Scorching and cleaning

Scorching and cleaning

Postby MattSmith » Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:47 am

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
MattSmith
Site Donor
 
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:53 pm
Location: Sydney, NSW
equipment: FSD 50L Milk Can
FSD 4" pot (3" PC) with packed section & RC
Still Spirits Air Still

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby BigRig » Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:20 pm

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.
BigRig
 
Posts: 755
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2019 1:29 pm
Location: Brisbane, QLD
equipment: FSD 4" Mac SSG, 50L Milk Can, 2 x 2400w elements, 35L Digiboil Boiler, Airstill.

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby MattSmith » Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:23 pm

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?
MattSmith
Site Donor
 
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:53 pm
Location: Sydney, NSW
equipment: FSD 50L Milk Can
FSD 4" pot (3" PC) with packed section & RC
Still Spirits Air Still

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby bluc » Fri Feb 17, 2023 3:35 pm

I have done half dozen gin macerations never scorched.
Like bigrig have only scorched muddy all grain mash..
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8968
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby BigRig » Fri Feb 17, 2023 4:06 pm

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.
BigRig
 
Posts: 755
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2019 1:29 pm
Location: Brisbane, QLD
equipment: FSD 4" Mac SSG, 50L Milk Can, 2 x 2400w elements, 35L Digiboil Boiler, Airstill.

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby The Stig » Fri Feb 17, 2023 5:09 pm

I use a turbo boiler to do small runs of macerations
The Stig
Site Nerd
 
Posts: 18225
Images: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:37 am
equipment: Only the Best will Do.
Mac4 SSG Bubbles of Joy

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby iOnaBender » Fri Feb 17, 2023 7:08 pm

The Stig wrote:I use a turbo boiler to do small runs of macerations


:text-+1:

Cheers
iOnaBender
Site Donor
 
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 08, 2021 11:33 am
Location: D'Aguilar Qld
equipment: FSD 4" Mac 5 SSG
125ltr NANO Pro boiler
FSD 2" Pot Still
75ltr Insulated Mash Tun
95ltr HLT

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby Wellsy » Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:07 am

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
Wellsy
 
Posts: 2214
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:48 am
Location: Victoria
equipment: FSD 4” Modular Pot Still plus 4 FSD Bubble plates on FSD 50 ltr Milk Can Boiler + 2 x 2400W FSD Element and Guard Kits

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby iOnaBender » Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:28 pm

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
iOnaBender
Site Donor
 
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 08, 2021 11:33 am
Location: D'Aguilar Qld
equipment: FSD 4" Mac 5 SSG
125ltr NANO Pro boiler
FSD 2" Pot Still
75ltr Insulated Mash Tun
95ltr HLT

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby MattSmith » Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:27 am

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.
MattSmith
Site Donor
 
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:53 pm
Location: Sydney, NSW
equipment: FSD 50L Milk Can
FSD 4" pot (3" PC) with packed section & RC
Still Spirits Air Still

Re: Scorching and cleaning

Postby howard » Wed Feb 22, 2023 12:46 pm

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.
howard
 
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2020 12:53 am
Location: perth
equipment: 35l brewzilla
2" modular CM
gin caddy
changeover element switch and voltage controller on brewzillas 1900w element.
5L glass boiler/glass leibig


Return to General Gin Chat



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests

x