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"i ran 3 quarts of homemade wine. the machine works very slick, after about 45 minutes it started to drip.
i have a few questions about the operating. i started with 3 quarts, after about 4.5 hours i turned off the machine, with just under 2 quarts of distillate. the wine was somewhere between 10%-14% alcohol. i was of the understanding that the machine would turn off once it hit a certain temp. it seems like the machine should have turned off earlier, as there should have been much much less distillate."
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2007(UTC)
Posts: 167
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the machine will cut off when it runs out of liquid. it began life as a water distiller. the first run collect everything until there is no longer any alcohol. save it. do more runs of wash. then combine your distillate and do a second run collecting every 20 minutes. any time you are doing a second or third run always dilute to 50abv. if you have a problem with it venting you may want to forgo the carbon until the final run.
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Rank: Guest
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so the auto shut off would be more of a safety for alcohol then actually shutting it off when the alcohol is done. i don't think it had any issues with venting, all i used for carbon was the little pouches that came in the box, i figure i have them i might as well use them up first. could you explain what you mean by collecting every 20 min. the distillate smells like the source wine but not as strong, it is crystal clear, has a bit of an alcohol smell and a little bit of warm taste but not nearly as much as vodka. based on the amount collected it isn't even close to 40-50%. i have a standard brewers hydrometer but i do not have one that will measure spirits, i'll have to invest in one soon.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2007(UTC)
Posts: 167
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you would know if it was venting.you will hear a noise and if you are looking at it you will see the lid lift. it will be the opposite side of the power cords. as to the carbon you can recycle it. I'm not saying dont use it. just use it on your final run. when you do your first run toss the first 50ml. those are fore shots. then every 20 minutes you change collection jars. when you get a alcohol meter you will see the abv drop.the higher the abv generally the better the drink in neutrals. go to home distillers. and check the archives here in the forums for easystill. you can turn out some pretty good drink but it is a bit more work. the more work the better drink. your product will get better the longer you age it there is a lot i didn't explain well and a lot i left out. join distillers and new distillers. Rick i hope it is okay to mention those 2 groups. if not please let me know. happy thanksgiving to everyone. hope this helps.
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Rank: Guest
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what is the reason for changing the collection jar every 20 minutes? just so alcohol level and be more accurately monitored?
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 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/6/2009(UTC)
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hi all. i have ben runin reflux still for years. wanted to see what the contraversy over easy still, mr distiller ect. i got mine three weeks ago and no problems at all i love it. first thing i did was drop on some half inch coper cut up small to breake up boil. next i built a grill out of copper wire. it holds my copper pot scrubers just above fill line. with these mods got 110% without around 70 to 80%. hope this helps
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/12/2009(UTC)
Posts: 19
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"I thought about adding copper to my EZStill somehow. Does copper change the flavor to a flavored alcohol like brandy? Does it come out better, or just stronger? I guess I'm not sure what copper actually does. I want to keep and improve the flavor, even if it means a lower ABV%.
Also, I am trying to picture how you actually got the copper in there. So it's a mesh that hangs above the liquid? What do you tie it to?"
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/6/2009(UTC)
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hi luis. i made a grill out of stiff coper wirea little biger than inside of pot. make it so it will flex, so when u put in in it will expand and hold. only solder one side of the cross pieces that hold scrubers so it will flex.lust imagine a round barb grill. but dont make it solid. wish i could send a pic. of it. dont know about flavor just did wposw. i must be geting some reflux. with it 110% without 70 or 80. copper always helps get rid of sulfids. the more of it the better. if u need more will be glad to help. reddog
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2010(UTC)
Posts: 6
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" Originally Posted by: luis  I thought about adding copper to my EZStill somehow. Does copper change the flavor to a flavored alcohol like brandy? Does it come out better, or just stronger? I guess I'm not sure what copper actually does. I want to keep and improve the flavor, even if it means a lower ABV%.
Also, I am trying to picture how you actually got the copper in there. So it's a mesh that hangs above the liquid? What do you tie it to? Why not just put a copper scrubber inside the ez filter tube along with the charcoal?"
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/17/2007(UTC)
Posts: 167
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the copper needs to be in the path of the vapor to work.
Just Me
Meat is murder,tasty tasty murder.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/16/2010(UTC)
Posts: 6
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" Originally Posted by: just_me the copper needs to be in the path of the vapor to work.
Just Me
Meat is murder,tasty tasty murder. dunno about that. Scotch whiskey's been made in copper stills for centuries and I don't think they use scouring pads in the vapor path. you could just chuck a pad into the kettle and see what happens. Having access to a graduate student in chemical engineering or O-chem would be good for running a sample through a chromatograph or NMR analyzer for effects."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"Running a full copper still is way different than some of us useing SS. 2 diff. issues here. One is the copper mesh will interact with sulfer compounds and clean the sulfer carry over. Second, if going for a total neutral, it is the best for good reflux.
If using in pot still mod a single role or 2 will help in a ss setup, but not necessarry in an all copper situation.
Judge what you need."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/2/2010(UTC)
Posts: 22
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Hi. I don't really place advice on any persons questions. As I'm still learning this hobby. However, since you are asking about air stills. I wanted to make mention of a video I found while looking things up. It puts some emphasis on some of the things you asked. Like the purpose behind parting your distillate in sections. Here is the link to the post I made. Within it is the link to the video on youtube with other video information: http://www.brewhausfo...howthread.php?t=1598 I hope it helps out. It seems like good info, as it only pertains to using the air still and also gives some other basic chemistry information.
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