 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
"Where ya at mtnwalker??  I bought some reflectix today and am about to insulate my babe. ..How far did you go up? ..How far did you go down? ..At the connection did you leave some hang over to cover the clamp? ..Should i cut holes for the cooling lines? I have read you suggest using a dollars worth of pennies as part of your boiling chips. ..How did you clean them prior to putting them in? ..What are the advantages you spoke of?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/16/2007(UTC)
Posts: 52
|
I'm not sure what an EEP II is... However, I have a PS II High Capacity tower. I insulated it up to where the clamps attach. Also did the cutouts around the cooling tubes. It made a HUGE difference in maintaining reflux/temperature at the head. Before, everytime a breeze came by...my head temps would drop and output stopped. I didn't see a need to insulate the clamps...just for convenience, plus there is a lot more metal at that spot and I figured it would be more thermally stable than the thin walls of the tower. You will also want to insulate your boiler...but not too close to the flame if you're propane powered.
As far as cleaning the pennys...I would just soak them in vinegar for a few minutes, rinse good and throw them in! Mtnwalker2 may have a better idea! I don't know if they help with anything other than functioning as boiler chips. Personally...when I was using propane, I had about a quart of tempered glass chips I used (from a broken car window). They really helped. Good luck!:)
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
|
"Aye the pennies are just a quick and easy way to form boiling chips. Not the best by any means. My final preferance is rashig rings. But unglazed broken potterry, glass, pea gravel all will work. The whole purpose is to break up the hard boil from huge bubbles to more even small ones like a simmer. Ie, same heat input, hard explosive boil and potential pukeing up the column. With chips much smaller bubbles like a simmer, but same vapor issue, more like a vaporizer.
Anyhow works to make a better distillation and keeps the noise down!!!!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
Have some rings in there now, doing a strip run tonight then hopefully a spirit from what i get form that tomorrow.. I know its better to do a few strips then spirit but i only have the one wash ready. Couple questions though. As far as the insulating goes, could that potentially have a reverse effect? I mean, a weak spot in the insulation could off-set the balance no? also, i have the bucket that came with the silver starter kit. I would like 2 do about 18 gallon washes seeing as i have the standard still. I am using a rubbermaid 18 gal as a cool tank at the moment and seems like the sides kinda bow out, any suggestions? I've been wandering around craigslist looking for about a 20-30 gal barrel but no dice so far..
... also, Thanks for the replies! and, about how much did you say would be ideal for the ring? i seen it somewhere but sense i got ya here :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
|
"Rubbermaid trash cans make good fermenters with trash bags tight over the top and some small holes to allow excess CO2 to escape. However, you will need some air space at the top for foaming and splashing.
Also, some turbos are not stackable, and even those that are, you have to monitor the heat produced so as not to kill the yeasts. Cooling may be required."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
I've been doing some reading and am thinking i will be leaning towards wineos sugar wash... seems to be about the best out there. think i'll go with one of the rubbermaids.. would the smaller work good as carboys to rack the wash/ strips? as far as the amount of rings for the chips?
also... what is a good way to filter the spirit? I have some activated carbon, what is the best way/ device to hold it while the spirit drains?
... i will also be letting it set for a while to merge like you suggest
...... your awesome dude
....... if they taught this in highschool, i would have ace'd science :) lol addiction is an understatement
Also i have a Taylor Trutemp digital thermometer that seems like turns off every time i turn around, i set my computer timer to go off every 15 mins but do you have any other advice on that?
last time i ran it i tested it first and was accurate... ???
Ok i have been running my strip.. The wash was no longer sweet and the alchometer read 10% but im already at 90* c and i dont even have 200ml????????
i am sitting at 91 with a good flow coming out at about 130proof
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
|
"Wineo's sugar wash is excellent. You won't go wrong with that. /rubbermaid works great for the wash and ferments. Good for a racking vessel also. Would never use it for low wines or higher. Filtering, I only use glass carboys. The more carbon you add the quicker and claeaner your product will be. I pop the top, and allow fresh air in, and swirl daily or as i can. I will then just take off what I need and allow the rest to continue, but I have a lot of glass carboys, so you could bottle it all if needing the carboy. I would contact Taylor's as that just ain't the way its supposed to work. This is your stripping run, so temps will run way hotter, as you have nor reflux cooling. I would adjust heat to keep just a very small stream comeing forth or what the condensor can handle without any escapeing gasses. Just keep it running as fast as the condenser can handle, and never any faster. Originally Posted by: dnlb32  I've been doing some reading and am thinking i will be leaning towards wineos sugar wash... seems to be about the best out there. think i'll go with one of the rubbermaids.. would the smaller work good as carboys to rack the wash/ strips? as far as the amount of rings for the chips?
also... what is a good way to filter the spirit? I have some activated carbon, what is the best way/ device to hold it while the spirit drains?
... i will also be letting it set for a while to merge like you suggest
...... your awesome dude
....... if they taught this in highschool, i would have ace'd science :) lol addiction is an understatement
Also i have a Taylor Trutemp digital thermometer that seems like turns off every time i turn around, i set my computer timer to go off every 15 mins but do you have any other advice on that?
last time i ran it i tested it first and was accurate... ???
Ok i have been running my strip.. The wash was no longer sweet and the alchometer read 10% but im already at 90* c and i dont even have 200ml???????? "
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
where would be a good place to get glass carboys?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
|
" Originally Posted by: dnlb32 where would be a good place to get glass carboys? A wine or brewshope would be my only connection. You could order online, but the cost would probably be high. They will last forever though if you don't break them. I never have once though. I get the cheap chain or plastic handles to help me handle them in my old age. Just easier. Especially for the 6.5 gall. carbouy which is my favorite for ageing with oak. You can put them away and hide them, and they aren't as easy or tempting to steal from like a gallon jug."
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/31/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1
|
Our local brewshop is selling what is supposed to be a 6.5 gallon carboy but they are a little smaller. They are selling a 7.5 gallon one on ebay and it came very well protected for shipping. Me and a buddy have found the 7.5 gallon ones are necessary for the 6.5 gallon batches or you end up with extra wash. The ebay one I got was $60 bucks delivered and $35 of that was freight. They are expensive but a investment. We are in this for the long run and if you are its something to think about. To me its ultimately about fun but also saving money.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
Thanks i'm going to check around here a little more but i'll definitely end up getting one somewhere.. I am in for the long haul as well.. This is a great hobby that is also very rewarding :).. Just can't wait until i've got it down.. learning little by little.. rushed a wash last night, probably could have let it clear a while longer (was still a little yellow) but i got a lil over a gallon of 75-50 percent distillate.. My question is, as i don't have one of them carboys yet what would be good to mix all my mason jars & water into to get it bake to 50 for my reflux run today? Would leave it as is but the bread taste is a little to strong for my liking..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
|
"DNLB
Just put it all back into your cleaned still and dilute to what you want, and you will be all set."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
Thanks.. I have found some 6.5 gal carboys near my house for 40bucks.. should be big enough right? They also carry the nutrients but its is a dap/urea mix.. Should that work alright?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20
|
I have poured the distillate and baking soda into my still.. Should i have carbon filtered to distillate before refluxing? If so, can i add the carbon to my still and run it all through reflux?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/17/2008(UTC)
Posts: 424
|
" Originally Posted by: dnlb32 I have poured the distillate and baking soda into my still.. Should i have carbon filtered to distillate before refluxing? If so, can i add the carbon to my still and run it all through reflux? No, carbon is for filtering only & with the final product. If you haven't bought them yet $40 for a glass carboy is a little steep. I wouldn't pay over $30."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/8/2009(UTC)
Posts: 21
|
" Originally Posted by: mtnwalker2 A wine or brewshope would be my only connection. You could order online, but the cost would probably be high. They will last forever though if you don't break them. I never have once though. I get the cheap chain or plastic handles to help me handle them in my old age. Just easier. Especially for the 6.5 gall. carbouy which is my favorite for ageing with oak. You can put them away and hide them, and they aren't as easy or tempting to steal from like a gallon jug. I don't know where you live, BUT, in Arkansas (and maybe points around) there's a ""Spring Water"" distributor, called Mountain Valley Spring Water, from Hot Springs AR, and you can put up a $7 deposit on the 5 gallon glass carboys, and it's yours to keep as long as you want. One can find an outlet, and get the bottles empty,,, most don't care, as long as they get the $7. IF they want to sell you the water, too, then you can use it in making your brew, since it doesn't have any chlorine in it, etc. and the price of the water and jug deposit is somewhat less than buying a carboy outright. IF you don't live around that area, maybe you have one near you that does the same."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
