Cleaning a new Air Still Pro

Why should you clean the Air Still Pro before it's first use? How do you clean it and what cleaners do I use????? Here I explain what to do, why and what cleaners to use.

[@mohammedabushoog4898]

I kept the botanical basket inside when I cleaned my air still pro. I did the same as you did, but I kept the botanical basket in the copper

[@brewingadvice]

You could actually keep the basket and the packing all inside if you wanted to, am sure many people have. My thoughts are how I like to do it. But, you need to find your own way and what you are happy to do. Hope you like your Air Still Pro.

[@neilmaddison2851]

Hi would have been nice showing how you got the copper and stainless saddles out but over all a good informal video

[@brewingadvice]

Sorry about that. To be honest, all I did was tip it upside down and then inserted a wooden chopstick and wiggled it around a bit.

[@RyanW20207]

Out of curiosity what percent does your hearts phase run on a spirit run? I have been getting about 800ml to a 1 Liter at 95%ish of a ginger beer wash I run with 500ml of heads/tails - the ginger comes in both sections in a nasty way...but makes it clear for both when your in heads or tails. Thanks for the vid on cleaning - I did the same thing at the start up and now just do the vinegar clean up runs - I soak my saddles in 1/4 vinegar, 3/4 water, some salt for an hour or so and the copper comes back shining. Cheers for the vid mate.

[@brewingadvice]

Hi Ryan, sadly I can't answer your question as it all depends on the ingredients used, the final ABV of the wash and the volume of the wash. It also depends if you are making a neutral spirit, or making a gin, rum, whisky or other flavoured drink. Then you have if you are running it in Pot or Reflux mode. Sadly, too many factors, so the hearts area will be different volumes for every different type of wash used.

[@RyanW20207]

@@brewingadvice Thanks for the reply and response - new to this and what you stated explains a few things I was seeing with different washes. I was referring to a clean up run in reflux of a ginger beer was I like to use - I strip in pot still mode then charge for a spirit run around 38%. I find the still shuts down with 10-20percent left in there most times . Not sure on the why - but has to do with the sensor it runs most likely. Anyway I appreciate the feed back.

[@brewingadvice]

Hi @RyanW20207, When you run in either Pot or Reflux mode, it will never extract 100% of the alcohol from your wash. I don't honestly know what percent will be left in the boiler as I have never tested it. The issue is that what is left in the boiler won't be really clean, so, an alcometer won't be accurate. If you are distilling a beer, the ABV would be around 4-6% ABV (on average). So, that wouldn't get you a great deal of spirit. Reading that you said the still shuts down, I am assuming you have the Air Still Pro, as that is the only still that I know that when in reflux mode, it switches itself off. If I am correct, then this may be a flaw in the still design rather than something that you are or are not not doing.