Home Distiller

Hey everyone. I posted this in the pot still design area and the idea didnt go over that well. I wanted to know if anyone else had an opinion on it. Maybe someone that likes whiskey being aged by oak. Here is the original post: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=35327 Here is a ...

No laughing at the hand sketch. First on the left top part of the pot is what im calling the Head. The head is made of the 4" dia column and the insert. On the right top part of the pot is the condenser made of the 4"dia shell with water ports and the copper coil. The vapor will travel fro...

Thanks everyone for the imput. I really appretiate it. So i wanted to clear a couple things up and then i have a couple questions. some of your connections look like they are rubber of some sort...you are sure to get the synthetics police on you for using them, so maybe some other acceptable gasket ...

Just a couple more pics.

Back to the pot again. So i needed a lid on the 9" opening. I was lucky enough to find a plexiglass lid and gasket that fit it. The only problem is these receivers run under vacuum to they dont make clamps to fit them. I happen to find a large t-bolt style clamp and modifed it to work.

The condenser. So i used the same 4" milk filter as the column and connected them together is a tee so i could install a thermometer in between them. I coiled 3/8 copper tubing down the entire length or the pipe and then soldered the ends into a triclamp gasket that has a solid ss insert. Also ...

The column. Ok so this is why i gave this post the name "Not sure what to call the design". The column is a MIlk filter used on dairies. Its a 4"dia .065 wall x 3' pipe with a 4" triclamp fitting on top and (2) 2" triclamp fittings - one side and one bottom. It has a SS perf...

Heating element.

Add a clear window in the top 3" triclamp port and a 5" dial thermometer in the bottom port.

Thanks Theo. It would be nice to have a California posting. It would be easier to connect with people for trading material or finding good deals.

Yeah it took me a little bit to figure out how I wanted it to drip out the still. I thought just having a piece of copper pipe sticking out wouldn't look right plus I was worried about the exposed copper pipe being damaged during storage. Plus I really like the look of the old little brass spigot.

Sorry guys for not clarifying. I gutted the spigot. It's just for looks. It's not a valve. I have a ton more pics of the column and condenser. Will post them as soon as I get home.

I started posting some pics on the "My still" area. Here is a link if you guys are interested.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 50&t=35405

The pot is a 26 Gallon milk receiver used at a dairy. It Has a 9" opening on top, 3"triclamp fitting on top, (2) 3"triclamp fittings on the side and a 2"triclamp bottom fitting. The only thing i modified was welding the legs on the bottom. That actually was a little challenging b...

Hey everyone. I just finished my still and Im really excited to show everyone. I had it all apart cleaning it today and realized it didnt take many pictures of building it. Got the camera out and snapped away as i put it back together. Looking forward to any comments, questions or suggestions. Thanks.

Thanks Rookie. So I came across something on the parent site about someone bringing water up to temp in a skillet and adding a toasted oak piece in the skillet, boil it, then adding the oak boiled water into the distilled spirt. I will try to find that reference and post it here. Thanks everyone for...

That is a good point. I will keep that in mind and let everyone know how it goes.

Ok so i get the toasted/charred wood might impart Bad things, but we are doing the same thing from a all grain bill. Also balanceing between heads and tails. Isnt this the point, trying new things. Rookie, i get that your not a pot still guy and probably dont make whiskey with your bad ass "sex...

Thanks for the great advice Usge. I actually feel like i have read over the parent site like 5 times now. I have been taking eveything in from this site a guest for a while, and i felt like it was time to sign up and start contributing something back. Bushman, i actually live a little farther south ...

Thanks for the encouragement. Oak packing could be the future to whiskey distilling.

Screen insert on left that slips into column on right. 4" triclamp fitting on top. 2" triclamp fitting on top/slide of column and bottom of column. Hope this helps with the vision. I will post more detailed pics tomorrow.

unusual sweet flavor that must be from contaminates. Rookie i search that post and found this. So my theroy is somewhat correct that you could impart the vapor with what your calling contaminates in the column. Again i would be running a pot still and all grain mash. I want to impart oak like conta...

Thanks for the quick response guys. So I guess I should clarify a couple things. It's not a normal column that I would be packing. It's a 4 inch ss pipe with a strainer insert. The steam has sufficient space to pass around the insert. Still I guess wishful thinking on imparting flavor during vapor o...

I agree. Awesome picture.

Ok. I have searched this site and I didn't find a thread about using charred oak as a packing material in the column of a pot still. Please let me know if I missed it somewhere. So I was wanting to know if any one was doing this or if any one had any opinions on this. My thoughts where one hoping it...

Just wanted to say hi to everyone and thanks for the awesome site. I look forward to joining in on this forum. Thanks again.