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"Hello All,
I am in need of a little clarification and guidance (I have been a lurker absorbing as much as I can the last few months and have read conflicting posts on one thing so I am hoping for some definitive insight)...
I have a PSII High Cap. System and have ran it more than half a dozen times with good success, including a couple AG batches that went very well but I have always run it reflux. I currently have a bourbon style mash happily fermenting away and want to run the rig as a pot in hopes of getting a more mellow flavor (my last AG batch definitely has a very noticeable flavor and aroma profile (in a good way) compared to the sugar washes but it came out at 178 proof and am hoping to improve the flavor even more if I lower the purity a bit so I can put it in oak)).
So my questions are, to run the PSII as a pot, I remove the one column section but would I run the cooling system the same as with the reflux or not at all (or differently), would the packing be the same (I use the copper mesh
about 48in./column section) and would you suspect that I could get quality product with the first run or should I expect to have to strip it and run it a couple times?
Anything other tips for pot mode?
Thanks in advanced for any insight and clarification you can give me!
-B.G."
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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you don't have to take the bottom of the column off it you don't want to. Just put a cpl of plugs of mesh in the column and keep the valve to the reflux cross pipes closed. When running just use slow drips and you shouldn't have to rerun it
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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Thanks for the response Diesel. I take the rig apart into pieces after I am done each time to clean it so just not putting in the first column is just as easy but let me know if I am tracking what your saying regarding the water exchange, should I just pipe it so I am only cooling the arm?
I'll def. be sure to run it low and slow.
Thanks again.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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the only water you need is in thru the bottom of the condenser and out the top of it to knock down the vapors
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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That will make it easy. Out of curiosity, Is there any adverse effects if I left the cooling set up as is (running cross through the column and out the condenser)? Does 48" of copper mesh/column sound about right?
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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yes you can leave it like it is just cut off the flow to the top of column. just one or two plugs of copper mesh is all that is needed using pot mode.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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Thanks for the help. In 4 + years I should have some danggg good bourbon ready! LoL
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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I have the regular PSII and leave the bottom section out, run 2 copper plugs and run my coolant through the Lieberg. Here's my setup running.  
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I took an entire roll of the copper mesh and cut it into four sections, each of which I roll up loosely, then fold in half. I then stuff 3 of them the up the pipe and I use a metal rod to basically "wad" the rolls agin the cooling passthru's like I was powder packing a cannon or a muzzle loader. - not too tight, just enough to make sure they stay (w/o the bottom column there is nothing to keep the wads from falling into the boil so I like to be sure there are in there fairly tight). I take the fourth one and pack it from above the cooling passthru's.
I get about 4 5gal runs thru and then I clean the copper. |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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Drifter, thanks for sharing the pic, that is pretty slick.
RC- Many thanks as well, your detailed response will help me immensely, any other tips/advice, I am all ears!
Thanks again.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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Alright...got three plugs of mesh stuffed in and hopefully have this running correctly...if not let me know ASAP! haha [ATTACH=CONFIG]968[/ATTACH] birdgunner attached the following image(s):  pot.jpg (223kb) downloaded 5 time(s).You cannot view/download attachments. Try to login or register.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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Kinda hard to see clearly in that Pix.. You havin' a romantic moment with the still?  My missus swears I do with mine.. *hehe* |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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I have more than a trickle coming out now so no going back! haha I'll get a clearer pic in just a second....
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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Originally Posted by: birdgunner  I have more than a trickle coming out now so no going back!... At my age that happens more often than I like... |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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A better pic... [ATTACH=CONFIG]969[/ATTACH] birdgunner attached the following image(s): pot2.jpg (239kb) downloaded 11 time(s).You cannot view/download attachments. Try to login or register.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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Coming in at 122 proof, not too bad I hope. Hit all my numbers for the mash which was 8lbs flaked maize, 2lbs US 2 row, 1/2 lb rye, 1 lb wheat, 1.5lb smoked wheat and I feathered in 300 grams of dissolved sugar with yeast nutrients twice once the initial ferment had slowed to a crawl... tastes smooth...much better than reflux high octane! haha
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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Your input water line is on the bottom, yes? |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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To add to the above, I know I should have used 6 row to help with conversion but I used one of the American Whiskey Yeast ferment packs to offset as it had some nutrients and enzymes to hopefully offset using the 2 row... this is all for a 5 gallon run.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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No I am polish! haha But it will be in 5 seconds :-)
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
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Had to go pick the lil'uns up from preschool (yup, dad of the year! haha) so it was a good time to halt things, switch the water input and resume. I did get 3, 8oz jars of 60-61% first go round.... just dumped the first 2oz from the restart so lets see how rnd 1.5 goes but Thank You RC, since switching the water input there is now serious condensation on the arm compared to when the in feed was up at the top!
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