Noisebridge Distilled: Difference between revisions

From Noisebridge
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
 
(14 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
== About ==
== About ==


This page gives people some info about the art of building, maintaining, and/or operating a still
This page gives people some info about the art of building, maintaining, and/or operating a still...as well as some other associated things.
 
== Fermenting ==
 
A lot of stuff in a still is fermented. We've been keeping [[fermentation logs]] of stuff we've brewed in the space and then distilled. If you are new to this whole thing, the logs are a good place to start for some guidance on how to run some of your own brews.


== The Equipment ==
== The Equipment ==
Line 9: Line 13:
=== Still Components ===
=== Still Components ===


A pot, and a condenser :). Optionally, a reflux column.
A pot, and a condenser :). Optionally, a reflux column. Some [[Noise Extraction and Brewing]] equipment is available in the space, and could potentially be used to accomplish some of this.


=== Materials ===
=== Materials ===
Line 18: Line 22:
== Resources ==
== Resources ==


* Graph of Vapor Phase composition vs. Distillate Temperature (EtOH / Water) [[File:Distillation t graph.png]]
=== Table of Boiling Points ===
* Graph of Vapor Phase composition vs. Pot Composition to assist in determining efficient reflux ratios when operating a reflux still (EtOH / Water)
 
* Proofing table - relates specific gravity of a liquid to its US Proof value.
* Methyl Acetate = 56.9C [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_acetate]
* Everything you'd ever possibly want to know about Ethanol (from the Industrial Solvents Handbook...an engineer's bible for anything solvent related).
* Methanol = 64.7C [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol]
* Ethyl Acetate = 77.1C [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_acetate]
* Ethanol = 78C [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol]
* 1-Propanol = 97.1C [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propan-1-ol]
* Acetic Acid = 118C (though this and other acids can react to form esters!) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetic_Acid]
 
=== Incredibly Useful Graphs ===
 
* '''[[Media:Distillation t graph.png|Vapor Phase composition vs. Distillate Temperature]]''' - for EtOH / Water
* '''[[Media:distilling_efficiency.png|Vapor Phase composition vs. Pot Composition]]''' - assists in determining efficient reflux ratios when operating a reflux still (EtOH / Water)
 
=== Other Neato Stuff ===
 
* '''[[Media:proof_table.pdf|Proofing table]]''' - relates specific gravity of a liquid to its US Proof value.
* '''[[Media:ind_solvents_etoh.pdf|Industrial Data for Ethanol]]''' - otherwise known as everything you could have ever possibly asked about the solvent ethanol, in a 47 page document.


== Legality ==
== Legality ==

Latest revision as of 18:23, 1 March 2011

Noisebrige Distilled[edit]

About[edit]

This page gives people some info about the art of building, maintaining, and/or operating a still...as well as some other associated things.

Fermenting[edit]

A lot of stuff in a still is fermented. We've been keeping fermentation logs of stuff we've brewed in the space and then distilled. If you are new to this whole thing, the logs are a good place to start for some guidance on how to run some of your own brews.

The Equipment[edit]

Still Components[edit]

A pot, and a condenser :). Optionally, a reflux column. Some Noise Extraction and Brewing equipment is available in the space, and could potentially be used to accomplish some of this.

Materials[edit]

  • Glass is awesome for teaching and for beginners, but has crappy thermal properties.
  • Copper with integrated heating coils is the choice of many pro distillers, but it is a real bear to keep clean, and reacts very badly to acids and bases.

Resources[edit]

Table of Boiling Points[edit]

  • Methyl Acetate = 56.9C [1]
  • Methanol = 64.7C [2]
  • Ethyl Acetate = 77.1C [3]
  • Ethanol = 78C [4]
  • 1-Propanol = 97.1C [5]
  • Acetic Acid = 118C (though this and other acids can react to form esters!) [6]

Incredibly Useful Graphs[edit]

Other Neato Stuff[edit]

  • Proofing table - relates specific gravity of a liquid to its US Proof value.
  • Industrial Data for Ethanol - otherwise known as everything you could have ever possibly asked about the solvent ethanol, in a 47 page document.

Legality[edit]

Owning and operation of a still is legal in California as given by part 23367 of the ABC code. Full unabridged (read: annoying) text of the 2010 ABC code can be found here: [7]

Note: Still laws vary state to state, so check to make sure you aren't breaking any laws!