 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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"Ordered my Essential Extractor PSII High Capacity- Complete Distiller today with the premium kettle, ceramic rasching rings, and wireless digital thermometer which I hope will ship tomorrow, weather permitting. Anyway I have been brewing beer for 20 years so no mystery there and I will continue data mining. I am doing a lot of reading here and have two of the recommended books ordered (shipped today). I will have to start out with propane heat but will migrate to the 1500W electric hot plate when they are back in stock so I can run in my closed garage. Any pointers to hot links will be looked at, today it appears that homedistiller.org is down or is no longer active.
Anyway back to data mining and I am looking forward to this new hobby!:)"
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360   Location: Louisiana
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" Originally Posted by: mmmooretx  Ordered my Essential Extractor PSII High Capacity- Complete Distiller today with the premium kettle, ceramic rasching rings, and wireless digital thermometer which I hope will ship tomorrow, weather permitting. Anyway I have been brewing beer for 20 years so no mystery there and I will continue data mining. I am doing a lot of reading here and have two of the recommended books ordered (shipped today). I will have to start out with propane heat but will migrate to the 1500W electric hot plate when they are back in stock so I can run in my closed garage. Any pointers to hot links will be looked at, today it appears that homedistiller.org is down or is no longer active.
Anyway back to data mining and I am looking forward to this new hobby!:) If your planing on making lickker you should have got the copper mesh insted of the raschig rings....................." |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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"OK, The way I understand it I can go back and buy the copper then go back and forth as necessary depending on the type of distillation I want to do. I had planned on my initial runs being neutral spirit runs. I am waiting for my books but have been reading here going back to 2007 for the last 3 hours.
Thanks for your time and input."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
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Originally Posted by: mmmooretx OK, The way I understand it I can go back and buy the copper then go back and forth as necessary depending on the type of distillation I want to do. I had planned on my initial runs being neutral spirit runs. I am waiting for my books but have been reading here going back to 2007 for the last 3 hours.
Thanks for your time and input. You will need copper in ur rig. Copper is very reactive and will get rid of some nasties in ur distillate. All I distill is neutral. I do 25 liter washes 10% ABV. I do stripping runs first and when I have 3 gallons of 1st run lickker I will do my spirit run. Its a good idea to eliminate the rubber bung at the top of your column and also the rubber hose on the condenser. rubber and high proof lickker are not a good mix...................... Oh and u can read here: http://www.artisan-distiller.net/ better info than u will find on this forum |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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I ordered the copper today. My unit will not ship this week as a supplier shorted Brewhaus one of my needed components. Not a big deal, Rick was super.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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"Bayou-Ruler,
Still reading 3-4 hours a night at 3 sites and got my books last night from Brewhaus. If all goes well from Brewhaus supplier my unit should ship mid next week. My copper arrives today. Since my column is two part if I put copper in the upper (if used alone is a pot still) and put the ceramic rings in the lower (reflux section) should I be covered for both types of processing? I will be doing some neutral spirits and am interested in some of the aeromatic types like rum or whiskey as I gain experience.
Thanks again."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
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" Originally Posted by: Mongoose Bayou-Ruler,
Still reading 3-4 hours a night at 3 sites and got my books last night from Brewhaus. If all goes well from Brewhaus supplier my unit should ship mid next week. My copper arrives today. Since my column is two part if I put copper in the upper (if used alone is a pot still) and put the ceramic rings in the lower (reflux section) should I be covered for both types of processing? I will be doing some neutral spirits and am interested in some of the aeromatic types like rum or whiskey as I gain experience.
Thanks again. Well the more copper the better for reflux. I only use copper. If you are gonna make whisky or rum you will run in pot mode with just the upper section and no packing. It would still be a good idea to put one roll of mesh in the column in pot mode so you have copper in the vapor path." |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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" Originally Posted by: Bayou-Ruler Well the more copper the better for reflux. I only use copper. If you are gonna make whisky or rum you will run in pot mode with just the upper section and no packing. It would still be a good idea to put one roll of mesh in the column in pot mode so you have copper in the vapor path. I was planning on putting only copper in the upper section, but I do not know how many will fit in there. I got four so I could do both sections if needed but I hear that taking the copper in and out to change to the ceramic rings might damage the copper mesh, besides being real fun. I could actually strip some insulation off of solid 12 ga. wire to make a pull out loop for pliers. Just open ended thinking at this point I'll know better once the unit arrives and I start assembly, and insulating. Thanks again for your support."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
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" Originally Posted by: Mongoose I was planning on putting only copper in the upper section, but I do not know how many will fit in there. I got four so I could do both sections if needed but I hear that taking the copper in and out to change to the ceramic rings might damage the copper mesh, besides being real fun. I could actually strip some insulation off of solid 12 ga. wire to make a pull out loop for pliers. Just open ended thinking at this point I'll know better once the unit arrives and I start assembly, and insulating.
Thanks again for your support. The copper mesh rolls aren't as hard as you would think to put in and take out. I rinse and dry mine every time I do a run.  " |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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"For my cleaning I was thinking of at the end of run remove thermometer cap, then take column off of pot. Dump pot (assuming I can handle it) and re attach the column. Then pour hot PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) down the top of the column, probably 2 gallons. remove and split column (if necessary). Check column to see if further cleaning is needed then put SS chain in pot and agitate for rough cleaning. Assuming all is clean rinse and hang parts to dry.
Did I miss any majors?"
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
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Originally Posted by: Mongoose For my cleaning I was thinking of at the end of run remove thermometer cap, then take column off of pot. Dump pot (assuming I can handle it) and re attach the column. Then pour hot PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) down the top of the column, probably 2 gallons. remove and split column (if necessary). Check column to see if further cleaning is needed then put SS chain in pot and agitate for rough cleaning. Assuming all is clean rinse and hang parts to dry.
Did I miss any majors? If i was u I would not use the PBW, If that's how ya wanna do it just pour some hot clean water down her and hang her up. I rinse my mesh off with plain water and then hang it to dry. Pouring water down the column is actually the recommended way to do it. The older the copper gets it will actually start working better... so I'm told. |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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Hmmm, Ok I will keep an eye on that. I had not known about the copper patina being a good thing. Oh well back to the forums. Out to have a couple of beers with a buddy that has also ordered the same unit I did, we are both planning.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/17/2008(UTC)
Posts: 424
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homedistiller is there, maybe just a temp outage
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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Yes, Rick sent me an email I even know which part it is. My unit should ship next week which I can deal with as I have a lot of learning to do. I would also rather have the complete set up rather than have it here and not able to use it. Ok I could wrap it with insulation then look at it.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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" Originally Posted by: Bayou-Ruler If i was u I would not use the PBW, If that's how ya wanna do it just pour some hot clean water down her and hang her up. I rinse my mesh off with plain water and then hang it to dry. Pouring water down the column is actually the recommended way to do it. The older the copper gets it will actually start working better... so I'm told. That part is something I would like to understand better. IE. is it copper that reacts to the sulfur compounds or is it the copper oxide? I still have about a hundred pounds of books to read. I had a semester of chemistry in college but I do not know enough to separate fact from tribal knowledge (that's the way grandpa did it). Thanks again for all of your help. I will be talking to Rick tomorrow on that flange mod."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
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" Originally Posted by: Mongoose That part is something I would like to understand better. IE. is it copper that reacts to the sulfur compounds or is it the copper oxide? I still have about a hundred pounds of books to read. I had a semester of chemistry in college but I do not know enough to separate fact from tribal knowledge (that's the way grandpa did it).
Thanks again for all of your help. I will be talking to Rick tomorrow on that flange mod. I really don't know the answer to that question. I do know that among the experienced distillers the consensus is that the patina is a good thing and not a bad one to a point. I am by far an expert I only speak from my own experience and the reply's from folks through out different forums when ask about the copper." |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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"Bayou-Ruler, got my unit in last night, woohoo!, I ended up getting the two columns insulated last night, midnight finish. I will do the kettle and the Sanke today, plus that little tulip like copper widget that goes into the copper mesh. Rick got the mod done to my unit and it looks great, I have a cap coming with the NPT threads in it, probably will ship Monday. I got a Turbo 48 wash, 12 gallons, started today (Sat.) so it should be ready next week. I am holding it at 75 F so we will see how close I get to 20%.
The down side, there is a shortage on the water pumps and it will ship later, not a big impact as our tap water is pretty cool right now. My problem is they forgot to put in the lid for the Premium kettle so I cannot do the pressure check/cleaning. I am sure Rick will take care of that on Monday so I will have it on Tuesday. Just another PITA drill. Well break time is over back to wrapping, and a daylight check of the trash to be sure the lid is not there. Part of my unpacking was right over the trash barrel as I hate picking up shipping pop-corn...
Later"
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
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" Originally Posted by: Mongoose Bayou-Ruler, got my unit in last night, woohoo!, I ended up getting the two columns insulated last night, midnight finish. I will do the kettle and the Sanke today, plus that little tulip like copper widget that goes into the copper mesh. Rick got the mod done to my unit and it looks great, I have a cap coming with the NPT threads in it, probably will ship Monday. I got a Turbo 48 wash, 12 gallons, started today (Sat.) so it should be ready next week. I am holding it at 75 F so we will see how close I get to 20%.
The down side, there is a shortage on the water pumps and it will ship later, not a big impact as our tap water is pretty cool right now. My problem is they forgot to put in the lid for the Premium kettle so I cannot do the pressure check/cleaning. I am sure Rick will take care of that on Monday so I will have it on Tuesday. Just another PITA drill. Well break time is over back to wrapping, and a daylight check of the trash to be sure the lid is not there. Part of my unpacking was right over the trash barrel as I hate picking up shipping pop-corn...
Later Good deal! The first thing you will need to do if you strive for clean likker is get away from those Turbos! I use plain old bakers yeast with stellar results. When you get it all together post some pictures!" |
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
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"Bayou Ruler........your right the FIRST thing he needs to do is get away from the Turbos.
Mongoose...BR is right get away from Turbos for cleaner likker but know this --- you will never get 20% with bakers yeast and you will never get the quality you want with 20%. (In my opinion). I know this is your first so have fun and keep an open mind, that yeast is called 48 and it should be done or damn close by then but still leave it for a few more days so it will clear or should I say settle. OR get some gelitin to help it settle faster.
LTWCS is right we all get anxious and want it now but still it takes time to make GOOD likker, but not some much to make shitty likker."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/9/2011(UTC)
Posts: 44
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I hear you but I am using the Turbo for my learning runs on how to run and set my controls. I have purchased flaked corn and pale 2 row for my whiskey pot still runs, once I learn the system. Plus it does not hurt to have some vodka and gin on the side....
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