Neil

Hey, Is your Hoga Still, still available? Thanks NW

Thanks all for your comments. We decided to go with Minox Fustis from m5 corp. The guy Dominic is a great guy. Dominic@m5corporation.com They are well made and the 50 liter ones are ASTM A666 complaint.

Is this still available? Could you please send pics to wssrm3@aol.com Thanks so much Neil

Where are you guys located?

We were told that it binds the harsher chemicals of the vodka into the pours of the carbon and then we filter it out.

I guess the last person who posted mean sugar "syrup"? Do you mean that we should be buying sugar syrup or making the syrup ourselves? Thank you

Sorry, I accidentally posted this topic twice.

I understand from TTB guidelines that you can add up to 2% sugar for an unflavored vodka without having to list it in the ingredients. This is our first experimental batch but our question is, are vodka makers simply dumping straight granulated sugar in to the batch and mixing with a paddle? Or, do we first have to boil the sugar and then add it to the vodka so it stays in solution. Or, are the vodka guys buying their sugar in liquid form? If someone can shed some light on this subject, we would be very grateful. Thanks!

Thank you very much for responding, I will do a bit more investigation on my own and let you know what I came up with.

Hi all, I could use some help on the whole grounding bonding issue in connection with transferring ethanol from 55 gallon drums. We are using a SS hand pump and pumping into a stainless steel pail. We know that the actual pump has to be grounded to prevent any static charge but we need some clarification on how to do this. Also, we saw some diagrams where the drum is also grounded. Not sure if we have to do this as well. And regarding the SS pail, I'm assuming that it has to be bonded to the pump?? If anyone can direct me where I can learn more about this or just explain how to go about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Safety is my number one concern here. I found this web site that has grounding and bonding wires: http://www.thecarycompany.com/containers/drums/drum_pumps/ground_wires.html Thanks so much - Neil

Hello all, I was wondering if anyone can recommend small spirit tanks that can be picked up and handled for storage and weighing purposes. We're looking for 25 gallons more or less with handles on both sides. Thank you

As a follow up, I was told by a distributor that we can simply put on sanitary tri clamp fittings on the NTP outlet and stick with the Standard (non FDA) pump. Also someone else mentioned sanitary Fittings - S-Line Style http://www.spx.com/en/waukesha-cherry-burrell/pd-wcb-fittings-s-line/ Not sure which are better. Thanks all.

Hi all, we are in the market for an air operated diapgragm pump for Ethanol transfer and also for filtration of vodka for batch operation. We are looking into the Yamada model NDP-20 BSE but there is an option to get it FDA approved which is another grand! Basically, the FDA one has Sanitary Tri-clamp fittings (which we heard we need for our hoses) as well as some other bells and whistles (namely comes fully cleaned, has a Polypropelene air suction as opposed to aluminum which hods up better for chemicals in cleaning solutions.) I spoke with the manufacturer and they said that the standard pump has NPT ports but not the sanitary tri-clamp fittings which supposedly is to keep contaminates from getting into what's being pumped but according to the manufacturer and one distributor we spoke with, we wouldn't have this problem with alcohol and the standard 3/4 industrial pump would be fine. He said the FDA one is more for the food processing industry but we should be fine if we're only pumping alcohol. I looked on the TTB site but I couldn't find anything on pumps. Does anyone have any info on this or if we really need to spend the extra dough on the FDA model. Thanks

Thank you both

Can anyone recommend a good brand air operated diaphragm pump. We are using it for ethanol transfer and will also be doing filtration. We are considering a variable speed pump (0-30) gallons per minute. We were told by one source that the best material we should be looking at for the inner is a PTFE (Teflon) inner diaphragm. But another company is recommending a "Yamata" pump but they make their inner diaphragm from "Hytrel" (Carlson) We are also looking into Graco and Aro from another source. Does anyone have any first hand knowlege of either of these brands or can recommend a knowledgable source for more information on this subject. Thanks kindly

Hi all, I have some questions regarding pumps. If someone can shed some light on this, I would be grateful. Primarily, we need a pump to transfer GNS from drums. I have looked at older posts that recommend air powered diaphram pumps. Some of the comments recommeded Mc-Masters and I also recall seeing recommendations for a particular manufacturer called Graco. We contacted a sales rep who has a stainless steel graco pump with an added drum mount suction kit. The pump is a Saniforce 515 diaphragm pump but it is quite pricey ($2,300) Compared to the one's on the Mc-Master site, they are a quarter of the price but made from plastic. http://www.mcmaster.com/#diaphragm-transfer-pumps/=kv4wc3 How important is it to have a stainless steel pump verses plastic for a distillery? If the plastic ones from Mc-masters are cheaply made then perhaps it makes sense to spend the extra dough for the Graco? Also, there is another option which the sales rep suggested which is a Finish Thompson transfer pump with explosion proof motor. The Pump and motor come with a grounding wire kit. See below link http://www.finishthompson.com/assets/downloads/brochure_dp_all.pdf (see page 2) This option is $1700. However, it appears that the only application, unless I'm wrong is for drum transfer and we will still need to purchase a pump anyway for tranfer of spirits in and around the distillery, then it makes sense to pays to stick to the Graco with suction kit. If anyone has any first hand knowledge about this subject and some advise, we would greatly appreciat it. Thank you and Happy New Year to all you distillers out there. - Neil

Hi all, I am pretty new to this forum but I have a question for Mr. Seveth son: You mentioned 5 gallon pressure tanks filled with carbon. I'm assuming you're using GAC. Please correct me if I'm wrong. More specifically, I am interested in how I can get the 5 gallon pressure tanks you are speaking about? I am also doing small batches of vodka made with GNS. Currently, we are using Powder activated carbon put directly in to interact with the vodka but we would like to start experimenting with using a filtration system. The 5 gallon tank sounds like something we would be interested in trying out. Any info on how we can learn more about this system, the fittings and hoses and / or pictures would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. - Neil

HI folks, I'm rather new here so I humbly ask my question: If one wants to re-distill GNS, in order to clean it up some more. (i.e to remove some of the harsher chemicals in the alcohol) Can a simple pot still be used? To clarify from the above comments, I'm not talking about a pot still with a plated column on top; Rather a simple large pot still (more like an alembic still) or, will it be much more effective to separate using a pot with a column and plates. Lastly, if it's better to use a pot with a column and plates, should all of the plates be activated or open? Thank you in avance.

Hi excogitationist, I am a vodka maker but i have only been doing small batches with PAC (powder activated carbon) put directly into a tank with water and Ethanol (GNS) When you mention about oxygenation, are you specifically talking about using Oxygen to bubble through the tank while the vodka interacts with the carbon powder? I understand you wouldn't want the air in a carbon filter but would the O2 help in a batch method ? Thanks, Neil

We are getting samples of some other types and from other manufacturers so we can do testing first. Apparently, we thought we needed more than we did. We didn't realize that we only need 4 oz. of PAC per 100 gallons for batch method. The only tricky part we were told is filtering afterwards. Does anyone know what type of filter we need to do this. We understand from one of the manufacturers that the size has to be smaller than .0017 inches or .043 millieters. Thanks in advance if anyone has any comments or suggestions. - Cheers

Thank you very much Mad. I will investigate this. I am not familliar with ground straps that Jedd Haas mentioned. Where do they attach to. Also, he mentions "For the hoses, braided silicone with sanitary fittings and some npt to sanitary fittings for the pump" Excuse my ignorance but what is "npt to sanitary fittings" mean? Thanks again. Also, someone else on another post mentioned 'goodyear purple hosing" Are either of you aware of this brand? Thank you once again for your assistance. - Neil

Hi all, Does anyone have any experience using Norit SX Ultra 48-33 PAC.? They claim it is really good for vodka purification but pretty darn expensive ($18.76) We are in the process of getting the price on their standard D 10 PAC which we may end up going with. Also, we are looking into Norit GCA 1240 Plus for a filtration system which is less espensive ($4.36 a pound). Another guy in NJ had GAC 20 X 50S Coconut based for a lot less $1.85 a pound. Big difference. Also, we are re-distilling GNS first (taking our head and tail cuts) before we even get to the carbon stage so we may not need the high efficiency carbons. If anyone has any advice for us, we would appreciate it.

Thank you guys a lot. I will continue my investigation based on your advice. I also have a TCW catalog so I can call them and ask them about Stainless steel arir powered diaphram pumps. By the way, Jedd, what does "npt" to sanitary fittings" mean and sorry for my ignorance but are the ground straps to prevent it from moving? I saw in a different area of the forum someone recommeded Graco pumps and Goodyear purple hosing. The main thing is it should handle 195 proof ehanol.

Hi all, We are a new set up in Yonkers, NY and we have drums of GNS (Ethanol) that need to be moved from the drums into a holding tank where we will de-proof it. Can anyone recommend a good pump and hosing that can handle this high proof ethanol. Any advice would be much appreciated.

His enthusiasm is infectious and he has been at it for almost 20 years. Passion is an understatement. I would've loved to see him in year 2 or 3, it must have been tough doing your own brand in those days. Can Beveridge be his real name???