Home Distiller

Also, I am asking the community for help in talking me out of this terrible idea I've been kicking around...

Hi Again Everyone! I figured I ought to do one of these as it's been a good decade or so since I was lurking in these parts. Life's been good and I'm now an organic grain farmer (hence my absence-- been pretty busy). I was sitting here eating lunch with my brother thinking about what we're going to ...

I have found that half couplings work better than couplings. I think that they have so few threads that the taper is not sufficient enough to cause it to bind up. Electric elements screw into these as though they are straight threads-- at least for me.

I wonder too if you need to collect another round of heads (briefly) or perhaps re-equilibrate on just the one plate for a while. I've noticed that when I halt a run and then restart it, for some reason I always need to collect a bit of heads again. I can't really explain it but it seems like if you...

I just included the packing as an idea for people who want to make neutral. As I said, I would exclude that part in my design as I would want flavored. LWTCS, how to you think a bubble cap plate would compare to your humper thumper?

The VM still I want to modify is this one IMG_0339 (Edit).JPG Here's a basic diagram of what I'd like to do with it. VM Flute2.pdf I'm more of a whiskey guy so I'm not too interested in producing 96% anymore (hence the desire to convert!), however I included an idea for a packed column to be include...

This 2" project of your has got me thinking that I want to try and convert my 2" VM column to a valved flute using the same reflux condenser and most of the same equipment. That way I could simply cut my 2" column down to size, add some bubble cap plates instead of packing, and throw ...

Would it be possible to simply use maybe six internal elements and underpower them to such a degree that they wont scorch the grains? What would be the maximum number of joules per square inch one could have before scorching would occur? Although probably really dangerous to do at home, I was also t...

What would you reckon the reflux ratio is on a flute when you're collecting?If it's low enough, I wonder if you could move the reflux condenser (dephlag) above the take off and throw a gate valve in the take off arm. This would make the flute more of a vapor management set up rather than a coolant m...

I use those water boiler elements and they have a black rubber gasket on them. I just use it as is. I've done tons of runs-- even spirit runs-- and I haven't noticed any signs of degradation. To each his own I guess. I might try to wrap the threads in teflon next time so as to try and limit exposure...

I've been meaning to get my special aging machine too. It's one of those fire proof gun safes with a combo lock. I'll just give the lady all my stuff that's oaking and she'll put it in there and not tell me the combo. When I finally figure out how to get into it, it'll be plenty aged. That's the mos...

I like it. The only thing is that I'm a bit concerned about the safety of this still. That tube is pretty dang small to be coming off of a keg. I'd be a little concerned about that thing plugging and blowing up. Wouldn't be too hard to have another hole drilled and tapped into that tri-clamp fitting...

^^^ That's the big ticket. For a while, I used to keep my neutral at ~95% until I was going to drink it. I'd then dilute it, and drink away. I found that it would be very astringent whenever I did this. It would have much more of that rubbing alcohol flavor. Now mind you that I have a well tuned VM ...

Please forgive me but I must ask a lazy question. These threads have simply gotten WAY too long to sift through. I don't know what happened in the past couple years but god damn. Is there something wrong with Pint's old control? I guess I'm just thrown off by the fact that he posted a control that s...

I wonder if it would matter if the gin basket is below or above the dephlag. I think perhaps you would leach out a bunch of the goodies too early in the run with this setup. Maybe something to consider would be to put the basket above the dephlag. so predominately vapor that's to be collected intera...

I was wondering, wouldn't directing reflux from one plate to another plate mess up the equilibration of the column? I thought a plate was more of a thermal environment rather than a physical plate. If you direct cooler condensate from a higher up plate to a lower plate, aren't you essentially making...

Oh thank god. I was staying up pacing, thinking about spending so much money. Oh my goodness! No problem to match that. It's the copper boiler that gets me. I actually already had the laser cutters help with my project: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/Centimeter/IMG_0341Edit.jpg" onclick=&...

Ok, this is getting out of hand old dog. I can understand the column, but an all copper boiler with a stainless port? Wher're you getting these fantastic materials? I could do what you're doing, but I'd have to employ the laser cutters downtown. Alright. I guess them's fight'n words. Get ready OD. Y...

I think this design has a great deal of merit for making flavored alcohol. Neutral, I'm kind of leaning to the old flute design. That being said, I would like to see one alteration to the design. I really like where you're going with this, however I think you guys are thinking like a neutral produce...

Argh, I leave for a bit thinking all is well with my pot still and VM column. No more money and time being spent on building stils, just plain making and enjoying. Then I think, hey let me see what's up with the forum. Bam! Flutes. Thanks to you Old Dog et al, I will soon be out thousands of dollars...

I run my vapor management reflux still with a 5ft column using 1500W (3000W to bring to a boil). With a boiler charge of 7.5 gallons, it gets boiling in ~45minutes and, aside from heads, I collect 1L/hr of 92-94% for the extent of the run. For tails, I crank the valve all the way open and increase t...

Ah, a fellow beekeeper!

I heat the pipes before adding the salt. Once bent, I just run water through the setup to dissolve the salt.

I figured I'd post some pictures of the reflux still actually running. As you can see, it's a gigantic still being operated in a VERY small apartment. I had to cut a hole in the ceiling just to fit the dang thing! Anyhow, I just thought it was funny and wanted to share it. I also included another pi...

Goodness... You should call that thing Goldberg. Anyhow, props on such a neat looking still! It seems to me that your long tapered arm would strip out a bunch of flavor. I understand that you want to make it easier on your condenser, however it's also giving rise to a rather significant temperature ...

It certainly works a little bit. I'm not exactly sure why though. I think it gives it some body, which maybe keeps your tongue from focusing on the harshness as much? I think it's kind of like how a dry wine is a bit harsh when compared to a sweeter wine. None the less, it really does work and is em...

I think that this is a very wise design. Here's my thoughts on it though (Take it or leave it I guess). Do you have any sort of collar that funnels the refluxed distillate into the center of the packing? If not, I would definitely recommend this. I wouldn't be surprised if you compressed your heads ...

If it's a quality electric stove, it might not cycle very much. I always thought that cycling was a cheap means to regulate heat output. I'd reckon on higher end stoves, they might have a relatively consistent heating setup. Worth testing at least.

I just use Bernzomatic plumbing solid wire solder. Here's its MSDS: http://www.bernzomatic.com/Portals/8/Resources/msdsSheets/eng_Leadfree_Solder_Solid_Wire_MSDS.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow Nothing but Silver, Tin, and Copper. You ought to be...

95%? That's honestly quite impressive for a plate still of that size (I think...). What kind of collection rates do you get?

Beautiful work! Do you do mostly flavored runs or do you run vodka on it too? What kind of ABVs do you see? How clear are the cuts? Etc.