 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/24/2009(UTC)
Posts: 39
|
"Would like some input from all you great guys on cleaning carbon. Have put it in the oven before but am wondering if I just keep adding some water and just boiling it? Have done this before and get a lot of yellow flames coming off. Question is ,is boiling good enough ? Thanks MJ  "
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 15
|
Since nobody jumped in I'll add my 2 cents... I'm by no means expertised on this topic but from what I've gathered, a combination of boiling followed by cooking in the oven can clean it up to 80% which appears to be good enough for the average home brewer. It seems boiling can only release so much and at a guess I'd say <40% removal. And cooking it dry allows the rest of it to come out in vaporized form. Found a very helpful link for you which covers this topic a few times, once near the top and again later under "Reusing Carbon" heading. Have a look and hopefully this helps you reach a conclusion. http://homedistiller.org/polish.htm BTW Hi everyone, first post :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/16/2010(UTC)
Posts: 453
|
I've been using the same carbon for over a year now. After filtering I boil it and pour it off and then do it a second time. Then I drain it and put it in a glass cake thing and cook it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 3 hours. If I'm going to filter tomorrow I boil it again the night before and pour it off and let it sit overnight in water. Then use it the next day. Works good for me so far.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 15
|
Very cool, I think I'm going to give this a go then. Saving money is always a good thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/24/2009(UTC)
Posts: 39
|
"CLICK IT
Thanks for replying.
I was beginning to think that I said something to make every one mad at me.
Guess I need to get me a stove that I can use outside so my wife does not kill me.
Thanks again
MJ:)"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 15
|
"No problems MJ, it was coincidental that I'd actually been reading up on it for the first time the day before joining and reading this thread :) As for outdoor oven why not get a convection oven, that's what I intend to use. They have a fan and more efficient (heating less space) than a regular house oven. Here in Australia one can buy them for $30-50.  "
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Fellas ya know......you can just givera a good hard boil and then put it on cookie sheet in the sun, that worked just fine for me. What I did was boil good and hard for 20 mins then spread it out on cookie sheet and put in the back of my truck so the wind would'nt blow it around. I bet it gets hotter in Australia than in Florida so it should work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 15
|
" Quote:Fellas ya know......you can just givera a good hard boil and then put it on cookie sheet in the sun. I bet it gets hotter in Australia than in Florida so it should work It is pretty warm here lately so anything is worth trying at least once. I think Florida summer weather is pretty similar to our summer. It's cooler than Vegas as my american flatmate assures me but the humidity must be much like Florida."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
I'm not knocking the oven idea but I'm kinda poor so the truckbed will just haveta do. And lately here in Fl. its been damn cold. They said 38 this am but with the wind it was in the 20's I sure. When yo get ready to clean your carbon just do it all and then store what you dont use in a zip lock till you need some more. It's just a ziplock bag away from clean carbon then. But man you can run PROBABLY 50 gallons through it before you need even think about it again ------ as long as you cut your spirit down to 50 or 60% abv. before pouring through carbon. I have a water filtration system in my house and I only clean that carbon once a year. Seems ok.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Let me add.... I use a filtration tube so hence the term --pour it through. You can also make a little bag and soak that in qt or so of hooch and that works too. Use the bag a few times then make another, know what I mean,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 15
|
I use filtration tubes too, I think we're talking about the same things although mine are probably smaller (nothing like the giant steel one Brewhaus sell) Fuselex Filter:  Requires 350ml (12oz) of carbon Handles 3.5L (0.8gallons) of spirit We're metric over here so I had to google those conversion figures :) Anyway I let it run anywhere between 1-2 drops per second taking around 10-12hrs to filter a run (I only single filter these days due to double distilling) One thing I'm trying to figure out is how much is too much. My local homebrew shop always said replace once 20L (5.3 gallons) has passed through it. Apart from him having a financial interest in me purchasing carbon more often, things were different then, 3 years ago I only ever single distilled everything meaning the stuff running through the carbon was inherently dirtier than the second distilled spirit I run through it these days. I don't notice any off smell/flavor at the 20L (5.3gallon) mark so I've started wondering if I'm really changing this stuff too often now. You've mentioned 50 gallons (190L) which is miles beyond what I've been doing... I'm guessing the number is somewhere in between both. I was thinking more like 15 gallons (53L) ... What are your thoughts on this? (PS: Sorry for changing direction of thread but it seems the OP question has been answered now)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
"I'll just tell you a little about mine. It's a 30 inch long tube thats 2 inchs in diameter. I added a funnel type top to it to stop spillage and the drain hole is 1/2 and inch with a cotton ball blocking it to stop drainage of the carbon. It takes some time to pour my run through it cause its a slow trickle coming out the end. If you know what PVC is - thats what mine is made of and it works fine.
Run your still and get your distillate. Now you've got your hooch (run it through your still once or twice whatever you want) cut it to 50 or 60% abv, which is 100-120 proof and pour it through your carbon tube - it will only run through slowly anyway and its cleaning it all the while. Thats what your looking for. But if you run your hooch twice you might not need a carbon wash afterall. Let your nose and your tung be your guide. Hope this helps and happy stillin."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Now then...you've got your tube made and you've run 5 gallons of hooch through it and you are wondering -- throw it away or clean it????? Well just like you poured likker through it, boil and gallon of water and pour that through it, and if the water smell like shit when your done -- do it again. It MIGHT leave SOME stuff behind but boil water and do it again. Clean is always best so after each use before you put all your shit away pour a couple of gallons of boiling water through it and then store it for the next use. Nice and easy and ready for the next run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 15
|
Thanks for the clearing things up heeler. Yeah actually my 2nd filter is PVC too, it handles slightly more volume (both spirit and carbon) than the stainless steel fuselex and cost less than half the price however listening to what you've just said, when I add another filter I might try building it myself as it sounds pretty easy, I've just been too lazy in the past I guess. The tight ass in me now wishes to buy parts and build in future :)  That's my setup currently (excuse the poor quality phone camera) - I eventually want 2 more, note the space on the wall mount to fit 2 more
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Since this is a thread about carbon and the cleaning of it I thought I would add..... I ran a wheat germ wash the other day and I decided to run it through my carbon filter. Its been awhile since it's use so I poured a gallon of boiling water through it to clean it up a bit. The wash prolly did'nt need it but it could'nt hurt. So as the water was running out it did smell like hooch for the first little while but then cleared up in short order. Apperently I did'nt rinse the carbon the last time I used it --- oooops. before the water was all through it was clean smelling and the carbon was ready to filter my hooch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
