back to the basics

[pfshine]

Well the title is a bit of a misnomer i never started with the basics. I started with a boka and realized that it was crazy slow and not what i really wanted. I mainly drink whiskey so the next still i made was a four plate bubble cap flute which i love, but i have some copper that has been sitting in the corner screaming build something. I am going to build a small pot still with what i have on hand no trips to the hardware store.

I had about 4'-1" of 4" copper and about 2'-6" of 3" and a whole assortment of other pipe fittings clamps ect ect. I on the other hand have no copper plate to build with. I want to make a small 5 gal pot still out of all copper. What i have done so far is cut 1' off the 4" cut it up the center and flatten it out it is now the bottom of the pot. I then took the remaining 3'-1" of 4" and did the same then wrapped it around to make the sidewall of the pot and soldered it all together. As that stands it is 12" in diameter and 12.5" tall which holds approximately 6 gal. The next step is the cone which is where the 3" comes into play one peice 12" the other about 1'-7". I split them both up the center and flattened them out and brazed them together in an L shape. On this i am going to layout the concentric pattern cut bend and solder on.
The riser will be 1.5" affixed with a triclamp 1.5" will reduce to 3/4" then again to 1/2" 3'-6" leibig. The pot will also have a 1.5" fill port and 3/4" drain.

My dang phone wont upload pics at the moment so those will be posted soon.

[pfshine]

Ok no pics no coments ha. Well im still having problems with my phone so i still cant post my pics but here is one i took from my old ladys phone and sent to my self witch will post weird. I just finished the build still needs some polishing.

[Halfbaked]

You got it, no pics no comments. Not you have done it. I like it. Good job. I wish I had stuff like that laying around the house that I could just lay my hands on. More pics more comments!!!!!!

[bellybuster]

nice job on that. All from scrap pipe... impressive

[mtnshiner85]

Nice

[pfshine]

Thanks guys the only thing i bought for this was mapp gas. I also changed the fill port to 2" just because i had it.

[Halfbaked]

You gonna have to get a bigger still if you are going to fill up that boat. haahha BTW what size is it?

[pfshine]

6 gal and what boat are ya talkin about

[Halfbaked]

Looks like a boat you have covered up that the end of the Liebig is over when it is at path end

[pfshine]

Nope just a crappy love seat that i sit on while the still is a drippin. By the way i have to dedicate this still to dakotasnake he inspired me to build a pot still while we were bsin about builds. This ones for you dakotasnake.

[pfshine]

Just started a vinegar cleaning run. We will see how she runs.

[pfshine]

No leaks! And one run down up next is a good bath then the sacrificial run. We will see if i can get a real run in tonight.

[pfshine]

Well the pot works great and its a trip to run a basic pot still on propane when your use to a reflux rig on electric.

[Halfbaked]

Ya don't see a ton of copper stills on electric. A few more pics be nice, especially on the electric.

[pfshine]

Like i said my phone is jacked up at the moment so pics are hard for me. As for the elec i will see if i can get old pics up on my flute build post here http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34504 B ut pot is on propane for the moment as i do not want to buy anything for it, we will see how the propane works for me. I am allready sure that i want to change it over or maybe sell it as is.

[pfshine]

So i ran her and love it but i still think electric is better so im gonna install an element and add a thumper to it. The things i have to use is 1 1" fip 2 1" unions several 1" fittings 8" ss pipe more 3" copper pipe abd an assortment of other fittings and triclamps of various sizes. What i need to buy is some 1" pipe a new element and a 240 v plug.

[Horsecreek shine]

Nice I likes purty copper !!

[pfshine]

Thanks i just flared the 1" fip and soldered it on and screwed in the new 5500 watt element. Now i need to hammer out an element guard and put on the plug. As for the thumper i will do that tomorrow.

[pfshine]

I put the plug and element protector on the backburner to make the thumper it holds about 3 gal. Its made of 1' of 8" ss pipe and some copper plate i made out of some 3" copper i had. It took about 4 hours to make. I didnt have a 1" tee so i made one for the vapor tube in the bottom of the thumper to disperse the vapor. I just replaced my phone and all the pics i took with the old one are corrupted wish i could show the tee im kinda proud of it.

[pfshine]

I have tomorrow off so i am gonna make the element protector and see if i can get the cleaning runs done. Hell maybe a real run as well.

[jarheadshiner]

Nice looking rig man. Would break my heart to cut up that big copper pipe but you made it into something worth it. Great job!

Must be nice to have 8" scrap SS pipe laying around too!

[pfshine]

Thanks allot. As for the big copper i already made a flute and had the rest just sitting there, it did hurt my feelings a little to do it but in the end it was worth it. I still got about 4' of the 8" left to use for some other projects.

[pfshine]

So for the vinegar run i found a small class 3 leak where the element screws in. Easy fix pull the element put more tape on a crank it down.

[pfshine]

So after the cleaning runs and tightening the element i am now starting my first real run with this rig. It is some left over piggyback of an ag that i do. I am about to embark on a new adventure with this still and try my hand at a rum. Everything i have done so far is some sugar heads and a bunch of ag whiskey. I bought some molasses and brown sugar for a small ferment about 15 gal, to see if i like it. If i like it then the next step is to get dome panela and do a run with that and start a dunder pit. But we will see how it goes.