Need your opinion for my Pot Still

[artooks]

Hi Everyone,

I am still waiting for my parts to arrive to complete my build of my new CCVM, this is going to be added on my already owned boiler and column, so my 30" Condenser and the short column is not going to be used, I have decided to use this as a pot still, do you think this could serve me well as a pot still because I am not so sure of it, I see some pot stills which are very short, but the reason that I am asking this is this is already at my disposal so what is your thoughts on this, I would appreciate if you could share it with me.

What I am planning to do is since I own a 8 Gallon boiler, I am thinking to purchase a smaller one 3 Gallon for spirit run, I like to do small batches, so these two boilers could interchange between them since they are, triclamp.

Thanks

Here is a photo of ths short column and the 30" condenser.

[Still Life]

Having followed your posts so far, I think that'll make a fine pot still.
Give 'er a go and let's see how she performs.

Good stillin' to you.

[NZChris]

The reason for the hight of a pot still riser is to raise the outlet of the condenser to a convenient hight.

[Pikey]

Apart from ecnomy and convenience, there's no real advantage to a short column pot still AFAIK. My take off is 40" high. There is a statement on teh main site that a higher column geives increased abv.

I suggest getting some copper in there though.

[rgreen2002]

The reason for the height of a pot still riser is to raise the outlet of the condenser to a convenient height.

+1... the height of the riser should be whatever height YOU need to get the condenser positioned where/how you want it to be. It plays little role in the actual working of the pot still. Make it 6 inches or 60 inches.... the likker getting to the condenser is still the same...time may suffer though...

[artooks]

Thank you very much guys, also as I said I am working in small batches so each time I make 6 gallons of wash and my boiler is 8 gallon, I am going to get a small boiler 3 Gallon for spirit run and planning to use it with the new CCVM so first I will use the big boiler 8 Gallon then will switch to 3 Gallon boiler on the same tower, the tower is 2" in diameter, do you think this is ok to do I mean 2" with 3 Gallon boiler, there will be 1.3 Gallon low wines in there is that ok or what is your recommendation, but will have now 2 stills which I can inter change between the boilers

[Lyonsie]

Iv a potstill head that is 4" × 10" and also a column i use for vm (when packed) that is 4" × 40" long. I have ran the taller column unpacked as a potstill and the difference is negligible to say the least.
Your still is fine. Well done and best wishes.

[NZChris]

Instead of building a small still for the spirit runs, do bigger ferments so that one ferment makes three or four stripping runs worth of low wines. Put a drain valve in for quick and safe recharging. If you must build something, a Charantais style preheater would save you time, energy and cooling water.

[Pikey]

Lyonsie says the difference in [edit abv, related to the ] height of the column is very small in his experience. I wonder whether the same observation woould be found if the columns were say 1" diameter rather than 4" ?

[artooks]

Well I just want to do small batches, so taking this into account, is my 2" column diameter sufficiant for 3 gallon boiler ?

[Pikey]

Ample - depending on your heat source !

[Lyonsie]

Lyonsie says the difference in [edit abv, related to the ] height of the column is very small in his experience. I wonder whether the same observation woould be found if the columns were say 1" diameter rather than 4" ?

My missus tells me the only reason she sees that other lad at all is them 3 inches