 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/1/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1
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"I've had my EasyStill up and running for about a month now (for fuel purposes only  ) and there are a few questions I hope seasoned users can answer: 1) What temperature does the heating element bring the mash up to? At the end of a run I take the top off and get readings of 200-205F. This seems a little high to me and leads to the next question... 2) Sugar washes do it occasionally but anything else (primarily sour mash corn) has a bit of a cooked smell (and I'm sure taste  )to it. A few times a big whif has all but turned me green. Is this normal? Or is it that my unit is getting too hot and overheating the mash? This may also be responsible for my last question... 3) About half of my runs end in little bits of off-white flakes in the collection vessel. If strained (or shaken) it can turn the whole batch opaque. I usually put a drop or two of anti-foaming agent in now to prevent boilovers because I thought that was the problem. Any ideas what this is and how to stop it? Thanks for any help you can give and keep on shining!"
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/12/2009(UTC)
Posts: 19
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"I'm kind of new to the EZStill myself, but I got a great tip I'd like to share. If you get a 600 watt dimmer switch and plug it inline with the power cord, you can put it on high until you get the first drops, then back off the power a bit. Getting readings of 200+ degrees is okay when you're done, remember, water boils at 212F. I guess I don't take it all the way to the end anyhow, because the last bit of distillate is just nasty anyway.
Remember if you use a dimmer switch, you still need to power the fan on top with the full 120 volts, so you will need a seperate connection for that."
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2
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I've had graet luck w/ my easystill for a few months w/ no problems... until this weekend. I accidently left it plugged in over the weekend, it cooked off to empty & tripped the internal breaker. On Sunday evening I ran the distillate back through & had several boil overs, which I've never had before. The top section would rise & release steam slightly before an eruption. I ended up resorting to duct tape. My initial research points to either a bad seal or the need to add something to break up the boil. Any help will be appreciated.
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 Rank: Administration Groups: Administrators
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 501
Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 8 post(s)
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Did you carbon filter on the original run? If so, this could be the cause of the issue, as previously filtered product has a much higher incidence of foaming. Adding an anti-foam agent and re-running the product should solve the problem.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2
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Yes I did carbon filter... any off the shelf anti-foaming agents? Thanks
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Rank: Administration Groups: Administrators
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 501
Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 8 post(s)
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Nothing that I know of that is generally accessed locally.
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"Last rum run I did, I did get a boil over, and the prettiest blue spirit. Copper sulfate I am sure. Got some anti foam from brewhaus, but haven't used it yet as haven't made any rum.
For any marginal, i add a tbs or 2 of olive oil or others. Hadn't thought of it before, but the carbon filtering removes all or most of all the oils (tails), so more violent boil. Interesting. I would say the specific agent sold for the purpose would be the best."
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