Hi Duster, I'm thinking your running a po still and not reflux due to your proofing. For a pot still I'd say you had a pretty good run there. Though most folks will run it until they reach somewhere between 20 and 40 percent, 40 to 80 proof.

The tails have a distinct smell and not very pleasent. I've heard it described as wet cardboard, dirty gym socks, etc. I've found that the smell changes with different wash/mash's. The tails start coming over at different times with different wash's and different running temps. If you are running too hot your tails will smear across your hearts.

All in all I'd say you did well for your first time but stopped a little short of being done. When I'm running a pot still I'm running for flavor collecting no more than 250ml in a pint jar before changing to the next jar. That way I can seperate the heads, hearts, and tails. Then after a day or two go and give them the tase and smell test and blend them for the flavor I want.

Well Duster for a reflux run it sounds like you ran it a little high on the heat. For a good neutral you should only be collecting 2 to 4 drops a second.
Running the heat LOW and the condenser Cold is the first step in a good run for neutrals.

Yeah sounds like you did stop a little early. If you have'nt thrown out your wash you can start it up again and you won't even have to throw out the first 150ml again, the bad stuff is already gone.

I noticed the same on mine between 175 to 180 does the best. I didn't throw my wash away I'll try running it again.

Duster, this is a good point that I missed. From what I have learned from my reading is that the reflux should be used mainly for a sugar wash run. From what I understand if you have any grains that you want the flavor to be imparted into the output then it should be a pot still. Otherwise the reflux may remove all the extra cost grain flavoring you wanted.

Pot configuration is just running without the copper mesh.

I'm not sure on the frequency for copper mesh change. I simply try to rinse it off after each use and allow it to dry for the next run.

duster,

Just use the top section of the column (the one with the liebig), don't bother with the other section. You should have at least one copper plug in the vapor path. Leave the column condenser tubes open (nothing connected), and run cooling water into the bottom of the liebig and out of the top. If you're using a hotplate, use an RSC (if you have one) so you can control your collection rate.

You can change/clean your copper when it starts getting black. I rinse mine in warm water after each use and let it dry since I rarely run the rig more than once a week.

--JB

Dusty, I have a psII as well, I've done probably 12 or 15 runs on it, it seems to be a really good rig!! I've run it in reflux as well as pot, but as of late, I've been on somewhat of a bender on fruit stuff, so I mostly run as pot lately. A little off topic, but how did you strain your mash into the kettle? One of my early runs was a sweet feed, and my straining did not fare well, I got a considerable amount burnt onto the bottom of the kettle, completely ruined run and 2 hours of cleaning time!!!

why not just use a siphon. You can stop before you get to the bottom. I have this one and works great http://www.brewhaus.com/...PVC-Tubing-P1277C97.aspx