Building my first copper still

[yakattack]

Once it scorched it is useless to drink. Makes a good equipment sanatizer tho

[DBCFlash]

I'm moving my Ultrasonics experiments to a dedicated post.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 83&t=66552

It'll probably be appropriate there.

[DBCFlash]

Still is back up and running. I'm four generations into another UJSSM and I'm experimenting with much lower Amperage runs. Getting really good results running at 10 Amps.
I'm getting about five quarts out of each five gallon run. My Uncle Jessies is going from 1.06 SG to .995 in about four days and it's starting back up really nicely with each new generation.
I think the EC 1118 yeast finishes with a much cleaner taste than the bakers yeast.

[DBCFlash]

Making my first spirit run. I've finally collected enough heads and tails to fill my pot sufficiently with 80 proof UJSSM. I've just been keeping heart of hearts for aging and consumption but now I've got to do something with all these second rate jars. I'll be running relatively low and slow. I've never had anything in my pot with so much proof


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jb-texshine]

Makes alot more noise dont it?

[DBCFlash]

Makes alot more noise dont it?

Yup! It made me really nervous as it sounded the same as the times I blew up my elements. My first jar was 170 proof and still tasted like corn whiskey. My hearts came in between 160 and 130 proof.
Time to cut, toast and char some more White oak. This ought to be really really good.

[skow69]

Making my first spirit run. I've finally collected enough heads and tails to fill my pot sufficiently with 80 proof UJSSM.

I think it cleans up better if I dilute the charge to 25%-30% ABV. Like they say, water is the best filter.

[DBCFlash]

I just proofed my UJSSM down to 125 and toasted and charred some white oak. I have four half gallon jars of the best whiskey I've ever made aging and oaking. I need to hide at least two of these jars from myself so they can get some real age before I drink them. I do like to occasionally take a taste to see how the aging is progressing.

[skow69]

Sampling along the way is a time honored tradition.

[DBCFlash]

Scored some nice copper scraps at the recycling dump. 30 inches of 3" copper pipe and enough pieces of heavy copper sheets to make that thumper I've been thinking about. Thinking about making a plated column out of the 3". I'll post some pictures of my thumper progress.

[DBCFlash]

I finally gave up on the PTFE hose gasket. No matter how I tried, the drips around the top of the pot wouldn't stop. I finally ditched it and simply wrapped the top of the pot with teflon tape. I used about 8 wraps and now the lid seals perfectly. I hope no one else tried to follow my lead on that seal. Just didn't work.

I'm well into building my copper scrap thumper. Looks like it'l be nearly two gallons when it's done. I'll have to cut into my column and do a full cleaning protocol, but once it's working I'll be able to compare the proof and quality a thumper adds as I have been getting some very consistent results with my UJSSM. I'm hoping it raises my proof a few points.

[DBCFlash]

[DBCFlash]

Do you like my new thumper?

[yakattack]

VA VA VOOM

[Shine0n]

It's pretty neat, will add a lot of weight once filled though.
Do you think it may be side heavy once that thing starts rocking?
Just curious that's all.
My thumper makes my spirits come at 170ish, hearts around 165ish, sometimes depending on what I'm running I've had tails at 155 or at least the smell start there. EARLY tails, damn I said it... couldn't think of what to call them.lol

[DBCFlash]

It's pretty neat, will add a lot of weight once filled though.
Do you think it may be side heavy once that thing starts rocking?
Just curious that's all.
My thumper makes my spirits come at 170ish, hearts around 165ish, sometimes depending on what I'm running I've had tails at 155 or at least the smell start there. EARLY tails, damn I said it... couldn't think of what to call them.lol

I already ran it full of water and it was very stable. Rocked a little, just as before but nothing worrisome. I still need to do a vinegar run and a sacrificial spirit run to get it ready for duty. I have one small pinhole leak to solder shut. I'm anxious to see what changes it makes to my whiskey.

[skow69]

I love the look, spaceage steampunk. It should serve you well.

Do you unscrew it to charge it or just let it fill itself? The drain on the bottom is a great idea.

[still_stirrin]

I don't know how long those Tap-a-talk photo loads will be around. Sure wish you'd upload them to this site.
ss

[DBCFlash]

I don't know how long those Tap-a-talk photo loads will be around. Sure wish you'd upload them to this site.
ss

Loading pictures directly to this site has eluded me. I'd be very happy to do it directly, but I can't figure out how to do it.

[DBCFlash]

I love the look, spaceage steampunk. It should serve you well.

Do you unscrew it to charge it or just let it fill itself? The drain on the bottom is a great idea.

I unscrew it from the top to charge it, but I miscalculated my dimensions and it hits the pot dome before it clears the inner tube. To remove it completely I also have to unscrew the dome.
It's easy to fill it even while it's slid down onto the lid though, so it works fine. The bottom drain is nice to have.

[still_stirrin]

I don't know how long those Tap-a-talk photo loads will be around. Sure wish you'd upload them to this site.
ss

Loading pictures directly to this site has eluded me. I'd be very happy to do it directly, but I can't figure out how to do it.

Try this: Post Reply-->Upload Attachment-->Browse-->Add The File-->Submit

Maximum size is 800x800. http://www.irfanview.com/ is a great free little picture program to use for resizing photos.

[DBCFlash]

Well, why was that so difficult for me? I guess I'm getting old

[still_stirrin]

Hey Flash,

Looking at your plumbing, I have a question for you....does your thumper work? I see the thumper inlet and outlet piped to the same place on the vapor path (just above your reflux condenser).

From the photo, it looks like the two Tees are stacked on top of each other. Is there an orifice, or blocking plate between the two, forcing the vapor to divert towards the thumper? If not, I would think the operating pressure inside the thumper would be the same as the inlet and outlet...hence, no vapor flow into the thumper...and the vapor would progress straight to the product condenser.

I'm just wondering whatcha' got there....
ss

[DBCFlash]

Good eye! Yes, there is an internal cap between the two tees. I wondered who'd catch that...
I did it that way to add structure to the column and externals. If I'd just used two 90's it wouldn't be as sturdy.

[Pikey]

.........On the positive side, I ran my Birdwatchers which always runs like clockwork. I tried to get some reflux going and with my coil valve fully open and the power turned down to about 5 amps the temperature at the top stayed at a constant 180 degrees for over twenty minutes. I had just a slow drip coming off the condenser and I collected just over 250ml of foreshots. I really do think I was getting some effective reflux, but I'm thinking of modifying the top of my column to get some internal tubes as I'm sure there was vapor sneaking through the middle. Got one gallon and about another quart before tails.

DBCF - What abv were you getting at that stage please ? I think you are right and were effectively running something approaching a Coolant Management reflux still at that point, where the head temperature can be controlled to adjust the abv. I thnk that still is a fascinating piece of kit - So many options and so many things to experiment with - love it

[DBCFlash]

My heads normally come in between 165 and 170 proof. Hearts come in at around 145 to 150. I have yet to run it with the new thumper side-car. I'm hoping to see an increase of about 5 ABV, but right now that's just pure speculation. Too many other things going on right now to spend any quality time with the still, but I'll let you know when Get it back on the priority list.

[DBCFlash]

Ain't that a pretty sight?

[The Baker]

The corks don't seem to have gone far enough into the neck of the bottle; did you soak the corks first?

Geoff

[still_stirrin]

...I did it that way to add structure to the column and externals. If I'd just used two 90's it wouldn't be as sturdy.

Perfect. Good job.
ss

[DBCFlash]

The corks don't seem to have gone far enough into the neck of the bottle; did you soak the corks first?

Geoff

I don't have a corker so that's as far as I could get them.