Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I have been doing some serious reading with a view to designing and constructing a 25l pot still and have come across the following in regard to the effect of the lyne arm angle and its effect on the spirit produced in a pot still. I have quoted the info below.

"Moreover, the design and angle of the lyne arm more or less determines the quality and intenseness of each distillate. In the lyne arm, the alcoholic vapours are led
to the cooler. The angle influences the result:

Steep ascent (+) of the vapours - The alcoholic vapours have to fight their way uphill. Therefore, they cool down slowly resulting in a very smooth and high-proof distillate.

Parallel outflow of the vapours - The alcoholic vapours almost glide to the cooler. Therefore, they cool down moderately resulting in a rather smooth distillate.

Steep descent (-) of the vapours - The alcoholic vapours rapidly fall down to the cooler. Therefore, they cool down quickly resulting in a harsh but more low-proof distillate. However, there is the risk that the “wash” unintentionally gets into the distillate. To avoid that, soap is often used to release the surface tension."

Soap!!! Any one ever tried this?????

Feed back on the info and experiences would be appreciated.

cheers, Icarus

From what Ive read I get the impression that the lyne arm angle isnt as important in hobby size stills. That information is more relevant to commercial sized stills were the lyne arm is much bigger and can be much much longer. Thats my understanding of it anyway. In hobby sized stills it could possibly still have some small effect.

SBB wrote:From what Ive read I get the impression that the lyne arm angle isnt as important in hobby size stills. That information is more relevant to commercial sized stills were the lyne arm is much bigger and can be much much longer. Thats my understanding of it anyway. In hobby sized stills it could possibly still have some small effect.

I'll agree that the measurable difference may only be detected to the average slob by doing a side by side of product from a hobby still......

Hobby stillers are more likely to construct their outfits based on work space, available bits to be fashioned into still parts and weather or not we slobs prefer to collect on ours knees,,,,,,,,,or not. I say not.......My knees hurt.

Up turn=lighter spirits
level= medium spirits
Down turn= heavier spirits

Sounds like complete fucking bullshit to me.



The vapour speed is determined by the pressure of the vapour being created by the boiler pushing it. It ain't gunna go downhill any faster and create a vaccuum behind it. :angry-banghead:

The difference in lyne arm angle is where any passive reflux is led. Uphill the reflux fals back towards the boiler, downhill the reflux falls towards the condensor.

On a hobby scale potstill with the passive reflux being so tiny, as Larry said, it makes 9/10ths of fuck all difference. :hand:

5Star, spoken in true Aussie vernacular! :clap:

Icarus

So when build my still I should do a fixed arm on a 45degree angle (a 90 and 45 elbow off the columb) instead of wasting money on and dicking around with a union and 2 90s to make it variable?

I would say that the modular quality of any build will allow for easier future mods,,,,within reason....

Devo
I used 1 x 90 deg, 1 x 45 deg, and then a ss barrel union onto the liebig, pull apart & adjustable :-D

A union is still very handy....it allows you to adjust the hight of the product output. to suit differnt situations. Having said that I built both my pot still without using a union........ if I had my time over i would definately use one.

Gentlemen,
I am following this discussion with great interest. In the near future I intend building myself a copper pot still and as a new distiller I like to be perfect first time around. From experience I know that it is impossible but I am hanging onto every word written on this forum.
I have been looking at some works of art on Artisan Copper works, round copper balls, sight glasses etc etc. If I owned one of those I would have it in my loungeroom on display and polished the living daylights out of it everyday. To my wife's delight. Hmmm yeah, we all hope!!!!!!!
Regards,
Jan.