Though we all seek Georges thoughts on products, it is heartfelt to know he shares his knowledge and his decisions. Keep up the Fantastic work George cant wait to hear that bell ring again.
George, love your video channel but just one little correction....Pi X r squared is the AREA...what you described as the inner dimension when you ran your finger around the inside of the tube is the circumference, whose formula is Pi X 2 X r or Pi X D (2r being the Diameter). I’m really looking forward to my first try and putting your instruction and advice to use! Keep up the great series!
George, thank you for all of the time you put aside to share with us. I enjoy most that you are more about getting out there and doing. One of the first things I've stumbled on is the science of the whole process. There is a wealth of information that is daunting at best for a person at any level of understanding. You however start at the basic and add in the technical. Making a more enjoyable learning experience and adding a springboard for anyone wanting to go deeper. Keep up the good work!
Hi George! Tanks for great info and knowledge sharing I understand a couple of things muthe better. I hear and see you are disrespecting the turbo 500 systems? I have been using mine now for last 5 years with great success produsing 96 to 91% final poduct and will not easily be convinced to any other system. The last one u discussed looks like great versatile system and not too difficult to reproduce, I will definitely make it project for my self with a couple of refinements to it. Thanks.
Pi rxr = area of the circle. The radius = the distance from the center to the edge. www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/images/pi.gif In the case of a 3" pipe 3.1416 x1.5 x1.5 = 7.0686 square inches. But there are charts for volume through a pipe.
Good day George. Finally a chanel with realy practical information and didactic. I was willing to find it and I stepped into you. I am happy I did, because I´ve been "beggining for years" and builded my beer brewing machine and now a SS still, but the gross information of destilling was more about "them telling you how good they are" and no teaching. You are giveing the right information from a humble sight and that makes your chanel the best I have found until now. Good job! We will all apreciate. From the venezuelan andies, I´ll keep following you. Thanks again. Keep the excelent work.
My intent was not to make you mad but i clearly did .so you dont need to respond to my email i cant deal with makeing someone mad .when you need answers you ask expert. That seemed to be you on youtube.had alot of questions to ask. I have no one to ask to give me answers .no need to respond .i dont want you angry with me so have a good day .
Great video, but your math is a little confused. * Circumference = 2 * pi * radius * Area = pi * radius ^ 2 Circumference is the length around a pipe. Area is the area of the cross section of the pipe.
@Luke Kantrell The video's presenter mentioned an equation in making a decision on a pipe size. He just used the wrong one. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, just informative. After all, isn't that what his video was all about? I learned a few things about stills too. Have a great day.
George I'm a recent subscriber to your channel. I've purchased one of your 3in column stills w/gin trap and will be building on 15 gal keg as pot and have made 4 kegs into fermenters w/removable tops so they can be scrubbed out would like to progress to continuous run still. I have been in a amateur brew club for about 20 yrs (redwood coast brewers assn in santa cruz ca) so I understand the basics of brewing. Just getting started with distilling and have been trying to absorb as much of your knowledge as I can. thank you for bringing it to us with clarity and detail. I've built up over 100 gallons of apple cider over last few years and will be distilling the not so drinkable portions. Into calvados and will be experimenting with other combinations mainly corn liquor - Aqua vit the list goes on. But back to the continuous run stills do you have any videos on that subject any help would be appreciated thank you Kerry
Slip of the tongue around 16:40, "Just don't run water through the condenser, or the pre-condenser.." George meant that if you want to run it as a pot still, just don't run water through the "pre-condenser", and only the pre-condenser. You must always, always, always run water through the condenser, that is unless you want to die in an alcohol vapor fueled inferno.
Hi George...first wanted to say thanks for the videos. You have mentioned several times you are not a fan of thumpers, I have used them a few times and have my own opinions of them. In a past video I believe you said a thumper is typically filled 2/3rds full and that seems hi and I see how that could cause some back pressure... but just enough to cover inlet tube by 1-1.5 inches is sufficient. It would be interesting for ( data ) to run 2 identical pot stills, 2 identical grain washes, but 1 with a thumper and compare the total volume collected from each, the alcohol percentage from each, and the flavor of each from a few people to taste them. I think for ones who never used a thumper this would provide actual data or information of pros and cons of a thumper.
Hi George! Loving your work. Sat in the UK going a little dewy eyed on my memories spent in NC...... I learned a lot about moonshine but not as much as here! Take care and keep up the good work!!
George, You're the man, I'm a self trained distiller, started my first try with distilling something in my late teens, about 40 odd years ago (luckily i think no one has died through my attempts through the years ) and always wondered if i just knew how to do it exactly right instead of a bit right i would love that! Then i came across your postings and my old still will never be used again. I'm so excited about what i have learned about how exactly stills work, i can't wait to build my new one. Keep up the good work.
I already saw you make this mistake in another one of your videos: π*r² is the formula for calculating the area of a circle, not its circumference. That is given by the Formula 2*π*r It is common to measure pipe sizes with their diameter, since it is far easier to measure directly, so for the example of 2" and 3" pipes, we have a radius of 1" and 1.5" respectively sin e the radius of a circle is always half of its diameter. This gives us: 2π*1²= 2π*1= 2π inch² 2π*1.5²=2π*2.25= 4.5π inch² So for the example you chose, it does work out to be roughly 2 the crossectional area. However, and this is the reason why incresing column diameter increases efficiency so dramatically, as we have a squared relationship between radius and crosssection, a 4" column has 4 times the crossectional area of a 2" column, while only doubling the diameter. Now, the circumference for these: 2*π*1"=2π" circumference 2*π*2"=4π" circumference If we now take the ratio between circumference and surface: (2π*1)/(2π*1²)=1 (2π*2)/(2π*2²)=0.5 So, when you change the diameter of your pipe you change the percentage of your vapor that is in contact with the walls of your column. It is the same effect that makes it so that ageing spirits in a larger barrel works so much slower: proportionally speaking, less spirit is in contact with the wood, and there is also less wood per unit of spirit. Since column lenght and material affect the pseudo-reflux a column gives you by radiating off some heat, changing the diameter of your column means also changing its lenght, if you want to have consistent results. However, it is not as simple as saying: for an extra inch in diameter you need an extra two inches in lenght - this going to vary, depending on your starting diameter, your mew diameter and your initial column lenght. Love the videos, please keep them coming
Your videos are excellent 👍, I enjoy making liquor even though I do not consume. 🤔 Go figure. My friend love it. My favorite part is the fermentation process that's where the TLC comes in. Just my opinion. Thank you. 👍
He's a little confused about circumference and cross-sectional area. PI x r2 (r squared) is the cross-sectional area of the pipe or tube. Pi x d (diameter) yields the circumference of the tube. He's giving you the formula for the cross-sectional area but describing it as the circumference. Other than that, it's a great video.
Quick question, how come you don't see people put like 6-7 copper tubes (plumbing) inside their column with like straws instead of the copper mesh you had in your hands towards the end of the video?
Watching many videos and tv shows, I see people adding flavor by using a thumper. Couple questions: How important is a thumper to the process for adding flavor? How do you add flavor if you are not using a thumper?
hello sir, my pot still produces ethanol at the beginning max 80 abv then 70 - 65 - 60 ..... if i surrounded top of my column with thin copper pipe 3 laps. (primary outer mini condenser) can i use too low water in this twisted pipe and increase purity of my ethanol? which abv at my whiskey's flavor removed? by the way, i realized my foreshots smells like whiskey more than my hearts section while stripping run. when i smell jim beam bourbon, smell my foreshots and smell my hearts i can swear my %80 abv foreshots and heads smells like jim beam bourbon but i can not smell same thing in %70 abv hearts section, always smells like green banana :( i am using pot still.
I was waiting for your two cents on that traditional still column/head from mile high. I seen you guys where using a while back but no review. Had a sight glass underneath. Still waiting
George, just a note: pi r square is the area of the circle, pi d or 2 pi r is the circumference. I know you know that, I could never think as fast as you do to describe things in front of a camera.
Great video. Q - if you run the gin basket between the kettle and the condenser, doesn't this remove some of the flavour...? As the reflux process removes most of the....flavours....etc. Almost seems counter productive - adding and removing.....no....? I'm building a 3" column and I'm having a hard time deciding(personal preference) on a design that will let me Do the infusions as well as just run straight reflux. (Kinda like the Nixon Stone design)
If the column is sectional, why not just have the reflux chamber in a separate section as well? It would seem to be a good sales point for the second brand. Customers would not have to but a whole new column just to get the reflux chamber....
Hi George in a cross tube reflux will the condensed vapor slide along the wall and miss the copper packing in the middle.. if so what is the remedy please. Regards Greg
Bought my first still and praying that it doesn't blow up. I had no patience and used ice only as I could not attach the hose to the household tap I did google it and found that I might get away with using just ice fingers crossed 😂
I have a mighty mini with a stainless reflux column which I pack with copper mesh if I were to change that out for a copper reflux column do I still need to pack it to get a quality separation?
Hello. What is the brand/model of that 3 gallon stainless pot still in this video? It’s the 2nd still you’re talking about right after the 1st one which is the little old copper one.
It feels like you're describing the of circumference of the pipes. That's pi times diameter, or twice the radius times pi. Pi times the radius squared is area.
All I need to know is .................. How do I attach a tube to the hole in the top of a pressure cooker if I live in a flat and don't have a workshop
Hello my friend with the steals all still should be made from copper including the lines this Pierre fight it as its going along also killing any other type of organism or killing any kind of Fastenal but seems to stay behind yes you do need it corporate thumper including with your cooling system including when it comes out as alcohol must have an aerial also put the alcohol so that way immature is in cools down so that way you can mix it with spring water and have a nice drink always throw the first juggle way here ethanol could make you blind or possibly kill you very important to have all copper try to take go soldering it's no good it leads leg poisoning into the alcohol and can possibly give you a Alzheimer's near the indoor blindness or some other kind of illness always be safe when you're making moonshine enjoy what you make and drink safe no driving while you're drinking are you smart call a cab leave the car where it is do not get it on your hot on your car and drive you might kill someone always thinks safe before you get it's not smart drinking drunk
what I'm trying to tell you is all Stills on Mater the copper including some per box and Cooling copper coil going through ice or cold water these things stop the poison that you were making with steel plus the first one you have to throw away it is poison you don't have proper copper you will make a poison that you do not know what you're drinking could be bad like crazy could also blind you be careful making moonshine and you should be using spring water TCB third son of Elvis Presley delicious Hooch
Hi George....I'll call you some day!....just haven't studied enough yet...only one month since my first destillation :) Thanks for all the great information and the motivation! Salud....from Chile!!
made some with 1 half gallon ball jar today lol had to try it just wanted to see it work. not bad id have to say would i use it daily probably not but can be done
Good information but its anoying how you stretch out the video in order to increase your watching time therefore im not subscribing and not giving a thumbs up.
True! You can't heat the boiler above the boiling point of that mixture of ethanol water etc. Only way boiling faster (faster, not hotter) in a pot still will reduce abv is with entrainment/puking (liquid that has not boiled comes over and out the condenser. This is a common. I think because in one of those super wide super tall pot stills that the big boys use (picture any scotch distillery) you can get significant passive reflux and a vapor temp gradient below the point of no return.
Sorry to disagree but I disagree if what you said was true we all could make 200 proof every time we can't because the ethanol always carries some water with it even running low and slow if you run hotter you will carry more water and reduce your abv.
@@chuckdontknowdoya6100 Sorry I didn't explain my self well the first time around alcohol water mixes have different boiling points based on the ratio of the mixture, likewise the alcohol content of the vapor depends almost entirely on the proof in the boiler, as that goes down (because the alcohol leaves at a higher rate) so does that of the vapor. If you boil faster (again unless you introduce back pressure it won't be hotter) some liquid in the form of a fine mist generated at the surface will be dragged over with the vapor, those little water drops are the abv of boiler charge and will lower the output adv. If you slow down the boil (less heat in) then vapor speed also slows, giving entrainment a chance to fall back into the boiler. After you have accomplished this, without media for liquid-vapor interaction and re distillation, you won't get any increase in abv by going slower.
But you will raise or lower your proof depending on the speed of your cook which is what I was trying to say the slower you go the better your final proof abv was a poor choice of words but I did mention booth it was late and I had only been up 20 hours
Absolutely the best, most concise, information on how stills work, delivered in a great way. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge sir. You answered a bunch of questions I had.
