So I bought a 12L boiling flask on ebay to start distilling alcohol, I should have probably found a flat bottom, but it's a little late for that
now... I've seen a couple DIY threads on this site for making your own mantle and some of them are pretty cool (using fireclay and nichrome wire from
a toaster), my question is, with about 3 gallons of liquid (approx 24lbs) in an older pyrex boiling flask, what is the best way to heat this thing?!
To me, it seems there would be pressure points from almost any setup and a chance for the flask to break.
I really like the sandbath idea. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to keep this on a budget, I dont really have $300+ to go buy a
professional mantle.
Thanks!
-JamesPyro - 17-5-2013 at 14:23
A professional mantle would be more than that! use copper shot if you can. Or wrap it in fiberglass and use a flame, or perhaps a giant oil bath?SpeedGP - 17-5-2013 at 14:34
I thought copper shot would also create too much pressure , but I suppose with the size of the vessel and the size of the shot, should work ok.
Thanks! I'll give it a try soon!Oscilllator - 23-5-2013 at 01:41
distilling alchohol? They mostly have a BP<water, so an enormous saucepan of water and your good to go. And yeah, sandbath is a good idea. I use
this one myself, although admittedly not on 12L flasks.Fantasma4500 - 24-5-2013 at 05:13
i would say aluminium as it conducts heat pretty well..
silver would be preferred but of very very obvious reasons this might not be the best choice..
aluminium foil could be torn into shreds possibly forming a nest shaped as the flask to put on a stove? perhaps MOUNT the aluminium on the flask? smaerd - 24-5-2013 at 10:13
You're biggest battle would probably be size. Rather then heat up sand really hot, why not do a hot water bath?Organikum - 24-5-2013 at 13:28
Why does everybody want to heat the flask? Heating the content direcly wouldbe more logical and much less stressy on the glassware.
Ceramic infrared heaters, Ceran cooking plates from scrap, halogen heating elements and last not least and with alcohol pure joy: Microwave heating.
Two 1000W magnetrons firing interleaved will do this fast and clean. Only do this if you are in the know though.
Infrared works even without knowing shit.
[...] my question is, with about 3 gallons of liquid (approx 24lbs) in an older pyrex boiling flask, what is the best way to heat this thing?!
Just because the flask is 12 L doesn't mean you can distill 12 L at a time.ScienceSquirrel - 8-6-2013 at 12:19
It depends on what the fermented wash that you are feeding into the flask comes from.
Washes from grain can contain a lot more protein than washes made from fermenting sugar or molasses.
The protein will cause foaming and it will blow in to your column.
When I am boiling the sweet liquor from the tun with the hops to make hopped wort to feed in to the fermenter I reckon on a two to three ratio.
Thus a 100 litre boiler can take 60 litres of liquor without excessive froth, use two 3kW immersion heaters to bring it to the boil and then one to
hold it at a steady boil.
I reckon the max charge for your flask is between 6 and 10 litres.
Your best charge could be a sugar wash fermented out with a Turbo yeast, that would give you ca 20% ABV to start with so an 8 litre load would give
you 4 litres of 40% ABV vodka and not a lot of foaming to deal with.
You do need a good column; reject the fore run and
the tailings.
Take the middle fraction, determine the specific gravity and then dilute to a reasonable drinkable concentration.
You do have to consider the legal side of things.
Where I live running a still is legal if you are registered and run it in appropriate premises, make returns to Customs and Excise, allow them to
inspect the premises and your records at a mutually agreed time, pay duty on the liquor, etc.
