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.
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!
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 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 !!!!
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!
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.
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 !
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.
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
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 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 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
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!
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.
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
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.
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 !
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).
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
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 🙏
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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!
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 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....🥃
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!
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?
You are a great teacher Sir - Thanks for doing this. I am curious about your training - are you a chemical engineer? You sure understand a lot about distillation and reflux.
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.
What kind of a difference does the bead/copper mesh stack placement do? In your stainless column you put the stack in the bottom part, but in this one it's in the middle. Does the placement effect the re-flux and in what way?
At the end of your run you started to bump up the temp. I was wondering at what Increment are you bumping it up to 204 (5 or 10 deg per 15min?). Is there such a thing as bumping it up too fast? Thank you for sharing your years Knowledge with us. Im new to your channel and I’m planning on watching all of your episodes. Big thumbs up!!!!
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.
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!
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?!
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.
Thanks for all the amazing videos!
Glad you like them!
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 !!!!
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.
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.
What a great video and excellent explanation of how to run a reflux still. Thanks again George!
The glass column would be great to show puking and the result of over stuffing.
Its an excellent teaching aid.
@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.
Thanks for turthfully unlocking the mysterys of distilling I've gained a wealth of knowledge watching your videos
That was one of the best labs I’ve seen in this hobby ever! Well done George !
Bringing moonshine to the 20th century since 2020! The clear column takes out a lot of guesswork. Thanks George!
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 !
Thank you, thank you, thank you. The best video I've watched about a reflux condenser 👍🇦🇺
Really good demonstration, the best I've seen so far, thank you!
Running in reflux mode for the first time right now, your videos are very helpful as always!! Thank you
That glass column is amazing. Thanks for showing us he action from the inside.
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.
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
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
Love it, George! Thanks! Always such good info! And I have always wondered what’s exactly going on inside that column👍🏽
just starting and you are an amazing teacher in the arts.
So much information here. Thanks again for everything you do.
You rock, George! A true renaissance man and an inspiration.
The glass column was a great idea, it is great to see the reflux column working. Thank you for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
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 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I absolutely love the glass column very cool
Beautiful video, such an opportunity to be able to see this for free. I really appreciate it!
Another great video and very interesting and informative as always.Happy distilling George
That's really cool to actually be able to see the reflux action.
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!
Great visual demonstration George
Awesome video George. I'll be running a batch of vodka sunday and using my reflux for the first time, this will really help.
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.
Very nice demonstration George
Great Job Professor George !
Best video. See through column greet idea thank you
Thx George,pls keep the videos coming!
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'd love to see a 3rd part where you cut and finish the spirit. As always, awesome info!!
Glass column...what a great instructional tool!
Really good video explanations and being able to see the difference between a pot still and a reflux still
Glad it was helpful!
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.
Been watching all your videos, very informative. I'm hooked and just subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
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 !
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).
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
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.
Great videos ,Thank you!
Thank you George 🙏
Thanks so much George
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 🙏
Thank you for your videos. I had to take a break at 4:40 or so and run to the bathroom for some reason.
Sweet you made up for the other videos thank you very much my whistles wet again
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?
A question. What kind of connections to the tri-clamps and seals for your cross tubes do you use?
#Happydistilling from NOLA
Looking good George!
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
Thank You, for sharing!
Great video.Hello from Germany
yep seeing that reflux in the glass was great! more people need to understand that reflux is a ratio percentage not on or off
Thanks, George!
Thanks George!!
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)
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?
Thank you for another informative video. Where did you get the column? What is the brand?
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.
Love the glass
Brilliant. Add a few LEDs and you've got a hot seller with that clear column I reckon.
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?
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.
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.
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?
where do you get the glass column from? very cool
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!
very nice column . . . I learned a lot of your video`s here in The Netherlands . . . making nice Booze now . .
George, how in the world did you drill all those holes in that glass without breaking it? That is a fantastic tutorial
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.
Thanks George! What was your SG of the mash?
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....🥃
excellent :)
how about a vid with it detuned showing us how it works in pot still mode ?
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!
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?
You are a great teacher Sir - Thanks for doing this. I am curious about your training - are you a chemical engineer? You sure understand a lot about distillation and reflux.
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.
Could you use acrylic instead of glass?
Hey George will adding a thump keg strictly for flavor take away from a run? I have the turbo 5000.
What kind of a difference does the bead/copper mesh stack placement do? In your stainless column you put the stack in the bottom part, but in this one it's in the middle. Does the placement effect the re-flux and in what way?
Where'd you get those grommets for the copper tubes going through the glass?
Do you think it would work to make a still out of an electric water heater?
Do you infuse the flavour with the cracked juniper seeds at the top of the rexlux ?
At the end of your run you started to bump up the temp. I was wondering at what Increment are you bumping it up to 204 (5 or 10 deg per 15min?). Is there such a thing as bumping it up too fast? Thank you for sharing your years Knowledge with us. Im new to your channel and I’m planning on watching all of your episodes. Big thumbs up!!!!
Hey George can you recommend a pod for my 2in reflux still I have ordered
What is that product your dripping into that has the hydrometer in line to test while your running?
where did you get the clear tube?
Hallo frrom greece .why you dont put isolation material to the boiler