NorthStar Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 My systems are all electric, so separation is a must. At the moment, I have a way to separate via a press, but the press requires a hiccup in the process flow while it is filled/pressed/emptied. I would love to have a Russell Finex machine, but 20k (as I hear they cost) is not a doable number right now. I know Dehner started a thread about a version of this that he is designing, but does anyone know of a secondary market for equipment like this? Are there any other manufacturers making something like this for a lower price? Alternatively, for those unable to distill on grain, how are you separating solids from your wash? Any input appreciated. ( ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoscape Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 We run on electric elements too, so no solids or even yeast can be in the wash when put into the still. We first fine with sparkaloid and crash it with about ten 1 gallon frozen water jugs. We let it sit overnight and by morning it's pretty clear. We rack the wash through a 20" plate filter using course pads and then rack again using fine pads. This pulls out all the yeast and makes for a super clean wash. BTW, we use a mash tun so we don't ferment on grain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McKee Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Lauter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEPA-still-chillin Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I'm having the same issue at my place, we started using corn meal and ferment on grain...dear god what a dilemma We have a steam jacket so complete separation isn't critical or even necessary, I just prefer more "liquid" in the still rather than total grain. I'm thinking of some type of " plunge screen " attached to our pump, I've seen it before but to work with corn meal, we shall see. Panoscape sounds like he is getting a very clean wash, also cold crash is a great idea, Wineries as well as breweries use cold to drop solids out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthStar Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 We cold cook, so removing solids after mashing is not a real option for us. The cold crashing should help. These days the temp rarely gets above zero so freezing ice blocks is no problem. I have considered some type of screen that could lift the solids and let them drain back into the vessel overnight (we use 275 gal IBCs), but I haven't yet thought up a set up that wouldn't rip the screens apart when it tried to support hundreds of lbs of wet corn nor do I know where to get a screen that big. NEPA: interested to hear how your screen set up works out Panoscape: where did you get your plate filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoscape Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 You can get a 20" plate filter with pump from most B2B wine or beer supply stores, I think GW Kent has them. We got a hand-me-down so we didn't have to hunt for it. You might look at perforated stainless steel plate and weld up an open top box that you can insert and then lift out. Build it with a SS frame to support the weight. You'll have to rig up some type of pully/crank to get it up out of the tote. Here's a link for the plate. Best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afilters Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Are you still needing help with a self-cleaning filter? If so, I can help you. Thanks, Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelo Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Afilters PM me with your information please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kason Corporation Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Kason offers a centrifugal dewatering sifter that may be a good solution at a lower price. Please PM me if anyone is still interested. Mike Hart Application Engineer 973-467-8140 ext. 129 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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