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Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:47 am
by MattSmith
I'm getting a little ahead of myself given I haven't run anything yet but I'm starting to think about gin.
I have a milk can boiler and was wondering how big of a risk is scorching? I've got some ideas to cover the elements if it's unavoidable.
2nd question is how much of a pain is it to clean a boiler/column after running botanicals?
Basically I'm trying to work out if I should get a carter head or not. I don't want another boiler/still so if scorching/cleaning is going to be too much of a pain then a carter head is probably where I'll end up (or maybe an air still).
Thanks
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:20 pm
by BigRig
I have the same boiler as you and have only scorched 1 stripping run running both elements at 100% on a dirty all grain wash. I would be more concerned if it was a gas burner.
The elements were easily cleaned with a 20min soak in citric acid / water mix.
I do my small batch gin in an air still fyi.
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:23 pm
by MattSmith
BigRig wrote:I have the same boiler as you and have only scorched 1 stripping run running both elements at 100% on a dirty all grain wash. I would be more concerned if it was a gas burner.
The elements were easily cleaned with a 20min soak in citric acid / water mix.
I do my small batch gin in an air still fyi.
Sounds promising
Do you use the air still because of the batch size?
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:35 pm
by bluc
I have done half dozen gin macerations never scorched.
Like bigrig have only scorched muddy all grain mash..
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 4:06 pm
by BigRig
MattSmith wrote:BigRig wrote:I have the same boiler as you and have only scorched 1 stripping run running both elements at 100% on a dirty all grain wash. I would be more concerned if it was a gas burner.
The elements were easily cleaned with a 20min soak in citric acid / water mix.
I do my small batch gin in an air still fyi.
Sounds promising
Do you use the air still because of the batch size?
Yeah mate. I can do an easy 4L batch on the kitchen bench while making dinner.
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 5:09 pm
by The Stig
I use a turbo boiler to do small runs of macerations
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 7:08 pm
by iOnaBender
The Stig wrote:I use a turbo boiler to do small runs of macerations
:text-+1:
Cheers
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:07 am
by Wellsy
I have a milk can boiler, as well as a small digiboil for smaller gin runs.
Given you will need a least 10 litres in the boiler after the run you will need to do big runs.
A second small boiler may be a lot cheaper than a Carter head. I also have only ever scorched a dirty angel yeast wash
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:28 pm
by iOnaBender
Matt,
I have a 4” gin basket with 2” TC inlet/outlet I want to sell if you’re interested, i’ll post a pic tomorrow if you like?
Cheers
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:27 am
by MattSmith
iOnaBender wrote:Matt,
I have a 4” gin basket with 2” TC inlet/outlet I want to sell if you’re interested, i’ll post a pic tomorrow if you like?
Cheers
I would have been super tempted last week but I just bought an air still.
I decided I don't need to run large batches of gin and I hate cleaning so keeping the botanicals separate makes sense for now.
Re: Scorching and cleaning
Posted:
Wed Feb 22, 2023 12:46 pm
by howard
MattSmith wrote:iOnaBender wrote:Matt,
I have a 4” gin basket with 2” TC inlet/outlet I want to sell if you’re interested, i’ll post a pic tomorrow if you like?
Cheers
I would have been super tempted last week but I just bought an air still.
I decided I don't need to run large batches of gin and I hate cleaning so keeping the botanicals separate makes sense for now.
ha ha, i also have a 4" gin basket gathering dust the same as iOna.
since going over to the masceration method using odins methodology, i only do 2-4 litre runs in a dedicated 5L still.
it's great for experimenting with different botanicals.
the airstill should be good for mascerated gin runs.