How to use the Air Still Pro

The new Air Still Pro is a great device, but how do you use it? Here I explain how to operate it and demonstrate with a Reflux run.

[@Janarkii]

Quick and instructive video! How is it with alcohol fumes coming from the still, is that ever a problem or something you need to consider in that regard?

[@brewingadvice]

Hi @Janarkii, no ethanol fumes should come out as the fan cools the condenser tubing well. Some smells will come out of the still, how strong it is will depend on the wash and the ingredients used.

[@Janarkii]

@@brewingadvicethank you for your response👍🏽

[@storytelah5530]

Thanks

[@brewingadvice]

You are more than welcome @storytelah5530, thank you for your comment.

[@mohammedabushoog4898]

Which saddles do you put first, stainless or copper. In still spirits video says stainless first and I thought vice versa

[@brewingadvice]

Everybody will have their own thoughts on this. Some will quote 'scientific facts' that they read on a web site. Personally I think that the copper should go in at the bottom, so the vapour hits it first, before it gets to the stainless steel. The T500 column and the Air Still are both loaded so the vapour hits the steel first, then reaches the copper last. This may be because they think this is the proper way, or could be because the copper is so small and they worry about them falling out when the customer opens the unit up. But, as I said, people will give their own thoughts of which way round it should be. I have not done a test spirit run with them in both directions to see if I could smell or taste a difference, and to honest, IF there was a difference, I don't think there would be much in it and my taste buds would probably not be able to tell the difference.

[@mohammedabushoog4898]

I did my stripping run in my normal still and then poured two litres of 35 abv to the air still pro. It stopped after just starting pouring some miles. In regards of doing spirits run in reflux mode. There’s no enough instruction from the company and how much maximum can this still give me. Two litres of 35 should give 700 miles 90 abv. I’m really confused about this problem.

[@brewingadvice]

You will always lose spirit each time you run a still. I can't tell you the amount or percentage that will be lost as it will depend on the volume and ABV of your spirit and also what type of cuts you make. When you run in reflux mode for example, if you are doing your spirit run you will want to stop at or before it drops to 60% ABV as your tails will be soon behind it. If you do not make cuts and try to get everything out of it, you will get some nasty smells and tastes.

[@TheGreatest1974]

Hi. Was this a sugar wash you put in it?

[@brewingadvice]

Yes it was. It would have been a Kale wash.

[@mohammedabushoog4898]

Please could you tell me what did you put when u took the basket out and what is the advantage of that

[@brewingadvice]

Hi, @mohammedabushoog4898, I am sorry, but not quite sure what you mean. Are you talking about the copper SPP that I mentioned, or something else?

[@mohammedabushoog4898]

@@brewingadvice yes

[@mohammedabushoog4898]

@@brewingadvice I mean the saddles in the copper

[@brewingadvice]

​@@mohammedabushoog4898 ah ok. So yes, I advise people to take out the stainless steel and copper packing that comes with the Air Still Pro, and replace it with Copper SPP (Spiral Prismatic Packing). Good quality Copper SPP will give you better quality spirit as when you run the still in Reflux mode, it will help with the refluxing. The extra copper will also help to reduce sulphur in your spirit. Lastly the ABV of your spirit will go up a little as a result. The down side of SPP is that it is expensive. While I do not know where you are in the world, an example of what it looks like and where you can buy it from is here (although, please note I do not know this seller, I do not know anybody who has bought from them, I found them after I just Googled Copper SPP) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144076726074?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=443378087612&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A17jhWgGV1QfedjpuKbV2IyA81&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=443378087612_144076726074&targetid=1647205088520&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006492&poi=&campaignid=21201249047&mkgroupid=169747432708&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088520&abcId=9406425&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvdfSb4xHGvBGvhfqf9OjaPVQxYbIPIyD62OC5WuYVKD4taVTnZQOjxoCgYMQAvD_BwE I hope that helps to answer your question.

[@appman1969]

Could i ask where you got your Copper spp spirals from? Thanks

[@brewingadvice]

Hi @appman1969, I bought mine from 'Do It At Home' shop. The below link is what I have. You may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. do-it-at-home.co.uk/en/distillation/688-prismatic-cooper-springs-025l-5060770602144.html?search_query=10245&results=1

[@appman1969]

Hi thanks very much for the reply. ❤

[@Koimith]

@@brewingadvice Thank you, so much for the review. I see your Link is showing 0.25L as the quantity of prismatic copper packing, was this quantity enough to fill the air still pro?

[@brewingadvice]

Hi @koimith, Sadly I can't say as I bought 4 bags of the copper SPP for my T500 extension tubes, and put them all into one bag. I then bought some more from a different supplier and they were weighted differently, and they went into the same bag. So, I just grabbed a couple handfuls and dropped them in. I think a single bag though should fill it, but can't say for sure.

[@Koimith]

@@brewingadvice thanks for the reply buddy!! do you have any more videos on the Air Still pro?

[@user-pq6dm4bn1u]

At 3:23 DUH Or use a taller collecting jar. At 3:40 says, "Don't know why they did it...." So....Where would you suggest they put the outlet spout? OMG Some people.

[@brewingadvice]

Hi @user-pq6dm4bn1u, I am sorry you didn't like what I said. The issue is that I would think the majority of people making a gin or other drinks will want to take cuts. Since it only works with 4 litres, the cuts would be quite small (100-200ml) so the collection containers would be quite small (like jam jars). So yes, you could use larger containers, but most people will be using small containers by default. As to your question 'Where would I put the outlet spout'? I would keep it where it is, but lower the spout, or have it stick out a little more. Remember that the boiler is larger at the bottom and goes in at the top. So, when you put your container resting on the bottom of the boiler, the spout can be near the edge of the container. If the spout came out a little more, it would help a lot and would negate the need to rest the collection container on a box or something to raise it up.