can molasses+water+distiller's yeast= distill-able alcohol?
- Thread starter iHearAll
- Start date
Flagg420
Well-Known Member
You CAN produce CO2 this way, but even with high tolerance yeast and the best of conditions, you will never get past maybe 30% (60 proof) before the solution is toxic to the yeast...
Buddy home brews, so I picked up a bit...
you can get beer n wine and even barleywine, but for liquor you need a still..... and as much as rednecks do it in the mountains, it is still chemistry, and you can burn or blow yourself up, or poison yourself very easily....
If your state (like MI) doesn't allow liquor sales over 151 proof, order it online.
Buddy home brews, so I picked up a bit...
you can get beer n wine and even barleywine, but for liquor you need a still..... and as much as rednecks do it in the mountains, it is still chemistry, and you can burn or blow yourself up, or poison yourself very easily....
If your state (like MI) doesn't allow liquor sales over 151 proof, order it online.
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
The problem is getting close to 190 proof. I have a mini reflux still and get about 140 from it, and my buddies with more elaborate stills with higher columns get only a bit higher than that 160ish, or so they say. You would have to take that run and run it in a smaller still to up the proof.
If there was a way to recover high proof alcohol from a wash could be a way to reuse your solvent.
iHearAll
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking a stainless steel worm initially and do the purifying in a little glass reflux still.
To save.the alcohol: Form a glass evap dish into the column. It'll probably take some putty and a panel of glass as the lid and lay a silicon rim in between the dish and the panel/lid. Sounds like it can be done.... if i can drill into the glass. I should probably use a steel lid.
To save.the alcohol: Form a glass evap dish into the column. It'll probably take some putty and a panel of glass as the lid and lay a silicon rim in between the dish and the panel/lid. Sounds like it can be done.... if i can drill into the glass. I should probably use a steel lid.
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure how that would work. but try it. Even if you get half of your alcohol back it would be worthwhile.
Ive never really tried to fabricate with glass, I can manipulate it, but I've always looked for glassware that would do the job. Never tried to drill glass either, I've cut glass but not drill it. I've seen the drill bits, but the material might not be suitable for a cooking application.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
I can make corn whiskey. It is completely legal to do so for fuel, antiseptic, or for extracting essential oils.
It is easier to buy it.
I do have a still though for "shit hit the fan reasons."
It is easier to buy it.
I do have a still though for "shit hit the fan reasons."
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Us reknecks in the mountains do it just fine. You can poison yourself but with a little common sense its hard to do.
http://www.clawhammersupply.com/blogs/moonshine-still-blog/7207958-methanol-will-moonshine-make-you-blind
Make sure to discard the first bit of every run. It will poison you. Also make sure to use copper or food grade stainless steel. Keep flour paste handy for leaks.
Other than that, the whole moonshine will poison you or make you go blind is a myth. That myth came from prohibition. People using stuff like radiators out of cars is what killed people. That rarely happens anymore.
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
If you're drinking it, then you should throw the head of the run away. I calculate 10% of my estimated run volume and throw that away. I dont know if its an isssue if you're not drinking it.
Problem is where I'm at is high proof liquor is heavily taxed or not available. If I'm doing say 5 gallons of ethanol for extraction, its going to be cheaper for me to make it. I can process 30 gallons of wash with 1 20lb propane tank to get 140 proof. It could be cheaper if I used wood to heat my rig.
Problem is where I'm at is high proof liquor is heavily taxed or not available. If I'm doing say 5 gallons of ethanol for extraction, its going to be cheaper for me to make it. I can process 30 gallons of wash with 1 20lb propane tank to get 140 proof. It could be cheaper if I used wood to heat my rig.
iHearAll
Well-Known Member
Solar/induction cooktop ha ha. Im avoiding biying it cuz it's a whopping 20$ for a liter of everclear. Diesel 190proof is like 15$ though. But i figure if im washing an elbow i mind as well have not paid 30-40$ for the gallon. Molasses is dirt cheap and so is any fermentable sugars (wheat, corn, cane?, potato. Anyone ever ran a still in an apartment? Lol
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
I use sugar and wheat flakes.. ya know cereal. But I'm looking for a drinkable product, You can buy huge sacks of sugar at costco or whatever wholesale place, and use corn or cheap carbohydrate to get the rest of the sugar from. If it was me using corn, I would cook the corn first then add my sugar, then pitch my yeast. Actual ratio I haven't a clue, I dont really care for the flavor of corn in liquor.
You could run a smaller still on a a stove top. I bought a huge cheap boiling pot for cheap, 2gal? its alumnium. I'm sure you could convert that into a simple still.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Yes. You can make a 16-20 quart stainless kettle and make that the still. You heat it on the stove. You make a worm with a small bit of copper and a large vegetable can. Use the sink to cool the worm.
Easy Build Moonshine Still:
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
Reflux is way better than that design, its harder to get a higher proof with that design. There is no way to watch your temps when doing it that way. You will be guessing for your heads, hearts, tails.. I've made plenty of drinkable whiskey that way.. however you're going to need higher proof distillate to get the most out of your plant material... and a reflux still is the best way.
http://milehidistilling.com/product/mighty-mini-dual-purpose-tower/ is the one I have, I'm at a disadvantage because of the low height of the column, if it was taller, I would get higher proof. I could add a copper extension on the bottom to get higher column height to get higher proof.
http://milehidistilling.com/product/mighty-mini-dual-purpose-tower/ is the one I have, I'm at a disadvantage because of the low height of the column, if it was taller, I would get higher proof. I could add a copper extension on the bottom to get higher column height to get higher proof.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
That was for just a general idea. That is the fastest and cheapest.
With a small copper still or the proper lid for a stainless kettle you can install a thermometer. It works better on a gas burner. Adding a thumper will add to the proof. You could save multiple runs and distill again.
I agree this is not the best design for highest proof. With practice it can make high proof.
GrowerGoneWild
Well-Known Member
Yes thats along the lines of what I was thinking of the recovery of ethanol. Just need different containers to work in. Your recovery side could be sitting in an ice bath and the hot evaporation side could be sitting in warm water or at room temp.. If you drop the pressure down to 1PSI, the boiling point of ethanol would be around 16C. So, the recovery side would need to be iced down.. I like this idea, it keeps the extract cool so no problems with decarboxylation.
Larry {the} Gardener
Well-Known Member
When my family was in the business, they used half chicken scratch feed and half corn. It makes some good sipping whiskey. After a few runs, the hogs would get a bucket of the backin's, which made for some happily drunk hogs.
BamaBoyBeRolling
Well-Known Member
50lb bags of corn is 6$. I would use a reflux still and 2-4 runs of that same product depending on how good your still is. The first run would be called a stripping run, run it hard and fast. Then the next run will be slow and drawn out.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
For a slightly larger outlay you can get one of these: a rotary evaporator. Adding motion (and replacing the considerable heat of evaporation of ethanol) very greatly speeds the evaporation process with good solvent recovery.
