Al I came up with a question that I've been meaning to ask...

How cold does the cooling water (using a water jacket condenser) need to be. Seems like I remember a formula from back in my school days for calculating the dew point..

Our tap water way down south here gets quite warm in the summer months.. up to maybe 75 -80 F.
Last summer I used a lot of ice but since the steam coming off the still is near 200 I wonder if the ice was really necessary. Your thoughts?

I like it cool to the touch as it comes off the condenser. I can't remember my college physics, but heat transfer efficiency varies directly with the difference in temperature between the two mediums. In other words, the colder the better. The other option if your water is warm, is to increase the flow.

Fill a cooler up about half way with cold water, then throw in a bag of ice in it without opening the bag. Works great.

That's exactly what I have done in the past... but it takes about 5 or 6 20-lb bags of ice.....
Just wondering if it's really necessary

One large bag of ice will last ya all nite long