Our Pot Still

Simple pot still distillation and construction with or without a thumper.

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Uncle Remus
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Our Pot Still

Post by Uncle Remus »

We put together this pot still to fit on the beer keg we use for our reflux column. We did the inverted bowl thing again but used 3" copper rather than 2" that we used for the reflux still.
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This is the bowl/head/ boiler connection. The 3" copper is silver soldered to the stainless steel bowl. Bowl held down with 1" flat bar and wing nuts.
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This is the top of the head. This is 3/4" copper which couples to a water jacket type condensor. The condersor is 2" copper pipe with a 3/4" pipe (which the distillate travels through) running the length through the inside.
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Another pic of the top of the head with the thermometer.
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This is the business end of the water jacket condensor where the product is collected. The reason we made this kind of condensor was for cleaning purposes. It's super easy to clean the product tube. We tie a piece of scotchbrite pad on a piece of binder twine and pull it through, just like cleaning a rifle barrel. Notice the collection is done a considerable distance from the heat source (propane).
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We've used this still twice now. The first time was just a strip run for a sugar wash. This still works well for stripping, it is very quick if you want it to be. After stripping with this still we set up the reflux column and ran it through again for neutral spirit.

The second run with it was a whiskey run. We ran it through twice. Cut heads and tails on the second run. The hearts ran beween 70-80% AV.
The whiskey is only a couple days old but I think it turned out well.
But in all honesty I've made whiskey just as good in the reflux still with just one run. Now this is just my humble opinion...and I'm going to play with this pot still more. We still got 2 batches of rum to run. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the rum we did up in the reflux still.

That's about it any comments, questions, suggestions?
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer.
Guest

Post by Guest »

Do you use packing in the 3" mini column?
Uncle Remus
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Location: great white north

Re: Our Pot Still

Post by Uncle Remus »

theholymackerel wrote:
Damn.

It's beautiful.

I'm horribly envious of it's size and beauty.

:cry:

My only suggestion it for ya to remember that you are more than passingly familiar with yer reflux still. How many times have ya used yer new badd-ass pot still? Humm?

Heh. :D

Give yer new beauty a chance and you'll fall in love with her whiskey

abilitys.
Your right THM I only run it twice so far. I do intend on running some more whiskies and rum through it.
Thanks for your kind compliments.


Guest, no there is no packing in the mini column.







I enviously wish ya luck.[/quote]
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer.
Fourway
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Post by Fourway »

that there is a GIGANTIC condenser.
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Tater
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Post by Tater »

happyness is a big worm :lol:
I use a pot still.Sometimes with a thumper
possum
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Location: small copper potstill with limestone water

Post by possum »

WOW-- :shock: nice. Even if you only use it for a stripper you should be proud(and i'm sure you are).
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allen42
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Post by allen42 »

very very nice work Uncle remus !!
possum
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Location: small copper potstill with limestone water

Dual Use ?

Post by possum »

Uncle Remus, looks alot like a design for a uncoiled inline wort chiller, and is probably adaptable for that. Of course you probably dont need it for that untill winter is over.
Last edited by possum on Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hey guys!!! Watch this.... OUCH!
TRANSPLANTED HILLBILLY
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Post by TRANSPLANTED HILLBILLY »

Yes that is indeed a fine one! Got a nick name for it? I think it deserves one. 8)
If it was easy everybody would do it.

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Spiritmaker

Post by Spiritmaker »

Man oh man, uncle Remus, that there is one fine work of art! After seeing this I'd be ashamed for you to see my "backwoods" injineering that I call my pride an joy. This thing is a real beauty and it's pretty obvious that somebody knows and appreciates good, quality workmanship! I'm not envious, I jis wann steal it while yer not a lookin!
Spiritmaker
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