12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Simple pot still distillation and construction with or without a thumper.

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Soft batch
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12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Soft batch »

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How it all started
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The planning stages- make it all fit on paper first.
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Final fitting on the copper before the first cut.
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All cut out, I used air shears- highly recommend recommend!
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Soft batch »

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Plywood disks used for the bottom and top molds.
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Starting to work the edges
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After first round, ready to soften again
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Heating the copper to soften it (heat, work , repeat)
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

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Seams used on the pot, thumper, and flake stand
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Assembling (before soldering)
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Soldering
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Welsh seams
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Soft batch »

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Thumper bubbler
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Thumper top
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Flake stand
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Completed thumper and flake stand. The only thing I would do differently is add a drain to the thumper, it gets hot when it's full! I charges with 1qt, and holds 2 1/2 gallons. It does not fill up during a run.
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Completed setup
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Halfbaked »

LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL ELECTRIC! Nice!
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firewater69
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by firewater69 »

Nice work S.B. really like what you did with the thumper!
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Braz »

Gorgeous work!
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by S-Cackalacky »

Beautiful work. Should be a good demo for anyone looking to do the same.
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by just sayin »

SB,
Beautiful copper! Great workmanship! Where did you source your copper? Did you use one of Pint's patterns. Thank you for posting it here.
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Soft batch »

Yes, it was Pint's plans that were scaled to 12 gallons - tweaked for the 5gal flake stand, and a 2-1/2 gal thumper. On a 3'x8' sheet. Copper was from gutter supply. https://www.guttersupply.com/p-Copper-Sheet.gstml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by hamshine »

That is a very nice still :thumbup: and your handle makes me want cookies..... nice work sir
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by bearriver »

Gorgeous work there! I'm gonna bookmark this so I can... "Use it" later. :shifty:
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by just sayin »

Thanks for the link! The link showed 16 oz copper. Are you happy with the 16 0z? They are reasonable on the price. Was shipping reasonable?
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Soft batch »

The 16oz copper is fine for me, as I went electric (basement). I did double up the copper where I mounted the heating element. I would say go with heavier if heating by flame, at least for the bottom. Once soldered together it is very rigid.

I built this over a year ago, copper pice is about the same, can't remember shipping charges.

After revisiting the build pics, I'm tempted to build another - 6 gallon this time.

I apologize for the turned pics. They WERE oriented correctly before I shrunk and uploaded (from iPad). They must still have had embedded code to rotate.
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by moosemilk »

That sure did turn out beautiful! I used 16 oz as well, even the bottom,and heat on propane. No problems at all, but I agree on thicker. If I do another, I will go with thicker bottom.
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by skow69 »

Gorgeous! Welsh seams are sooo cool.
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Ghostpepperman »

Very beautiful all copper setup you have there. :-)
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by dm2211 »

One word: gorgeous! :D
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by megmoll100 »

hey Softbatch
brilliant write up very impressed with your work i am a few years behind you decided to make the same pot and was concerned with using a gas heat source i see from you pictu res you have installed a heating element how did you do this and what did you use as i would like to use a similar option
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Re: 12 Gal. All Copper pot still

Post by Soft batch »

On this pot I used a heating element flange. On my latest pot I installed a 2" copper tri-clamp ferrule and a stainless heating element adapter. I would highly recommend the later option - a covering for the electrical connectors is the only obstacle.
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