T500 still output tastes sweet and has smell

[greyghost]

Hi all,

I have a T500 Still and have followed all the instructions for the wash carbon and everything. I have tried other washes with the same result of a sweet tasting almond smelling output. I discard the first 100ml so sure I am dumping the heads. About to give-in on the still can you guys HELP. I need to get a Neutral from this still.

[R-sole]

Read up here on making cuts. You won't get the heads out with a 100ml cut.

[greyghost]

Ok so new to this guide me please. Als0 thinking of building my own reflux still but not sure were to get the raw materiel for cooper in NZ anyone done this

[R-sole]

Search engines here...
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=373


http://www.google.com/cse?cx=0096136170 ... gsc.page=1

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=0096136170 ... gsc.page=1



You are not going to learn everything you need to know this afternoon, and i don't have the time or energy to lead each and every question.
This is a craft and takes some dedication and practice to learn if you don't want it to taste like home brew.


A few months research and practice and you will be able to beat the mid range store bought. But you won't do it with essences and carbon. :?

[greyghost]

so can i strip (NOT SURE ON WHAT THIS MEANS) with t500

[maheel]

yes you can strip some remove all the packing from the T500 and run it that way

stripping is running the wash through "hot and fast" to pull of roughly the expected ALC of the wash
you then re-run it (or run two batches together) in a spirt run the next day slowly, making cuts

so run 20L of wash get 5 L of 40%
do it again
run the 10L of 40% thorugh on a nice slow strip

consider just rerunning what you already have through the t500 again
water it down to below %40 with tap water and run again

here is some questions for you

how do you collect ? in a big bottle, in little bottles ? etc
do you make cuts ?
what % is it collected at (corrected @ 20" deg c) ?
what washes have you made apart from turbo's ?

[greyghost]

how do you collect ? in a big bottle, in little bottles ? etc
I Collect in separate bottles

do you make cuts ?
Not sure if I do I just water it down to say 40

what % is it collected at (corrected @ 20" deg c) ?
Comes out at 93

what washes have you made apart from turbo's ?
Wineo simple wash

I must be way of mark cause no matter what I try it all seems to fast the same. Following all the instructions to the letter? even tried replacing the cooper packing with cooper mesh (high grade) but no luck. HELP. If I do a stripping run do I cool with water or just let it boil with no cooling? Would love to get this right before Xmas.

[maheel]

striping : you need to use cooling whenever you run you still

i chuck the 1st 200ml and then collect in one big bottle, maybe separating the tail end to re-run next strip

let it air a few days if you can

you then re-run it all watered down a bit in the boiler to say 30% and aim to collect as high % as you can
collect in small bottles
consider the 1st and maybe 2nd bottle as heads, but it all requires taste / sniffing (i do that at 40%, some water a teaspoon full down more)
next few will be "hearts" middle ones hopefully will be the best
last few will be tails

this game takes time and the best way is to keep fermenting and running it to get experience with the still
all hobbies have that learning / wastful stage to get a grip on whats going on and how to make it better

[QLD.Andy]

I have a T500, so I will try to answer the questions.
DO NOT USE THE T500 COLUMN TO STRIP YOU WILL MELT THE TOP CAP.
Now thats out of the way, I will need some more info.
What yeast pack are you using?
What temp are you keeping the Outgoing water at ?

I use Vodka Star yeast and 6kg sugar and 21 litres water.
When I run the still, I will collect the first 100ml and discard.
I will keep the waste water temp at 55 - 57 deg C (its slower but better)
I will then collect between 3.5lt and 4lt of 93% ABV output in 1 big 5lt jug (others will collect in small jars to make cuts)
I will then water down the 93% to 40% and filter.
Following the above will give you a nice clean neutral that can be drunk as it is or flavored with your choice of whatever.
As 5Star has said, this is a long term hobby that you will gain knowledge and confidence in over many years.
I have been doing this for over 2 years now and am just starting to do cuts.
Keep asking and reading.
Edit to add: After every 4th run I will remove the packing and clean the saddles with sterident (soaking over night) otherwise you will get bad smelling/tasting output.

[maheel]

Gald your here Andy

i was thinking you could help big time :)

sorry i was wrong with stripping with T500 will edit my post

[greyghost]

Hi thanks for the replies,

On my first run I used a turbo yeast. On my second run I used active bakers yeast, and then on my third and fourth I went back to Turbo with carbon.
I monitored the temp as 55 60 on the outgo in water. I take out all the packing after each run and clean it with citric acid then in baking soda to neutralize the acid. Can not get rid of that sweet/harsh taste.

[R-sole]

You need to make cuts. the sweet harsh portion is all heads.

[greyghost]

I know what u are saying, but it all tastes like that.

[SBB]

Greyghost I think if you read the guide on cuts at the following link you may learn more.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=11640
Read it and look at the diagrams...they get bigger if you click on them and make the whole cuts thing much easier to understand.
I have a T500 and my first run or two were fair from perfect....its matter of trial and error and learning from that.
I would also suggest keeping your water temp below the manufactures recommendation, I try to keep mine at about 58 for the main part of the run a bit lower in the early stages whilst taking of foreshots and heads.

[greyghost]

just done another run and kept the temp down to 55-57 and still that sweet burn taste. I am rerunning a batch watered down to 40 percent. Have read the post on cuts but it all seems to tast the same. Think I will make a still anyone know of a good source of copper piping in New Zealand?

[QLD.Andy]

just done another run and kept the temp down to 55-57 and still that sweet burn taste.

What was the start and finish gravity ?
Sounds like your running the wash too early ie: you still have lots of unfermented sugar in there or your putting the sludge on the bottom of the fermenter in your boiler.
I leave my wash for 3 weeks, this allows time for the fermentation to finish and plenty of time to clear naturally.
.
I will ask again, what turbo yeast did you use? Brand, sugar amount, how much water and how long did you leave it to do its thing etc.
I found the TPW made a mess of the saddles and the next run was foul

[QLD.Andy]

Gald your here Andy

i was thinking you could help big time :)

Just got back from holidays (had a ball :dance: ) I will do what I can.

[greyghost]

Hi all and again thanks for the help guys, in answer to QLDAndy's questions the finish sg is around 990-995 never measured the start sg but use 20 liters of tap water 1 packet of Classic StillSpirts yeast and then add the black turbo carbon. 6kg of sugar (white but have tried brown as well) then leave it still it stops bubbling and is at 990 sg it has no sweet taste. I then use turbo clear and leave for 24 hrs. I use a auto syphon and make sure no sludge goes into the boiler. Thats it so were am I going wrong ? Seems to be the same taste and burn no matter what I try. I took a sample and set light to it and it burned with a yellow flame thats not good as far as I am concerned, no.
Thanks again guys going to get this right if it kills me. :text-thankyoublue:

[wynnum1]

Try adding more water to wash to lower alcohol content and get cleaner alcohol.

[R-sole]

I've told you what the problem is from the start, you just don't want to hear it.