You hit the nail on the head. You can read,explain, and diagram something a million times. But actually seeing it work as it should connects the dots. Thank you I know that it's time consuming and never easy but I have expanded my education beyond measure.
Can I say thank you George I have been a hobby distiller for ten years now and have learnt more in the last twelve months from watching you and your channel, I have made two PIDs to control my two boilers your explanations are easy to follow and understand, I look forward to catching your next videos, stay safe.
I agree with Tom. I’ve been running my still for quite a few years and I’ve learned more with your videos than I ever learned by trial and error. Thanks!
The mystery has been revealed. Really neat to see how it really works not just the unseen belief that that is really what is happening. Thanks for all you do.
You're the best home distilling channel on TH-cam, George. Thanks so much for your input over the years as most of what I know has come from your good self. You even do a bit of wood turning I see!
Great to be able to see what's actually going on in the column. Talking about it and explaining it is great but seeing it actually happen really knocks it home for me. Thanks George for showing us that and thank you to whoever made that and sent it to you. It's awesome to see how this community comes together to help each other any way they can.
Thank you George for your support and your knowledge it is well taken my first run was excellent I got a 200 proof after I threw Wave 4 oz of the head and when I got to my Tails I had a good amount of tails at 63% so things were great everything work just like you said I appreciate it keep up the good work thank you very much
I have subscribed. 👍. I use to work at a oil refinery 20 yrs ago and I have been thinking about building a still. Then I ran into your videos. You're SPOT ON. In fact a lot of what I learned all came back. Bubble trays,reflux, the water flow through condensers. When refining petro, you controlled the tower thru reflux. Wow. I'm so glad I ran across you. I got a lot to learn. Already have a design for my still, because of your videos. P.s. at the refinery I had to use hydrometers in measuring specific gravity of the products coming off the main crude tower. Heavy oils,diesel, kerosene, and naptha. It's been fun watching you work.
I'm currently an Operator at an oil refinery and I'm working on building a reflux still now. When I first became interested in distilling alcohol I only knew about pot stills with thump kegs, but as soon as I found out about reflux stills I said "Hell yeah! That's something I know how to do!" Lol anyways, happy distilling.
Nathaniel Nelson funny how you remember things. I retired last year after 4o years of running columns . Either cryogenic separation or petroleum . This is way more fun.
Heath Wise I just retired last year . I was a shift supervisor in one of the control rooms at a refinery . I’m gonna build one of these to keep me outta trouble since I have all this free time !!!!
Thank you I bought a still and called the Indiana ATF in indiana to see if if i could own one for distilling water .They said yes its a hunk of metal unless you use it to make alcohol .I will honor that and will never make a drop but someday I hope our laws change because i could have made hand sanitizer. I learn from your great videos and i think barley and hops has the best out there.I built my PID from your videos you made it so easy for me to understand. Again thank you for your knowledge your fun to watch
I can't find words about you Gorge , every video is so educational and good explaining . You are my favorite Teacher . Keep going what you doing 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you so much for taking the time to educate us on home distilling. I love your videos. Thank you for showing me the ropes. Look forward to a new video or a farewell sign off
George, I enjoyed your Glass Reflux video run, like you stated fun to see what is going on in the column. Keep up the great work producing educational video's.
Wow, great video George! Can we get a close up of the connection details of that glass column? I’d love to get an idea of how to make one. Happy distilling!
Always interesting to watch. The best part is we can go back and watch again if necessary. Thanks so much George ! Awesome to watch The Master at work 👍👍 Happy Distilling to ALL !
Excellent videos, George. I've been watching these for over a week now. We are in need of sanitizer in Dallas. Yes, you know where I'm going with this. Mostly out of stock in at least two major hospital systems. I'm a DIY sort of person but now looking at getting up to speed ASAP. BTW, just thought about the fuel ethanol-energy scam. Why don't they divert that waste of resources? Solve two problems as once. But that's another topic. I have a few basic questions and some interesting ideas like a reduced pressure (vacuum) heat pump distillation idea. Why not move the heat around and pull heat out of the condenser and move to the boiler. That's where the vacuum might come in. I'm not sure one could get to high enough temp for a boil with conventional heat pump system. OTOH, there are heat pump water heaters so I don't know. Hack one of those and use the cooling coils to provide cooling of a recirc tub of cool water. Let's work on it. But I'd probably best stick with basics for now. Would you mind an email to me for some questions re low cost turn key refluxing still to get to at least 180 proof? I've watched a good number of your vids so far. Perhaps you can help a number of us docs and healthcare personnel with this problems. Can you email if you have a moment? We have a couple of unemployed docs ready to get to work on this. Cheers, DJ dejswa@yahoo.com
A T500 is a good start up still to cut your teeth on and it will give you almost a gallon of 180 proof your looking for with every 5 gallon batch you run if you shoot for a high abv mash. Plus the only adjustment is for water so it's pretty easy to use.
Fantastic demo. Understanding how little it takes to run the precondensor is a surprise. I always see crazy amounts of reflux going on and by the looks of it less is more here. Tiny surface area compared to the coils I have seen in ccvm very low water flow. Being able to see what is going on at the still head is very informative
I’m watching right now. After josh and I ran the still. We’re making hand sanitizer for 1st responders. The still balanced perfectly but we get 180 proof fro 6 hours. You just mentioned more condensation / water flow , means more higher proof. Yes I thought that was how we could raise the proof. But I wasn’t sure if that was what we needed to do. Thanks so much ! I always learn so much from you !
The best explanation of reflux made simpler by the fact we could see it. Many Many thanks. A newbie question for you George. You turned off the water and stopped the reflux so essentially you ran it as a pot still at the end. Was the purpose of doing this so that you could reduce the ABV and therefore predict/capture the tails? I'm guessing that doing this is not advisable on my T500 due to the plastic parts. Thanks for all your hard work educating us.
George, again some great information. But I see a different PID in the background. Can I get a part number on that larger PID? Thank you so much for what you are doing for all of us.
Really enjoy the scientific feel you put in your videos. I've been watching a lot of your videos in the last few weeks for inspiration. Would like to see a video for people to calculate specific gravity from mass and volume for those who don't own a hydrometer but do have a volumetric device and a scale.
by the way...as the proof decreases can you slightly increase the water flow in the primary condenser? or there is a theoretical limit for that as well? besides the point where you don't get anything (100% reflux).
One hetp of column is for demonstration purposes. George could have 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more packed sections (HETP) Where does it end? This was for demonstration purposes only.... It's really for pot versus reflux separation differentiation selection only....
I really appreciate the knowledge you share. I'm building my own reflux Tower. How far from your output or point of no return do you place your precondension and what size tube do you use. Look forward to the answer again thank you for the knowledge
George would you be able to make a parts list for that exact Reflux setup? Perhaps the plumbing parts and where you got your pot. Your videos bring a calmness to the art of "the still" thank you for your knowledge 🙏
George, I'm sure you know this but for those that don't you can get what I got for my Lehigh condenser. It's a 3/4" to 1/2" x 1/2" reducing tee. It's 3/4" in 1/2" out and tee's to 1/2". You have to use you travel to remove the shoulder which keeps the 1/2" pipe from going all the way threw. You slide one on the 1/2" pipe, slip a 3/4" pipe over the 1/2" the slide another reducing Tee on the opposite way. Then fit 2 short 1/2" pieces into the tee off and solder everything.
You bastard George! I was sitting on my couch drinking a coffee until you were showing us the flow rate of the cooling water. Now I need a leak myself!
Hello George, thanks a lot for your very useful videos. Can you make a video for propane distilling, in my country, propane does the main fuel and much cheaper than electricity. I know you might not have the equipment but if you can give some tips for those of us that haven't access and means for PID controller that would be awesome. and I really like to see how the final flow from the two-inch column as I know it's one of the main factors for balancing the reflux system, especially in the propane system.
Hey Uncle.... I will talk to George and see if we can get a propane version of the P&ID controller for propane systems.... don't hold your breathe... but we will see what George and I can come up with.... colllectively... #happydistilling.. :)
Could you or someone please point me in the right direction. I’m looking for a glass column. Thank you. Thank you so much for such amazing and informative videos.
Did you buy that column setup or did you build most of it? I would love one, I think it could really help me and I would to show my son what is really happening in the column.
Awesome video. Where in the world did you find a glass column? Very informative showing exactly what the vapors/condensing actually do in the column. You explain it better than anyone I've spoke too and i've been in this for a long time. thank you Sir.
@@bking0740 what do you use for the connections? I'm a glass blower and have access to lots of tubing and have been wanting to make one with some 50mm I have laying around but can't figure the connections out
@@MadJix traditionally lab glassware used ground joints and a dab of petroleum gell to stop the glass vacuum bonding and refusing to separate. I think more modern Lab glass use pliant plastic bungs with holes in of different sizes and compounds. (Nitrile, silicone, etc depending on chemicals being distilled)
Great video as usual Mr George I have a couple questions. I noticed your packing was a third of the way up the column is there's screen under there? Next question have you ever run the output from the condenser through the reflux chamber should I even try it? Lastly I know higher proof means less flavor profile carryover. And usually in a pot still 130 is serious results but say if you wanted 140 ,,used reflux at what point do you know when to return to pot still mode and shut off your reflux to avoid deminishings returns? Is it trial and error?
hello George started thinking about distilling started to watch your videos mostly because I just love the tune at the start of your videos. Q/ how do I get to hear the whole song . Have spent the last 3 weeks at home, and have done nothing but research into this process. I love the science have built myself some tables to convert imperial to metric on paper (in NZ we use metric) actually now can swap between the two easy . Note just for other viewers, I have spent possibly over 100 hrs researching the info George gives have found it all to be sound and accurate. My wife keeps asking who Im talking to Actually I'm answering your questions.
George we enjoy seeing your handsome face on your videos but for this example it would have been nice for the newbies to be able to see more closeups of the reflux action that you were doing a fine job explaining .
I have not seen anybody on youtube talk about cleaning equipment with steam instead of using chemicals. Would you please cover that one day in a video. Much appreciated.
Will you at any time build a thumper - assuming you haven't already - & do a class? I suppose it's more involved & still not as efficient as a reflux. It would be interesting though. Thanks for the free classes!!!
I see the cooper mesh and glass beads in the column. Is there a sweet spot for their location or does it matter..- location/distance from condensing coil..? I see a few guys placing them lower in the column(for convienience). Just wondering if it makes a difference. Great video, thanks for posting....🥃
Hi George. Love your work mate!!! I have a question about pre-condensing. I have seen some people using the dephlegmator but they are moving it up and down the column head to get the desired effect. I am thinking that not moving the dephlegmater but increasing or decreasing the water flow through the dephlegmator would get the same desired effect. Is that right?
Im a hard cider and wine maker. Haven't distilled yet. But coming to the end, why not turn the temp down because alcohol turns to steam before water, and since your not running there precondenser at the end, just steam the booze
George: A clarification please. I understood from your videos that the water in the condensers always goes in on the lower port and out the upper port. That makes sense for the primary condenser. However I was reading the instructions for a reflux column, and they indicated that the reflux water flow should go in the upper port and out the lower. That makes some sense as the vapor has to pass the warmer part of the reflux coils as it goes up the column, and before it gets to the cool part of the reflux coil.....?? Did I misunderstand your explanation or is the instruction drawing incorrect.
George, do you have any suggestions for data points on when to stop collecting when running in reflux? I’ve heard you say 100 proof and 204 for running in pot mode. You’ve also said in reflux the proof falls off but I’m looking for something a little more so I don’t screw it up. Tks!
Do you put the needle valve on the input or output of the reflex condenser. My thought is you put it belongs on the exit to be sure to keep the condenser tubs full and thus lower the variance.
I'm just exploring distilling I've never made alcohol but I've been watching allot of your vids and others vids and was under the impression that only copper or stainless would be used for distilling, then I saw this vid and laughed as I'm a lampworker and could make these glass tubes for distilling, hell I could probably make a whole still from glass and just wanted to say thanks for the ideal, this could be a project in the near future, all glass super fragile distilling equipment, oh I have seen the lab equipment distillation but I'm talking of building an actual glass still not just putting lab beakers together.
Could you place a temperature sensor inside the precondensor to control the temperature more accurately? Also would that ensure that the theoretically threshold of separation of water and ethanol can occur continuously?
Perhaps worth trying is to pack more copper mesh into the column so that it touches the reflux pipe, that way (copper being a good conductor) you should theoretically have a more gradual reflux going on.
Using only plates, starting with a 10% ABV charge in the boiler, the vapour above it, and thus the liquid that condenses on the first plate should hit around 55%. The first plate will then act like another still with a 55% charge, so the second plate will hit around 81%. A third plate will hit 87%, a fourth plate will hit 90%, 5th plate 91%, 6th plate 92.5%. You can see that when you get to really high ABVs on a plate, the vapour of the liquid above it isn't that much higher ABV. It isn't until a 12th plate that you hit around 95% in the charge. Using packing, you can create "theoretical plates", so a certain height of marbles, raschig rings, mesh, or spiral prismatic packing inside the column, will equal a plate. For example, 1" of SPP is typically equal to 1 plate. So with 12" of SPP, you could hit 95%. But then you need to balance out what kind of packing you use, with whether or not your still can push the vapour up through it. SPP is hard to push the vapour through, so you might be running you still full power the entire time if you are using 12" of it, or you might simply not have enough power to push the vapour through 12" of SPP, and you need to go with something else, or with a combination of things.
Been stilling for 12 yrs and you have explained in detail more than I've learned in that time in every video you do..thnx for being here for us!
You hit the nail on the head.
You can read,explain, and diagram something a million times.
But actually seeing it work as it should connects the dots.
Thank you I know that it's time consuming and never easy but I have expanded my education beyond measure.
Can I say thank you George I have been a hobby distiller for ten years now and have learnt more in the last twelve months from watching you and your channel, I have made two PIDs to control my two boilers your explanations are easy to follow and understand, I look forward to catching your next videos, stay safe.
I agree with Tom. I’ve been running my still for quite a few years and I’ve learned more with your videos than I ever learned by trial and error. Thanks!
LUV ur comment and this is why everyone reading this should sub to George's channel if you haven't already.... #happydistilling
CryptoPonics I agree. I’ve subscribed.
The mystery has been revealed. Really neat to see how it really works not just the unseen belief that that is really what is happening.
Thanks for all you do.
You're the best home distilling channel on TH-cam, George. Thanks so much for your input over the years as most of what I know has come from your good self. You even do a bit of wood turning I see!
Great to be able to see what's actually going on in the column. Talking about it and explaining it is great but seeing it actually happen really knocks it home for me. Thanks George for showing us that and thank you to whoever made that and sent it to you. It's awesome to see how this community comes together to help each other any way they can.
@6:00 so cool to see the drops forming on the condenser cross tubes ! Makes me want to build a glass column.
Great video, George.
The glass column would be great to show puking and the result of over stuffing.
Its an excellent teaching aid.
Thanks for all the amazing videos!
Glad you like them!
Thank you George for your support and your knowledge it is well taken my first run was excellent I got a 200 proof after I threw Wave 4 oz of the head and when I got to my Tails I had a good amount of tails at 63% so things were great everything work just like you said I appreciate it keep up the good work thank you very much
Thanks for turthfully unlocking the mysterys of distilling I've gained a wealth of knowledge watching your videos
I have subscribed. 👍. I use to work at a oil refinery 20 yrs ago and I have been thinking about building a still. Then I ran into your videos. You're SPOT ON. In fact a lot of what I learned all came back. Bubble trays,reflux, the water flow through condensers. When refining petro, you controlled the tower thru reflux. Wow. I'm so glad I ran across you. I got a lot to learn. Already have a design for my still, because of your videos. P.s. at the refinery I had to use hydrometers in measuring specific gravity of the products coming off the main crude tower. Heavy oils,diesel, kerosene, and naptha. It's been fun watching you work.
I'm currently an Operator at an oil refinery and I'm working on building a reflux still now. When I first became interested in distilling alcohol I only knew about pot stills with thump kegs, but as soon as I found out about reflux stills I said "Hell yeah! That's something I know how to do!" Lol anyways, happy distilling.
Nathaniel Nelson funny how you remember things. I retired last year after 4o years of running columns . Either cryogenic separation or petroleum . This is way more fun.
Heath Wise I just retired last year . I was a shift supervisor in one of the control rooms at a refinery . I’m gonna build one of these to keep me outta trouble since I have all this free time !!!!
Thank you I bought a still and called the Indiana ATF in indiana to see if if i could own one for distilling water .They said yes its a hunk of metal unless you use it to make alcohol .I will honor that and will never make a drop but someday I hope our laws change because i could have made hand sanitizer. I learn from your great videos and i think barley and hops has the best out there.I built my PID from your videos you made it so easy for me to understand. Again thank you for your knowledge your fun to watch
Just follow Chucks rule number one only break one law at a time it has kept me out of trouble for years.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. The best video I've watched about a reflux condenser 👍🇦🇺
Running in reflux mode for the first time right now, your videos are very helpful as always!! Thank you
Bringing moonshine to the 20th century since 2020! The clear column takes out a lot of guesswork. Thanks George!
I can't find words about you Gorge , every video is so educational and good explaining . You are my favorite Teacher . Keep going what you doing 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
What a great video and excellent explanation of how to run a reflux still. Thanks again George!
Thank you so much for taking the time to educate us on home distilling. I love your videos. Thank you for showing me the ropes. Look forward to a new video or a farewell sign off
That glass column is amazing. Thanks for showing us he action from the inside.
Awesome video George. I'll be running a batch of vodka sunday and using my reflux for the first time, this will really help.
George,
I enjoyed your Glass Reflux video run, like you stated fun to see what is going on in the column.
Keep up the great work producing educational video's.
The glass column was a great idea, it is great to see the reflux column working. Thank you for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, great video George! Can we get a close up of the connection details of that glass column? I’d love to get an idea of how to make one. Happy distilling!
Always interesting to watch. The best part is we can go back and watch again if necessary. Thanks so much George ! Awesome to watch The Master at work 👍👍 Happy Distilling to ALL !
You rock, George! A true renaissance man and an inspiration.
Excellent videos, George. I've been watching these for over a week now. We are in need of sanitizer in Dallas.
Yes, you know where I'm going with this. Mostly out of stock in at least two major hospital systems. I'm a DIY sort of person but now looking at getting up to speed ASAP. BTW, just thought about the fuel ethanol-energy scam. Why don't they divert that waste of resources? Solve two problems as once.
But that's another topic.
I have a few basic questions and some interesting ideas like a reduced pressure (vacuum) heat pump distillation idea. Why not move the heat around and pull heat out of the condenser and move to the boiler. That's where the vacuum might come in. I'm not sure one could get to high enough temp for a boil with conventional heat pump system. OTOH, there are heat pump water heaters so I don't know. Hack one of those and use the cooling coils to provide cooling of a recirc tub of cool water. Let's work on it.
But I'd probably best stick with basics for now.
Would you mind an email to me for some questions re low cost turn key refluxing still to get to at least 180 proof? I've watched a good number of your vids so far. Perhaps you can help a number of us docs and healthcare personnel with this problems.
Can you email if you have a moment? We have a couple of unemployed docs ready to get to work on this.
Cheers, DJ dejswa@yahoo.com
A T500 is a good start up still to cut your teeth on and it will give you almost a gallon of 180 proof your looking for with every 5 gallon batch you run if you shoot for a high abv mash. Plus the only adjustment is for water so it's pretty easy to use.
Fantastic demo. Understanding how little it takes to run the precondensor is a surprise. I always see crazy amounts of reflux going on and by the looks of it less is more here. Tiny surface area compared to the coils I have seen in ccvm very low water flow. Being able to see what is going on at the still head is very informative
just starting and you are an amazing teacher in the arts.
I’m watching right now. After josh and I ran the still. We’re making hand sanitizer for 1st responders. The still balanced perfectly but we get 180 proof fro 6 hours. You just mentioned more condensation / water flow , means more higher proof. Yes I thought that was how we could raise the proof. But I wasn’t sure if that was what we needed to do. Thanks so much ! I always learn so much from you !
That was one of the best labs I’ve seen in this hobby ever! Well done George !
Really good video explanations and being able to see the difference between a pot still and a reflux still
Glad it was helpful!
This is soooooo awesome!
I agree with you 100% Bearded... when George told me about this I was like hell yeah... this is so awesome.
@@cryptoponics Right?!
I'd love to see a 3rd part where you cut and finish the spirit. As always, awesome info!!
Beautiful video, such an opportunity to be able to see this for free. I really appreciate it!
The best explanation of reflux made simpler by the fact we could see it. Many Many thanks. A newbie question for you George. You turned off the water and stopped the reflux so essentially you ran it as a pot still at the end. Was the purpose of doing this so that you could reduce the ABV and therefore predict/capture the tails? I'm guessing that doing this is not advisable on my T500 due to the plastic parts. Thanks for all your hard work educating us.
yep seeing that reflux in the glass was great! more people need to understand that reflux is a ratio percentage not on or off
I absolutely love the glass column very cool
Really good demonstration, the best I've seen so far, thank you!
That's really cool to actually be able to see the reflux action.
Great video I am running my first reflux on the mighty mini tomorrow I have a much better understanding on how it works and how to run it now
George, again some great information. But I see a different PID in the background. Can I get a part number on that larger PID? Thank you so much for what you are doing for all of us.
Another great video and very interesting and informative as always.Happy distilling George
Really enjoy the scientific feel you put in your videos. I've been watching a lot of your videos in the last few weeks for inspiration. Would like to see a video for people to calculate specific gravity from mass and volume for those who don't own a hydrometer but do have a volumetric device and a scale.
Cool class...it remembers me my organic practical classes at the university! beautiful pieces of art! :)
by the way...as the proof decreases can you slightly increase the water flow in the primary condenser? or there is a theoretical limit for that as well? besides the point where you don't get anything (100% reflux).
Love it, George! Thanks! Always such good info! And I have always wondered what’s exactly going on inside that column👍🏽
Love the video George my question is why didn't you fill the whole column with packing?
One hetp of column is for demonstration purposes. George could have 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more packed sections (HETP) Where does it end? This was for demonstration purposes only.... It's really for pot versus reflux separation differentiation selection only....
@@cryptoponics Thanks CP had me wondering and wanted to make sure.
I really appreciate the knowledge you share. I'm building my own reflux Tower. How far from your output or point of no return do you place your precondension and what size tube do you use. Look forward to the answer again thank you for the knowledge
George would you be able to make a parts list for that exact Reflux setup?
Perhaps the plumbing parts and where you got your pot.
Your videos bring a calmness to the art of "the still" thank you for your knowledge 🙏
Brilliant. Add a few LEDs and you've got a hot seller with that clear column I reckon.
George, I'm sure you know this but for those that don't you can get what I got for my Lehigh condenser. It's a 3/4" to 1/2" x 1/2" reducing tee. It's 3/4" in 1/2" out and tee's to 1/2". You have to use you travel to remove the shoulder which keeps the 1/2" pipe from going all the way threw. You slide one on the 1/2" pipe, slip a 3/4" pipe over the 1/2" the slide another reducing Tee on the opposite way. Then fit 2 short 1/2" pieces into the tee off and solder everything.
Thank you for your videos. I had to take a break at 4:40 or so and run to the bathroom for some reason.
very nice column . . . I learned a lot of your video`s here in The Netherlands . . . making nice Booze now . .
So much information here. Thanks again for everything you do.
Very nice demonstration George
You bastard George! I was sitting on my couch drinking a coffee until you were showing us the flow rate of the cooling water. Now I need a leak myself!
Hello George, thanks a lot for your very useful videos. Can you make a video for propane distilling, in my country, propane does the main fuel and much cheaper than electricity. I know you might not have the equipment but if you can give some tips for those of us that haven't access and means for PID controller that would be awesome. and I really like to see how the final flow from the two-inch column as I know it's one of the main factors for balancing the reflux system, especially in the propane system.
Hey Uncle.... I will talk to George and see if we can get a propane version of the P&ID controller for propane systems.... don't hold your breathe... but we will see what George and I can come up with.... colllectively... #happydistilling.. :)
@@cryptoponics WOW... thanks so much... I believe many of us will be grateful ... Happy distilling :)
@@uncleowl8187 I would like to see it done by propane also!!
Give up gas and go electric. You will never get the precise control from gas that you can from a PID controlled electric still.
Great visual demonstration George
Thank you for another informative video. Where did you get the column? What is the brand?
Too bad Barley and Hops Brewing closed down. I like watching George's videos.
Love the content, Great job. My question is it possible to add a flow meter with a solenoid to help adjust and maintain water flow?
Thank you George. Love watching you teach. What size tubing ID:? OD:? are you using with the needle valve for the reflux? Is it Silicone tubing?
Could you or someone please point me in the right direction. I’m looking for a glass column. Thank you. Thank you so much for such amazing and informative videos.
Did you buy that column setup or did you build most of it? I would love one, I think it could really help me and I would to show my son what is really happening in the column.
Thx George,pls keep the videos coming!
Couple of questions.
1. Which kind of still gives you the most flavor of your mash? Reflux or old fashioned copper pot.
2. How do you know that?
Awesome video. Where in the world did you find a glass column? Very informative showing exactly what the vapors/condensing actually do in the column. You explain it better than anyone I've spoke too and i've been in this for a long time. thank you Sir.
I have 15 of these glass column kits for sale.
@@bking0740 what do you use for the connections? I'm a glass blower and have access to lots of tubing and have been wanting to make one with some 50mm I have laying around but can't figure the connections out
@@MadJix traditionally lab glassware used ground joints and a dab of petroleum gell to stop the glass vacuum bonding and refusing to separate. I think more modern Lab glass use pliant plastic bungs with holes in of different sizes and compounds. (Nitrile, silicone, etc depending on chemicals being distilled)
Great video as usual Mr George I have a couple questions. I noticed your packing was a third of the way up the column is there's screen under there? Next question have you ever run the output from the condenser through the reflux chamber should I even try it? Lastly I know higher proof means less flavor profile carryover. And usually in a pot still 130 is serious results but say if you wanted 140 ,,used reflux at what point do you know when to return to pot still mode and shut off your reflux to avoid deminishings returns? Is it trial and error?
hello George started thinking about distilling started to watch your videos mostly because I just love the tune at the start of your videos. Q/ how do I get to hear the whole song . Have spent the last 3 weeks at home, and have done nothing but research into this process. I love the science have built myself some tables to convert imperial to metric on paper (in NZ we use metric) actually now can swap between the two easy . Note just for other viewers, I have spent possibly over 100 hrs researching the info George gives have found it all to be sound and accurate. My wife keeps asking who Im talking to Actually I'm answering your questions.
th-cam.com/video/-AbNxI6lc74/w-d-xo.html
@@vintnerwinemaker your a scholar and a gentleman sir, I thank you most sincerely ... P.S loved it
Thats cool to see it through glass. Tks george
Sweet you made up for the other videos thank you very much my whistles wet again
where did you get the clear tube?
Best video. See through column greet idea thank you
Nice presentation, George! I'd never have guessed you'd somehow fabricate a 2 inch glass column without breaking that only one, lol! (Low-on-liquor)
Been watching all your videos, very informative. I'm hooked and just subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
how is there not a college module on this? So many micro-breweries popping up, this should be taught; by you!
George we enjoy seeing your handsome face on your videos but for this example it would have been nice for the newbies to be able to see more closeups of the reflux action that you were doing a fine job explaining .
How I see it. The first 2oz is the water flushing (from cleaning the system) or cleaning of the lines from cleaning it.
Great video, but you did not say what the ideal temperature at the top of the column should be maintained at while the still is running,
I have not seen anybody on youtube talk about cleaning equipment with steam instead of using chemicals. Would you please cover that one day in a video. Much appreciated.
Will you at any time build a thumper - assuming you haven't already - & do a class? I suppose it's more involved & still not as efficient as a reflux. It would be interesting though. Thanks for the free classes!!!
Great Job Professor George !
Happy Distilling George from the Virginia Beginner
I see the cooper mesh and glass beads in the column. Is there a sweet spot for their location or does it matter..- location/distance from condensing coil..? I see a few guys placing them lower in the column(for convienience). Just wondering if it makes a difference. Great video, thanks for posting....🥃
It's amazing how little water is needed to cool the vapors enough to get full reflux.
Hi George. Love your work mate!!! I have a question about pre-condensing.
I have seen some people using the dephlegmator but they are moving it up and down the column head to get the desired effect.
I am thinking that not moving the dephlegmater but increasing or decreasing the water flow through the dephlegmator would get the same desired effect.
Is that right?
Im a hard cider and wine maker. Haven't distilled yet. But coming to the end, why not turn the temp down because alcohol turns to steam before water, and since your not running there precondenser at the end, just steam the booze
George: A clarification please. I understood from your videos that the water in the condensers always goes in on the lower port and out the upper port. That makes sense for the primary condenser. However I was reading the instructions for a reflux column, and they indicated that the reflux water flow should go in the upper port and out the lower. That makes some sense as the vapor has to pass the warmer part of the reflux coils as it goes up the column, and before it gets to the cool part of the reflux coil.....?? Did I misunderstand your explanation or is the instruction drawing incorrect.
In bottom out top. If you have instruction from a manufacturer that says different follow their directions
George, do you have any suggestions for data points on when to stop collecting when running in reflux? I’ve heard you say 100 proof and 204 for running in pot mode. You’ve also said in reflux the proof falls off but I’m looking for something a little more so I don’t screw it up. Tks!
Thanks so much George
Do you put the needle valve on the input or output of the reflex condenser. My thought is you put it belongs on the exit to be sure to keep the condenser tubs full and thus lower the variance.
Great video.Hello from Germany
I'm just exploring distilling I've never made alcohol but I've been watching allot of your vids and others vids and was under the impression that only copper or stainless would be used for distilling, then I saw this vid and laughed as I'm a lampworker and could make these glass tubes for distilling, hell I could probably make a whole still from glass and just wanted to say thanks for the ideal, this could be a project in the near future, all glass super fragile distilling equipment, oh I have seen the lab equipment distillation but I'm talking of building an actual glass still not just putting lab beakers together.
Thank you George 🙏
Could you place a temperature sensor inside the precondensor to control the temperature more accurately? Also would that ensure that the theoretically threshold of separation of water and ethanol can occur continuously?
Perhaps worth trying is to pack more copper mesh into the column so that it touches the reflux pipe, that way (copper being a good conductor) you should theoretically have a more gradual reflux going on.
Actually, glass marbles do much better than copper mesh. You don't need to use copper at all.
George, how in the world did you drill all those holes in that glass without breaking it? That is a fantastic tutorial
I really thought with the two plates the copper and marbles it would run 190 or better .What would you do to achieve that 190 or better more marbles.?
Using only plates, starting with a 10% ABV charge in the boiler, the vapour above it, and thus the liquid that condenses on the first plate should hit around 55%. The first plate will then act like another still with a 55% charge, so the second plate will hit around 81%. A third plate will hit 87%, a fourth plate will hit 90%, 5th plate 91%, 6th plate 92.5%. You can see that when you get to really high ABVs on a plate, the vapour of the liquid above it isn't that much higher ABV. It isn't until a 12th plate that you hit around 95% in the charge.
Using packing, you can create "theoretical plates", so a certain height of marbles, raschig rings, mesh, or spiral prismatic packing inside the column, will equal a plate. For example, 1" of SPP is typically equal to 1 plate. So with 12" of SPP, you could hit 95%. But then you need to balance out what kind of packing you use, with whether or not your still can push the vapour up through it. SPP is hard to push the vapour through, so you might be running you still full power the entire time if you are using 12" of it, or you might simply not have enough power to push the vapour through 12" of SPP, and you need to go with something else, or with a combination of things.
excellent :)
how about a vid with it detuned showing us how it works in pot still mode ?