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rad14701 wrote:If you understand thumpers then you understand the WHY behind the sizing... And if you don't, you don't...

I don't - obviously. Maybe I'll just use one to practice my silver/stainless soldering on.

Can we noodle through the pros/cons?

He does occasionally get 6 gal kegs.

So I've gotten pretty good at turning kegs into fermenters, but now I've run across a healthy source of kegs. They are a metal recycler and I walked away with two perfect kegs. I already have a big boiler and keg fermenter, so what now? I half enjoy this hobby for the build aspect and I half enjoy t...

Thanks all. I'm at 45 degrees. I recently rebuilt my pot still head to be much shorter. I had something 2' with gauges (pressure and temp) and found they didn't matter much (just a rough idea when I needed to sit and monitor). With the shorter head, and a much bigger liebig, I'm stuck at 45 deg for ...

Hello -

Working up a new liebig condenser and I was wondering if there's any harm to making it vertical?

Generally, I have it pointed down and away from the still at about 45 degrees, but with the new pot still head, my preference would be vertical.

Thoughts?

Also - any idea on the gauge of the copper?

This same technique- ever join two funnels big-end to big-end and build it into your column?

Hey!

Love the funnel - what gauge of copper did you use for this?

Also - where does one get it?

Windy City wrote:
Are you using a ultra low watt density element?
When you rack you could put some cheese cloth in a funnel to help filter any solids that may get by.

I rack from the 30 gal through a fine mesh (100?) particulate filter and have a curvy 5500 watt element (run at 110/10 amps):

After running out of jars when collecting in 100 ml increments, I collect in 200ml increments and usually have 40+ jars to cut from. From a noob to a noob - sounds about right! I taste via a few drops in a demitasse spoon during the spirit run, then as others suggest some ratio of spirit to water to...

I think I can attribute it to 2 things: - running too hot - getting some yeast I know yeast is sometimes my issue (once I was really careless and blew an element). At my best, if this were a beer, and when I was homebrewing, I never had crystal clear beer at the bottling stage. Via iodine tests, the...

Was contemplating a chugger pump to recirculate the charge in the still....


Would also use it during the cooking process as well?

Hmmm - I'm not - I rack from my fermentation vessel to a 30 gal fermenter and then let it settle for 24-48 hours. Then, I rack from there to the still, but no matter how careful I am, there is sediment and for stripping runs, the wash gets scorched a bit. Generally, it imparts an awesome toasted fla...

This is FANTASTIC! I've been contemplating a way to reduce the amount of time spent in the garage on the weekends and how to get better product with fewer runs. Quite the wiki - you make it look EASY! Two suggestions: 1 - when winding the copper coil, I found if I fill the coil with water (essential...

Used a gallon of back set for my spirit run (combining 4 strippers).

Even though it was a tad toasty from the stripping run, holy hell is there a ton of flavor.

I'd love to try with a wash next.

Thanks all!!!

Hi all! Was wondering- has anyone found a good way to prevent even slight toasting during a stripping run? I've toured several very small scale distilleries now and have seen everything from a diffuser plate (for direct flame) to air controlled agitators. I have a vague recollection of someone sugge...

Is there any other good option instead of straight water?

NZChris wrote:I don't use it, preferring to strip to around 40%, then further diluting with wash.

You make a sugar wash just to dilute?

Cool - little bit confused - but yeah, potstill here...

Hi all -

Is it TERRIBLE not to use backset when doing spirit runs?

How much am I leaving on the table by just charging with water and several stripping runs?

wonderful. glad all the images were rotated wrong....

Well - took some time to finish this out, but here it is. Worked great. No more shifting around between 6 gal buckets. ALSO picked up a 30 gal "wine fermenter" (looks like a food grade garbage can with locking lid). So now I rack over from the 15 gal fermenter to the 30 and let it settle o...

Yeah - the keg will be next to nothing for me so I just need to invest in the construction (I have a lot of the parts kicking around). The butterfly valve - I was thinking about a slow/controlled drain of the yeast - won't the butterfly just dump it out? I've seen several plans now similar to what y...

Do one ferment find the line where the solids settle and put your drain above that height maybe, or put a false bottom in it.if you've got an extra keg rack from one to the other, spitballing ideas. Yeah, I like that - if you look at conical fermenters, there's a drain at the bottom (for yeast) and...

Yeah - this is what I'm struggling with. I was thinking I'd open the valve to drain it and drain the yeast and any solids into one bucket, then send the rest into the still. I'm _sure_ it's not that easy so maybe it's just a matter of racking it over - carefully (I blew an element not too long ago b...

Hi all - I've been searching around and I'm desperate to replace my collection of 6 gallon brewing buckets with ONE large fermenter capable of holding 10 - 12 gallons. I've managed to get my hands on a supply of kegs, and thinking I'm going to turn one into a fermenter. I'm thinking of doing this in...

Thanks man - yeah, I think I'm gonna find a plastic trash can and just go with that next time.

Hmm - found this post, seems like I'm overdoing it...


http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =1&t=17585

Hi all - I've been running a liebig for a bit, but this is the first time I've run it on a super hot/humid day. I've noticed a TON of condensation on the outside, I'm guessing there's even more on the inside. I fill a big cooler with cold water (and add some ice) and magically, the water hovers arou...