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Thread ID: 127284	2012-10-15 06:19:00	Paging Home Brewers and Mathematicians.	B.M. (505)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1307054	2012-10-17 05:20:00	Copper on the condenser coils was soldered. I'm guessing it was lead free, never thought of that!	The Error Guy (14052)
1307055	2012-10-17 08:32:00	B.M I use a Alcoholmeter - bit like a hydrometer, to measure the alcohol content. I just mix the approximate volumes of 90% alcohol and filtered water together in a 2 litre jug then test it with Alcoholmeter. You can then fine tune the mix to get it to the desired % volume of alcohol. Real easy with no formulas or maths. The mix needs to be at 20 degrees to get an accurate reading. These meters are available at a Brew Shop.	muzza (7316)
1307056	2012-10-17 18:23:00	Ahhhhh, well now Muzza, in amongst a box of stuff that came with the Still I’ve found what looks like a ordinary Hydrometer, however, it has written on it “Alcohol Percentage for Spitit – U.S. Custom House – Alcohol %V Temp 60°F”. Could this be the beast you speak of? It’s odd because whilst trolling through all the Internet Sites and designing my spreadsheet it occurred to me, why isn’t there just a Hydrometer calibrated to do this? I can remember years ago when there was a Department of Weights & Measures the Inspectors used to randomly test spirits in hotel bowsers to make sure they hadn’t been watered down by the Publican. They used what looked suspiciously like a Hydrometer. I think they also did “Taste Tests”. ;) Good job if you could get one. :)	B.M. (505)
1307057	2012-10-18 09:04:00	I would say B.M. that you have got yourself an Alcoholmeter. It should have a scale on the side going from 0 - 100% Test it by measuring some commercial sprits to see if it reads correctly. You will need a test tube or just put it in the bottle so long as it doesnt go right down inside it then you will have to drink the contents to get it out again. All the Brew Shops should have these.... www.brewyourownliquor.co.nz	muzza (7316)
1307058	2012-10-21 00:13:00	I would say B . M . that you have got yourself an Alcoholmeter . It should have a scale on the side going from 0 - 100% Test it by measuring some commercial sprits to see if it reads correctly . You will need a test tube or just put it in the bottle so long as it doesnt go right down inside it then you will have to drink the contents to get it out again . All the Brew Shops should have these . . . . . brewyourownliquor . co . nz/index . php?/Measuring/View-all-products . html?TreeId=35" target="_blank">www . brewyourownliquor . co . nz I like your thinking muzza . I found a tube thing on a stand amongst the rest of the stuff I was given and figured it must be for testing as the Hydrometer/Alcometer fitted in it nicely . So, I half filled it with 50% Bourbon and blow me down if the reading wasn’t correct . Only problem was I couldn’t find a way to get the Bourbon back in the bottle and we can’t have waste so I added some Coke and drank it . In fact, I decided to re-run the test just to make sure . ;) Anyway, the Wash is finished and the distilling done with the Alcohol now sitting in a pale of Activated Carbon for its Primary Filtering . Not sure about this bit because my beautiful clear product now looks like the discharge from a Septic Tank with all the Carbon mixed in . Any suggestions how long this part should take before we move onto the Secondary Filtering? But I guess one good thing about making Spirits is I’m told that unlike Beer, a botched brew can be re-run . :D	B.M. (505)
1307059	2012-10-21 00:21:00	I like your thinking muzza . I found a tube thing on a stand amongst the rest of the stuff I was given and figured it must be for testing as the Hydrometer/Alcometer fitted in it nicely . So, I half filled it with 50% Bourbon and blow me down if the reading wasn’t correct . Only problem was I couldn’t find a way to get the Bourbon back in the bottle and we can’t have waste so I added some Coke and drank it . In fact, I decided to re-run the test just to make sure . ;) Anyway, the Wash is finished and the distilling done with the Alcohol now sitting in a pale of Activated Carbon for its Primary Filtering . Not sure about this bit because my beautiful clear product now looks like the discharge from a Septic Tank with all the Carbon mixed in . Any suggestions how long this part should take before we move onto the Secondary Filtering? But I guess one good thing about making Spirits is I’m told that unlike Beer, a botched brew can be re-run . :Dif your filtered alcohol is discoloured, your filter system is not set up properly . Should come out clear .	plod (107)
1307060	2012-10-21 01:01:00	if your filtered alcohol is discoloured, your filter system is not set up properly. Should come out clear. Yeah, that’s what I figured but the instructions I got were to mix a small cup full of Primary Activated Carbon with my distillate, leave to settle and then put through the Secondary filter. It was beautifully clear before mixing the Carbon, but the Carbon seems to be held in suspension. Am I supposed to pay Carbon Tax before settlement? :D	B.M. (505)
1307061	2012-10-21 22:52:00	Whilst I wait for my distillate to Primary filter (7-10 days I’m told, :confused: does that sound right?) I thought I’d venture into the Radler business. :D Now I quite like Radler as a summer drink and have previously flavoured the beer at bottling time with Roses concentrate lime cordial. Worked OK, but I wondered if others have had success with other methods? :)	B.M. (505)
1307062	2012-10-22 09:06:00	Yeah, . . . Am I supposed to pay Carbon Tax before settlement? :D Paying the tax IS the settlement . ;)	R2x1 (4628)
1307063	2012-10-27 07:37:00	Hi BM I dont use Activated Carbon any more. I put the wash through the still producing a 90 0/0 result, water it back to 40 0/0 then add ' Turbo Pure' by Spirits unlimited from the Brew Your Own Shop, leave it for 48 hours then put it through a Carbon filter. The result is a liquor with very low odour and after taste and a lot less messy than added the activated carbon and then having to get rid of it!	muzza (7316)
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