 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 15
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"Made my first run-off today, I think it's O.K.
Just used 10lb cane sugar, 4.5 gallons water. 2 packs of wine yeast, 3 teaspoons of yeast energizer and let it sit for a week in a glass carboy with an airlock.
Using a turkey fryer, a 15.5 gal beer keg, (actually was used for root-beer) cleaned of course, and PSII column. Had a little trouble with my temp as the burner is a little tricky, but I think I have a grip on that. Used a sump pump and cooler filled with ice and water for the condenser. Fired it up, didn't turn on the pump till the column temp was around 130, ran the first part into a mason jar till the temp came up to about 180, then into a quart jar. Monitored the gravity till it dropped down to about 60 proof. Ended up with just over a quart.
Sound about right?"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/20/2013(UTC)
Posts: 12
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I would do some research on making cuts and look into some mash recipes. You are looking for troublesome fermentations with such a nutrient deficient mash. There are some good recipes at Homedistiller.com/forum in the Tried and True section. But, by all means if it works for you and your happy with it, do it again! Just don't be afraid of making mistakes and learning from them. Half the things I do are contrary to what the general advice given on these forums. My point is, never be afraid to try your own thing. That is when the true learning begins.
Cheers!
Shorty
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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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" Originally Posted by: The Mongoose  Made my first run-off today, I think it's O.K.
Just used 10lb cane sugar, 4.5 gallons water. 2 packs of wine yeast, 3 teaspoons of yeast energizer and let it sit for a week in a glass carboy with an airlock.
Using a turkey fryer, a 15.5 gal beer keg, (actually was used for root-beer) cleaned of course, and PSII column. Had a little trouble with my temp as the burner is a little tricky, but I think I have a grip on that. Used a sump pump and cooler filled with ice and water for the condenser. Fired it up, didn't turn on the pump till the column temp was around 130, ran the first part into a mason jar till the temp came up to about 180, then into a quart jar. Monitored the gravity till it dropped down to about 60 proof. Ended up with just over a quart.
Sound about right? I have a question...you added 4.5 gallons of wash to your boiler and all you cooked off was ""just over a quart"" that sounds kinda lite on ethanol from 10 lbs of sugar. Or did you make cuts that totaled more distillate that you tossed, you know --foreshots and heads and maybe some tails?????"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 15
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no that was about all i collected. when the "proof" dropped down to like 60% i called it a day. Like I said it was my first go at it and I wanted to see how well my little setup would work. Hence the straight sugar wash. It didn't work real well, my column temp was too high, (couldn't get below 180), because my ice melted and my burner was too hard to control. So I will go again with basically the same wash BUT with more control on the burner, (a needle valve instead of using the regulator), and I separated the column and the condenser water supply and instead of using a cooler with ice, I will use the cooler and pump as before but use fresh cool water when it gets warm. sound better to you ?
That all being said i do have a couple questions, how much packing should the column have? the "kit" i bought with the column had one pack of copper mesh. should I use more with a PSII column? Also, shouldn't the mash be about the same temp as the column? I mean if some of the nasty's come off at higher temps, and the column is cooler for the reflux action, won't the nasty's condense out as well trying to get the column up to temp?
Am I just stupid? Over thinking this stuff?
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