Stephen,

I had the same issue, when I was first starting out. You need a good valve into your reflux line inlet so that you can control the rate of flow and thus the temp. and speed of collection.

This will also give you control for better cuts and higher puality for your hearts.

Since my water is also very cold, I had to make a split in the feed line, because if I cut the water flow to the reflux, I then wouldn't have enough flowing to my condenser- seperate water feeds solved the problem.

Sounds like your element is working just fine.

Good luck!

John, Thanks for the response....the element when i measured it was putting out 808 degrees... i am sure it was hotter, but my laser could not calibrate any higher.....back to the water. my pump has an adjustment, but doesnt close all the way, i guess to prevent the motor from burning out. i know when i have choked it all the back, as far as it goes, it still cools the column off. the valve you referenced, is it placed inline from the hose ,connected to the pump, that goes into the column? My last cooling issue was that the water was not cool enough, i could keep the temp at 78.9--82 due to the water being warm, however the product was nasty to say the least? stephen

John:

How much baking soda and salt do you add to your stripped run?

Does the valve assembly that brewhaus sells have the bugs worked out of it yet? The last I read on here there was a lot of problems with it.

Elricko,
Just wanted to say it was a nice article in the new distilling magazine. I look forward to the next issue. Thanks!

John:

Thanks a lot. We are working on the next issue as we speak. Do you have any suggestions about articles you would like to see?

Guzzler:

I am writing for a new magazine called Distilling Quarterly. John is referring to our first issue. TDM is the managing editor and is doing a fantastic job. Right now ,as the name suggests, it is a quarterly magazine. We will be covering the distilling industry both hobby and commercial. You can download it right now from a number of sources such as www.homedistiller.org but we will have a regular web page up soon as it's permanent home. We are hopping this will become the magazine of choice for distillers kind of like a mixture of Zymurgy and All About Beer is for the homebrewer. So far we are getting pretty good feedback from different parts of the world. I hope you enjoy it.

Our next step is to get some advertising to help defray some of the costs. We are looking for someone with sales experience to work with us on this. If you are anyone else is interested let me know. For example I think this would be a great place for Brewhaus to advertise. What do you think Rick?

Cheers.

Stephen,
Go to Brewhaus.com get their number, and call as I think you have to order clamps seperately? and you may need an additional short piece of hose also?
They don't have a parts number in the catalogue, but is called 'water control system'

Ask for Rick, he is the one who helped me figure out how to solve my initial problem.

Elricko,

Well since you asked! I know that I, and I think I would be speaking for many others, would really appreciate a very precise, complete, start to finish ,drink, wort preperation, and with pictures. For instance, a Scotch recipie, with the exact proportions and type of say DME, the amount of peated, the best yeast for the particular wort, clearing, distilling with cuts etc.

If each issue had a different recipie and method for the very best and easiest end product- real quality rum ,with setback?,, Irish, Oat, gin, all grain, How to do a start to finish mash for say a really great bourbon, ageing ,times, types and quantaties of wood, some charred, some toasted? etc.

This, I firmly believe would have tremendous draw and enthusiasm for your new publication. And people love pictures!

And Yes Brewhaus would be a good candidate. They or perhaps a brew supply could make up a complete kit of the exact malts, yeast, enzymes, wood,glycerin etc. for that scotch, rye, or boubon recipie, with the link right on the article?

John, appreciate your insight in identifying my techincal issues. Elricko, i have a mash thats ready to go now. any chance you can shoot me a picture of your set up with the water separator thingmajig.....I am clear on its function but not on its install? thanks. stephen

Stephen:

Click on the link below:

http://tvbeer.com/cool1.htm

That should explain the whole thing. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

Guzzler:

Let me get back to you on this.

elricko, thanks for the pixs...i had checked them out earlier....here is my problem. i have only one input source, ie water goes into the top portion of the column, passes through to the reflux via copper tube, then it comes out the bottom part of the reflux, back through the lower portion of the column via copper tube back into the cooler. my still does not have separate input/output on the reflux portion? Any suggestions...other than changing units. My problem was that once the column got up to temp, water would be turned on at a very low rate, and chill the column so much that i could never get it back up to steam....other than turning on and off? stephen