building a still

[wildman1983]

hey guys i have got 16qt stock pot which is going to be my boiler and a 8qt stock pot i was going to use as a thumper then off that with a worm should i use cooper pipe or cooper tubeing if pipe what kind of conector can i use to come off the lid and will cork rubber gasket be alright to seal it thanks for information

[wildman1983]

can someone please help me out i am just starting out just need some information. any and i would be thankful

[rad14701]

If this is your first still I would recommend skipping the thumper until you have a firm grasp on how a pot still works... Any minimal increase in performance will only complicate the learning process... And for such a small still there is little benefit in using a thumper... The thumper itself will hold more liquid than you will be collecting... Stick with a simple pot still and leave it at that...

[wildman1983]

thanks rad i thought the same so if i go with a ss stock pot come out with a 3/8 worm and use flour and water to seal it. that is my plan but my question is will my first run i now u get rid of the first 100ml or more and then u get the heads then is the middle fit to drink. i know i can rerun it but if i dont what will be the proof be i am new and just trying to learn cant build a big still right now trying to move right now will when i get settled cant have a bunch of stuff laying around when people come and look at my house and plus i am new to this trying to get started. just want to make some safe drink for now. i now the more u rerun the pure it gets really all i want is to make some distant moonshine but i want to be safe i now this way ant as good as a reflux but i am just wanting to get into the hobby any information will be thankful. thanks

[rad14701]

Piss on what the proof is, just rerun it to make sure your still is clean enough to produce spirits that are safe to drink... Worry about the still first and drinking later... You can make up another wash to distill and drink but you only get one set of vital organs and one life... Get used to wastage because this won't be your last...

[wildman1983]

good point rad i have one other question i went to lowes today and got some corks that look like wine corks will they be safe to put my themometer in how ever u spell that thanks for any information

[rad14701]

good point rad i have one other question i went to lowes today and got some corks that look like wine corks will they be safe to put my themometer in how ever u spell that thanks for any information

Solid pure corks, not composition corks which contain bonding agents, are fine...