome and want your comments, suggestions, and ideas.
Maddawgs

Maddawgs,
Thanks for your report on the basic system, I was going to order the gold fermenter kit for one of my kits but I decided to just order 2 bronze kits and bite the bullet and I ordered the stainless filter system. Now after reading your report I'm glad I went that way... Thanks for easing my mind on spending the extra $...
Captinjack

Hi CJ,
Hey glad to hear you got your order in. If I had the extra cash at the time I would have gone with the stainless set up also. If I have cash in the future it is on my want list. I have to stress that once you get the basic system together and leak free (tighter sleeves would eliminate 90% of the leak issues) it will work identical to the stainless system and with either system you'll still have the pain in the ass time consuming part of washing and loading the carbon in the tube and the time to filter will be about the same. For those that are like myself and a bit short of cash after buying the still and other supplies it is a good choice and will do the job.
Maddawgs

Hi CJ,
It was about 12 minutes. It was about an hour a quart to run thru the filter. The taste was a lot better but I think I will run it all thru again. So far thru this whole process I think the one important lesson I have learned is that Turbos are not worth the trouble. Yes they do work but the chance for unwanted byproducts that cause bad flavors is high. I'm positive that the mistakes I made during ferment did not help. The product is drinkable and before filtering was at best low quality. It is a lot better now and I'm sure it will be even better after another filter cycle or two. For now I am done with turbos and my next run I will use lavlin ec-1118.
Maddawgs

Hi Scotty,
Hey, glad to hear from you. It was initiallly washed 3 times before the first use and I think (and I could be wrong) that it is good for 2 or 3 runs before it has to be baked and recleaned. I also think (and again I could be wrong) that running the very hot water thru first will help clear out any left over crap from the previous use so I had not planned on recleaning it until after the third use. If you or any of our other more experienced members have better advice or if any parts of my current procees seem off to you I more than welcome (and want) what ever advice you have to offer. I am sill very much a newbie and it is the experience of you and other members that have helped me learn what I have so far.
Maddawgs

Hi Heeler,
Thanks. my 10 quarts of 55% run thru 3 times along with about 8 quarts of very hot water should keep me under 10 gallons. I'm glad I guessed right. I've done and continue to do a ton of research on our hobby and was pretty sure I had read somewhere about the carbon filter process. With all the research I do I sometimes get data overload so it is good to get some feedback from the pros.
Thanks, Maddawgs

We do not use PVC- it does not have a great tolerance to ethanol. We use a more ethanol tolerant plastic, and non-acetic cured silicone so that it will not leach into the spirit.

Hi Scotty,
I just finished rereading it and I was pretty much on track with my process. I could have used hotter water during my wash and done another cycle or 2. I did not see in the book anything on the amount of alcohol filtered before it had to be washed again. I also found the switching between how it would be done commercially and how the home hobby distiller would do it to be confusing. Is there a good source of information for home hobby distiller on carbon filtering?
Thanks, Maddawgs

"
Duh! One quick look at the product description would have told me that ... I should've followed my own advice and done more reading! "

Red, I used bungie cords to tie mine to the wire shelving in the garage.