My Setup

[kiwistiller]

I figure I've been here quite long enough without putting up pics of my setup, and I've just moved in to a roomier area (well... cleared out the junk from around my previous area really, but doubled the space nontheless... anyway... pics:

pot still:

VM column:

see me waving in the reflection? also note the box of barrel staves. mmmm winey.

Fermenters: electric blanket along the bottom, old duvet inner on top, cheap adjustable heat. I keep them at about 25-30.

gets bloody dirty when the fermenters get excited tho

thought some might be interested in my barrel sticks - I buzzed off about half the wine penetration. you can see some remains in this pic:

This is how I toast em up (I char sometimes too). This oven thing was 20 bucks from the local recycling center

[kiwistiller]

sorry, ran out of attachments

VM column with just the top half on (I use this for making a light rum) (and I know the condenser is, at this point, going to a chair , just set up for a demo)

The Wall Of Experiments: Found this old cabinet in the junk I cleared away to make this space. neat, eh?

cutting bench: two runs there atm awaiting attention:

shot of the whole area:

Alright, show and tells over. As you were

[HookLine]

Damn nice set up, sir. You even got a couch! I have to fit my still in among my junk and general chaos.

Can I suggest that it might be a good safety measure to put some holding bars across the shelves on the booze rack. I believe you get the occasional serious tremor (ie earthquake) in your part of the world.

[kiwistiller]

not a bad idea. no credit to me for construction of the tools, though.

[Fester]

Nice stuff. I'd be very comfortable there. Maybe too comfortable. You would need to kick me out after midnight.
Fester

[ahiaruhe]

Nice one Kiwi. I particularly like the skanky old mattress next to your cutting bench - is that in case the ol'sheila won't let you back in the house after a shine-up?

[olddog]

I wish I had that much room, My workshop would be a quarter of that.

[cob]

i wished for a bigger shop once, just got more stuff to misplace. i like the fact that kiwistiller can use all those windows without looking over his shoulder.

[kiwistiller]

Nice one Kiwi. I particularly like the skanky old mattress next to your cutting bench - is that in case the ol'sheila won't let you back in the house after a shine-up?

haha I've got loads of them. I don't own the place, I'm renting, and when I got there the garage was full of old, moulding crap like that. that's just on top of one of the piles I originally just dug a corridor down the side to get to the windows, and then hollowed out a bit more space to set things up, but I got sick of being cramped. put piles of stuff on trade me with a $1 reserve. amazing what people will come and pay you to take away rubbish. Some highlights that I found were a 3/4 size pool table, a remote control helicopter, and a bottle of wine from the 80's (delicious)

I like the fact that kiwistiller can use all those windows without looking over his shoulder.

It's a blessing indeed. Come one, come all to the borderline third world country. We've got good laws

[astrangebrew]

I'm moving in too! This place just screams to me! "Suck back and reload!!" What 'ca got for 'toons?
Tell Fester to quit hogging all of the couch (I know - anybody with a 75Lb a week sugar habit needs a little room)

[kiwistiller]

What 'ca got for 'toons?

Ok, I'm missing something in translation. I've asked the other guys in the office as well, they also can't get it. " 'toons?" what's toons?

[astrangebrew]

I still can't edit for Sh*t. should be tunes as in what's your favorite music?
All those windows still freak me out a little - but then again, you are in the hobby distilling capitol of the planet - New Zealand.
BTW Everybody I know that has been there absolutely loves the country (and the folks)..

SB

[kiwistiller]

oh, right I'm with you. well, there's the crappy little radio you can see in the pic, it only gets am but can take cds. I like pretty much all music but as far as distilling goes the soundtrack is pretty much stuck on 60s and 70s rock or Blues / jazz. or me sitting there trying to learn the guitar

[big worm]

ya'll got that crazy guy who plays an electric flute and hops around on one leg...hehehe aqualung and moonshine were there dude.

[LWTCS]

Snot was running down his nose,,da,da,da,da,daaa,,da

[olddog]

Your showing your age there Big Worm, that guy was Jethro Tull, circa 1960s

[big worm]

[goinbroke2]

ya'll got that crazy guy who plays an electric flute and hops around on one leg...hehehe aqualung and moonshine were there dude.

Jake the peg was a NewZealander? Huh, I thought he was Aussie..or did I miss something?


Rolf Harris, I new I'd think of it...or am I aging myself too?

[CletusDwight]

...trying to learn the guitar

Trouble with the guitar is nobody thought that something with more strings than y'got fingers gotta be kinda dumb idea.
'Sides, y'KNOW y' gotta play a banjo if'n y'gonna still.

[kiwistiller]

I figure I'll learn guitar first then have a crack at the banjo

Always been a woodwind player so strings are a bit of a learning curve.

[LWTCS]

'Sides, y'KNOW y' gotta play a banjo if'n y'gonna still.

Took my girl to the blacksmith shop to have her mouth made small,
She turned around a time or two and swallered shop and all.

Boil them cabbage down down,turn them hot cakes round
Only song that I can sing is boil them cabbage down.

[Retrobate]

ya'll got that crazy guy who plays an electric flute and hops around on one leg...hehehe aqualung and moonshine were there dude.

I really don't mind if you sit this one out
Youre words are but a whisper your deafness a shout
I may make you feel but i cant make you think
You're sperms in the gutter your loves in the sink.

[wkcrawler]

hey nice setup!
just wondering, the very first picture, is that gas bottle aluminum or stainless?
thanks!

[kiwistiller]

noooo idea, does it matter?

[Mud Mechanik]

Nice setup Kiwi, I will definitely look into adding a couch to mine.....

[blanikdog]

Jeez Kiwi, you have a lot of room there. I have to climb over ladders and boxes of wine and boxes of air which we have to keep for who knows what reason, and stuff hanging from the roof drying or just hanging. Certainly no room for a couch. Nice space.

blanik

[olddog]

I think Kiwi has moved since the original posting. I wonder if his new place is as spacious.

[blanikdog]

So he has, I'll bet you can't believe that I forgot that.

blanik

[olddog]

I can.

[kiwistiller]

I have moved. Nowhere near as much space

On the plus side, the sugar is cheaper, I can ferment outside, and the glass of water won't freeze by my bed over winter.

And Great Barrier Island is closer - just got back from there

Anyway I guess you'll have to wait until I get this video stuff sorted before you see the new place! the wash has finished dry so I guess I'll be filming a stripping run soon.