(this might be a long one - i'm bummed.)
Recently I posted pics of my first still:
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 21&start=0
I have been so excited to get into this hobby for years (been brewing other stuff for a long long time). I bought the still, and read. A lot. I read recipes, process, distillation theory, about making cuts and aging/oaking. I read all 47 pages of the USJM thread and was all ready to get my first USJM mash going. I tested the rig, checked for leaks, made sure everything was as efficient as I could get it...then ran my first run with a ginger-apple wine - damn it was good! I had (have - i am down, but not out!) plans for several other mashes, including the 6 gallons of plum wine that has been racked and aging since this summer. Then, I started posting here (i'd been lurking for 8 months or so...) And after posting pics about my still, i got the following message:
Rad14701 wrote:
GreenMTNfermenter, that is a very common commercially made pot still design... I believe it dates back to around the prohibition era...
You might want to do a lead test on the solder joints...
First off, thanks Rad. The lesson i have to everyone is to really read read read, and when people talk about safety first, don't just assume it means vapor leaks, fires, or cutting enough methanol out. You also don't want lead in your shine! So, you can guess the disappointment. I bought one of these quick lead tests from Lowes and yup, the solder seems to be of the leaded variety. serious bummer!
So now what to do?
I am committed to continuing in this hobby, but i don't know how to solder/work with metals... I could learn, although i don't have the equipment, time or money to take that part on right now. Here's lesson number 2: read even more. Since i already had a pot still, i didn't bother reading everything that i could on pot stills and their differences. I read enough to know that i wanted a pot still for what i was going to want to be making. but now, i feel like i am starting at square 1 (sort of, i have 2 runs under my belt, 15 gallons of wash fermenting in the basement and a bucket of various types of heartwood ready to be toasted/charred!)
* Does my current still have any value, other than for the cost of the copper (and nostalgia?)
* i don't imagine so, but is it possible that leaded solder is only on the outside and i can still use this pot (i know this is a reach, but figured i would ask...)?
* is there anything that i can do to make this pot usable that would be worth the time and energy?
* I've been reading about making simple stove top pot stills from large SS pots, that is likely what i will do, can anyone point me in the directions of some good threads/plans for this type or push me in a different direction?
anyway, i'll get back up, but right now, this is a serious downer.
erg.
erg.
F*ck.
off, to go have some of my 2 year old white oaked apple wine. that'll make me smile.
-greenmtn