camping trip
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camping trip
I have a few still I've tried building in the past, my buddy has a really nice setup so I just hang out over there when it's time for another run. I was thinking about this tonight at work, i'm all about building things. what would be the best option for a very small scaler operation. I'm talking something I could toss in the canoe and setup when we camp maybe only make a quart or so. I just like the idea of sitting on the bank with the bondfire catching channel cats while making a fresh batch of liquor.
Re: camping trip
It is possible to build a small pack away still, but unless you are going to be camped in 1 place for a while it might not be worth it. If you are NOT going to be there long enough to do a fermentation, then you might as well take spirit with you. There is not much point in carrying fermented wash to distill at the waterside. If you are going to be there a while, then you probably are looking at some type of pot still.
You have water available, so 1 workable solution is a worm in a bucket condenser, or the double can type - essentially a variation on a graham condenser. This should be just a bit smaller than your boiler so you can pack it inside it.
Imagine a short wide graham condenser just a bit smaller than your boiler, but with an empty space down the centre. You need that space for storage. It won't be very efficient, so for convenience you want a slow flow of coolant through it. Two of those collapsable bag type water carriers that you can hang above the condenser, to gravity feed coolant through it work OK. The bags can be rolled up and stored inside that space in the middle of the condenser when not in use. You use two so that you have time to refill one whilst the other is in use.
For ease of use and an easy lid seal, a small pressure cooker works as the boiler, PROVIDED you substitute the gaskets. Wraping the lid seal in PTFE thread tape to totally encapsulate it, is to many folks an acceptable solution. You just have to accept that you will need to do very generous cuts and only keep the best bit of the hearts.
Rum works fine, as would grain based spirit. If you wish more refined spirits then you probably need to tripple run. If you have fruit available then clear fruit brandies are very acceptable.
You will need to modify your lid, replace the pop out rubber safety valve (if one is fitted) and fit a connector for the riser. Any copper tube, the pot riser for example, needs multiple connectors so that each section is short enough to fit inside the boiler. You can only tighten by hand (you might loose the spanners) so a roll of thread tape needs to be in there too.
You can't heat too fast because you are limited by the condenser. It packs away conveniently, is slow and will only produce a small amount, but it does work
You have water available, so 1 workable solution is a worm in a bucket condenser, or the double can type - essentially a variation on a graham condenser. This should be just a bit smaller than your boiler so you can pack it inside it.
Imagine a short wide graham condenser just a bit smaller than your boiler, but with an empty space down the centre. You need that space for storage. It won't be very efficient, so for convenience you want a slow flow of coolant through it. Two of those collapsable bag type water carriers that you can hang above the condenser, to gravity feed coolant through it work OK. The bags can be rolled up and stored inside that space in the middle of the condenser when not in use. You use two so that you have time to refill one whilst the other is in use.
For ease of use and an easy lid seal, a small pressure cooker works as the boiler, PROVIDED you substitute the gaskets. Wraping the lid seal in PTFE thread tape to totally encapsulate it, is to many folks an acceptable solution. You just have to accept that you will need to do very generous cuts and only keep the best bit of the hearts.
Rum works fine, as would grain based spirit. If you wish more refined spirits then you probably need to tripple run. If you have fruit available then clear fruit brandies are very acceptable.
You will need to modify your lid, replace the pop out rubber safety valve (if one is fitted) and fit a connector for the riser. Any copper tube, the pot riser for example, needs multiple connectors so that each section is short enough to fit inside the boiler. You can only tighten by hand (you might loose the spanners) so a roll of thread tape needs to be in there too. You can't heat too fast because you are limited by the condenser. It packs away conveniently, is slow and will only produce a small amount, but it does work