Less than intelligent roommate building a still

[dangerousRoomy]

Hello everyone, I have a few general questions that I would really appreciate being answered. I am not making my own still, but I have a less than intelligent roommate(I caught him washing his car out of a cereal bowl and using a squegee!!) who is constructing one in our garage. He has limited common sense and I am concerned his half-a**ed contraption is going to poison him or burn down my house. I will described the still as best as I can, any information or insight would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this forum, so please forgive me if I am not following all rules to a T. Much respect.

He is using a SS pot on top of a gas top burner. On top of the pot is a rubber seal(not sure which type, cheap though) that connects to a Galvanized steel flange and then to a galvanized pipe that is about 3ft tall and then goes over 2ft. then down about two feet to a PVC ball valve. I was under the impression that Galvanized Steel is not a food safe item. Is it dangerous. I know Alcohol vapor is very caustic, should he be using a certain type of rubber?? Also, the SS pot he is using has a normal lid, no restraints or straps or seals on the lid, Won't this have to be perfectly sealed before using? I would think that alcohol vapor that drips off the lid could then drip down the pot to an open flame. Thank you for your time and knowledge in advanced.

[ZAXBYC]

As a rule (heh I know im only new!) No plastics and no rubbers should be used in still construction.

Again you are right about his choice of materials when It comes to galvanised steel, I sure another member will happlier inform you of the actual consequences of drinking distillate from such a still.

As will be mentioned several times on the forum, making alcohol through distillation is going to produce something that is akin to petrol/gasoline. so is highly flamable. and Alcohol vapour in the right conditions.....like an enclosed garage could potentially make you garage and rather large bomb

I suggest you tell your housemate to stop and design this thing properly if he is serious about it, and do some reading about it too!

No one wants to see someone poison themselves (Dawin anyone?? ) seriously, tho he could end up hurting himself, you anyone he gives it too. Not to mention I suspect you value you house!

[minime]

Sounds like you've got a whole lot more sense than your roommate. I don't think I'd be letting him light it up in the garage. Make him drag it outside 'till you see if he has it all figured out. And don't drink his booze even if he has some success. The rubber in his still will not only make it taste like shit but could leach things that don't belong in the human body.

Good luck to you

[HookLine]

Not to mention the PVC valve.

My advice? Stay away from him, and don't drink his booze.

[Godstilla]

I'd give him the ole heave ho!

[dangerousRoomy]

I REALLY appreciate the information guys. Nothing like talking to people that have been there and done that. THANK YOU.

I can't begin to elaborate on this guys lack of intelligence. I am fairly mechanical(I have two 20 year old mercedes that run great, and a sport bike), computer savy and in general a man of science and this guy makes me feel like Benjamin Franklin on a Daily basis. I could tell stories forever about him and I have only known him for about 6 months.

Here's another story that you guys should enjoy.

I was watching him "wash" his car the other day. This time I gave him a bucket and a sponge, 5 minutes he came to me with a bottle of DISHWASHING detergent and a bottle of Palm Olive and wanted to know which one was better. I replied that the dishwashing soap was made for high temps 140 plus and wouldn't break down in the time period/temp he was washing his car. So, he used the palm olive soap.

A few minutes after this, I noticed him with a soapy bucket of water and a completely dry car, and there wasn't a hose insight. Then I watched him put the soapy sponged on his dry paint and start washing his car.

Me: Uh, shouldn't you rinse the car off first.

Roomy: You think I need to??

Me: Well, it will make it easier to rinse off, and probably clean better.

Roomy: Oh yeah, I guess I should go get the hose.

Me: Rubbing my wrists on a piece of wood hoping to hit a vein and bleed out.

THANKS GUYS

[Dnderhead]

Id tell him to stop or git out while you still have a house to leave.

[minime]

Me: Rubbing my wrists on a piece of wood hoping to hit a vein and bleed out.
THANKS GUYS

he he he he he

[BillHoo]

Just give us the address, his name and a description and we can put out an anonymous post to the Feds that there is a criminal mastermind hiding out in the garage, running a mulit-million dollar crystal meth lab.

....And use the SWAT team because he's a martial arts expert known as El Squeegee, because he once killed off a rival mexican drug cartel using only a rubber sqeegee.

[absinthe]

well the pipe will cause this:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-sy ... soning.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

and the problem is if he has a big hit of his "shine" and i use the term loosely then the first symptoms "This includes vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea" he might put down to drinking to much booze

[Oaty]

Seems about the only way he could have done worse is to use a lead tubed coil, seal off the end, pour gasoline on the floor, turn the flame on high and start smoking a cheap cigar while playing russian roulette with six rounds loaded. Get rid of him before he kills himself and you. By the way you do know you would also be subject to any applicable criminal charges that he might receive?

[The Chemist]

Holy Crap!! If it wasn't in your own garage, I'd say leave him alone, and let the normal "herd-thinning" run it's course...and stay away from his "booze"...

But you gotta stop this dumbass from burning down your house.

[duds2u]

I reckon you should move out and let Darwin do his thing. Unfortunately that would probably result in the innocent neighbours getting hurt - bad idea. Better idea, move him out and don't get a forwarding address.

[big worm]

is he dead yet...or in the burn unit?