Classick

I am relatively sure that is does have temperature correction. I use this tool regularly and love it. Probably the best money I have spent. I get more consistency in my final proofs using the DMA 35 then with the hydrometer. Aside from the squinting......you have so many other factors that can influence user to user readings (small micro bubbles on the hydrometer, cooling effect of alcohol on outside evaporating, etc).

It doesnt have temperature "correction" though it will tell you the actual temp of the sample inside.

we had a guy from Anton Paar out to our place to show us the ins and outs of the machine. Like i said, it was a great tool, but i dont think it is precise enough, according to the regulations, to achieve precise enough proof. It was particularly good for dilutions though, getting into the ballpark before having to "dial it in" visually with the hydrometer.

we are saving up for the DMA 5000

One of the best purchases I have made for out distillery is an Anton Paar DMA. I have been told that the TTB uses the large version the 5000 ($30,000) We don't have that kind of flow right now, so we bought it's little brother the 35N handheld (roughly $2500). It's a great little tool and has really helped me get things dialed in here. Our contact guy is Tom Carson. thomas.carson@anton-paar.com

He flew out and showed us how everything works. Great guy!

Links below:

Big Brother DMA 5000 http://www.anton-paar.com/ap/apinternet/ht...ult/cxsn-5smfs4

Little Brother 35N handheld. http://www.anton-paar.com/density-meter/la...5nzhus.en.0.jsp

Rob

Just a heads up Rob... something we discovered after we purchased (and subsequently returned) our DMA 35N... it is only accurate up to .5 proof, which from what we discovered in the TTB regs, is not technically precise enough for bottling. Now, thats just a written law, and given that the alternative is squinting at the hydrometer and hoping you have an accurate thermometer its good enough to get you in the ballpark, but for us... for money, it just wasnt accurate enough.

That being said... it is a very cool tool, it would be even nicer if it had temperature correction to show true proof... but i suppose thats why they get the big bucks for the DMA5000

Immediacy and convenience.

More importantly, some of us are klutzes, and juggling a glass vial, a glass thermometer, and a glass hydrometer over a concrete floor while trying to make cut decisions is a bit more than our god-given capabilities allow. Which makes it an economic issue as well

plus just because you read a digital display, doesnt mean its not batch... doesnt mean it has to be automated.

I for one would welcome any more precision i can get, just for peace of mind.

Another DIY idea is use a refrigerator and install a 10-20 gallon tank in it, plumb through the walls for the lines and use a pump to push the water with valves to control flowrate. Don't know if this would keep up with the overall cooling needs.

hehe gotta love DIY thinkers... i like it... Jocky Box style... unfortunately, i dont think we can have something electronic plugged in so close to the still due to local fire codes.... but it is an idea ill have to think about. thanks

Just remember that DISCUS is a membership organization. Bill Owens has good relationships with people at several of the DISCUS member companies, such as Beam Global and Brown-Forman. If the majors can be persuaded that micro producers are not a threat and are, in fact, a boon because they bring new excitement to the spirits category, they may be willing to keep their lobbyist at bay.

This is most excellent work folks. way to unite for the common good!!!!

Please add to the list.

Essential Spirits Alambic Distilleries, Mountain View, CA

In addition, i have also cross posted this thread, plus the request and the list of suppoters over at the Ministry of Rum ( http://ministryofrum.com/forums/showthread...17078#post17078 )

There may be some distillers on that site that have not yet seen this.

Dear Mr Classick,

If your condensor is efficient in design, than all you'll need is a trickle of tap water, even in the dog days of summer. Mine is 24" x 3", but has thirty 3/8" pathways, with each surrounded by a water bath. I can build one for you. It is pictured at www.DynamicAlambic.com under "DISTILLERY".

All the best,

Rusty

I appreciate the offer, but perhaps i should clarify...

I am not talking about the condenser water, that is more than effective at most temps.

We have a system unique to our still that is basically a secondary inline distillation. (pictured below just above my fathers head)

Basically in this analyzer there is process water on one side, and spirit vapor on the other. by running cold water through one side, the heavier water molecules are attracted out of the vapor and we get a more refined vapor sent to the condenser. Obviously the colder the water, the more attractive the separation plate becomes and the less water we have to use to be as efficient.

Either way, how the water is used is unimportant... the problem remains the same. I am still looking for cooling solutions for our still.

Thanks for the offer to help though, it is appreciated.

Hey all,

i was just curious if anyone is using chilled process water, and if so, what machine/technology are you using under what conditions and volumes.

I am located in the bay area, which, 70% of the time has perfect conditions for distilling. our ground water here runs at about 58-64 degrees during fall - spring.. but during the summer months, it gets as high as 68. This drastically reduces the efficacy of our distilling.

I am searching out solutions such as using evaporaters in a closed loop system, or realtime cooling of ground water... etc.

If we use a closed loop system, there probably needs to be a tank that can hold the required volumn of process water for a days production, then i guess chill it overnight for use the next day, or something to that effect.

Right now, i think we are using about 800 - 1000 liters of h20 a day, typically between 60-80 liters per hour.

if anyone has some suggestions or advice, that would be great.

Cheers

Well i wont get into the cerebral discussion about tax categorization et al, but i will share my own 2 cents.

I consider myself a Distiller at a Craft or Micro distillery. We are family owned and operated... in fact, there are only two of us, my father and myself. Why do i give myself this title, because not only do i do 95% of the production at our distillery, but i do everything in between from supply chain management to product delivery. I feel i have earned the title because i am trusted with the day to day operations of the distillery, regardless of what that might entail. My father, the master distiller, does not have to be around for our business to continue running, operationally that is.

He is the Master Distiller A) because he has the time and experience behind the still to come up with all of the new recipes and protocols our distillery follows, and because he earned the title from those that taught him.

People are getting too caught up in these titles though.. while i wear the title as a badge of honor, beause i know the effort i put into getting it, but mostly, it is an apt description of what i do... i distill.

Still operator = distiller = still operator, anything beyond that is just self-inflation.

Hey All.

I'm looking for a good place to purchase Capsules. I'm looking for 5 different colors and sizes and good minimum quantities at a decent price. Who are you using? Any information is much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Ben

we've been using Lafitte Cork and Capsule, based out of Napa, Ca ( http://www.lafitte-usa.com/ )

but their stock caps have grapes on them, fyi, and you need to specify if you want tear tabs on them

PS....

I saw how my father was struggling with all that paperwork, so i created digital copies of the TTB processing, storage and production forms he had to submit each month, complete with automatic totalizing and pre-filled "0's" so no tedious filling.

Its pretty easy to do... just DL the digital copies of the forms from the TTB website, use acrobat to create text form fields over each of the boxes, then make the ones you dont use regularly have a default value of 0 and mark them read-only... then all you have to do is hit tab and use the 10-key when filling them out each month.

Mixtures of ethanol and water are not proportional due to the close bonding (my chemistry on this point may be a little fuzzy) of the molecules. So a blend will require more water than expected to dilute the ethanol to the desired proof. There is a chart to account for this but I don't have one.

Keith

Oh yes im quite aware of that... but he was stating that the calculator didnt work because it didnt take into consideration contraction....

I suppose i would agree if one was not using the "true proof" that had already taking into account the temperature correction factor... but using the true proof, i find that calculator to be accurate enough, especially when dealing with 100 gallons or more. there will always be a certain amount if "dialing in" to reach your desired proof, but that calculator gives a pretty good jumping off point.

Me, well i took the TTB true proof tables a step farther and created a double lookup application in excel that is accurate ( at least enough for us) to 2 decimal places of proof, so all i have to do is enter the apparent proof and the observed temp, and it tells me my true proof.

Talk about tedious... i had to hand enter 4 pages worth of TTB data tables into excel.. YAWN!!!

We are using a Stupfler Alambic Still... hand made in Bordeaux by a 3rd generation still maker and master craftsman. Natural Gasdirect fire, 500 liter capacity.

That calculator does not take contraction into account...it's useless.

Regards,

Will

Can you please explain this... we have been using this calculator with some success now for quite some time.