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MitchyBourbon wrote:How full was your boiler?

Now that I think about it. This might of been the cause.

My boiler was way overfilled.
It was a sac run so I figured what the heck and just ran it.

The background noise is the burner. At 20 seconds it sounds similar but just sounds like I can hear inside the boiler. Also it appears that air is coming through. I've sprayed the joints and no leaks. I'm running a 210 GPH pond pump. My liebig is 24" & 1/2 thick. It knocks down everything I...

Sorry. Also the noise starts around the 20 second mark.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SZMkLHXDlPY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I have never heard this noise come out of the condenser where the product is captured. To me it sounds like you can hear the inside of the boiler. It also appears that there could be air coming out along with the liquid. The video will let you hear the sound. It gets louder as I place the microphone...

Of course distilling, making beer, making wine, Fishing, hunting, building computers, model cars, kayaking, photography, wood working, gardening, building guns, gun smithing, making videos, sports cards, gold prospecting, gaming, shooting & cooking. All on a normal basis, my weekends are always ...

Will do next test run guys. Thanks again.

Update: Installed the new gasket and added about 9 gallons of tap water to the keg. I could instantly see that the fit was much better an I could crank the tri clamp down tighter. After a hour of liquid coming out of the condenser I noticed no vapor or liquids leaks from the gasket. this modificatio...

Update: I used a Dremel and a 240 grit sanding bit to grind down one side of the gasket flat. a razor would work just as well pretty easily. I will update again once I have tested the gasket out. Before: http://i57.tinypic.com/15d87k5.jpg After: http://i61.tinypic.com/npkwpk.jpg Dremel tool and bit:...

WalkingWolf wrote:Where'd you find a copper ferrule?

To answer your question -- I would use it. Unless it's some elaborate, top-heavy, hybrid rig that overloads the balance.

http://tinyurl.com/copperferrule

Would soldering a copper ferrule to a copper column be strong enough to hold the column?
(For use to attach to a keg still)

I'm new to this metal work, just learned how to solder properly.
I would like to braze or weld but I have never done either.

thanks

Yes. It already bit me once when I was younger working on model cars. Thanks for the advice WW!

Ah ok. That makes sense. Maybe after slicing 1 side off it will line up better.
Thanks.

So I have been reading on here and learned that the gaskets are prone to leak from the keg to the ferrule. When I clamp my column to the keg it does not look right. 1 side has a very large gap and the opposite side has a very thin gap. Question is did I buy a bad prefabricated piece that doesn't fit...

Ok so according to the wiki on "malt" the definition is: "Malt refers to grains which have been sprouted, then dried, which prepares the starches for conversion to sugar in a [[wash]]. Malting grains develops the enzymes that are required to modify the grain's [[starch|starches]] into...

I am still a bit confused on the terms "malted barley", "barley malt", "malt extract", etc. I assume malted barley has already been converted from starches to the sugars. So what does barley malt mean? The reason I ask is I have read around on this forum other forums, t...

I guess I am just making it out to be more than it is. by the way I am sticking to the ujssm until I know it backwards, forwards, up and down. Thanks again guys I really love this hobby. Hell what else is there to do on a Saturday or Sunday? Fish and hunt I suppose. You don't know how much the above...

yeah, all of you are right. I spent 4 months learning so far, testing out stuff, spending thousands of dollars on equipment and sugar, corn, yeast, water, electricity, time. I am going to just suck it up and have a drink to you guys/girls. I know my methods are right, (I have learned from the best h...

I have been here for a small time and have learned a lot. Ran some runs. I finally got to the point to where I know I can drink what I made but I still do not feel comfortable knowing that I could go blind or die. If I would not serve myself I damn sure ain’t going to serve a family member or a frie...

FullySilenced wrote:Look at DADS set up anyone can make one of those... you could buy off the shelf pieces and make one..

happy stillin

You wouldn't happen to have a link would you?

EBay doesn't actually sell anything. Well except a service. The person you are buying from. Would be the one required to report the sale. If it was requested. That is if they are a legitimate business. Most of the sellers on eBay are not a legitimate business. Or manufacture. They are more of a hom...

pfshine wrote:Why not just get a keg. They make great boilers.

Because I jumped into this before reading. Like a noob.

does ebay have to report who has bought a still? just like those companys who make them. I am assuming they have to. I tried making a boiler but ended up wasting a lot of money. so I had to resort to ebay. I suck at screwing 2 pieces of wood together. It took me years to learn to drill that hole bef...

My parents, my moms friend (funny story), my best friend of 25 years. I was attempting to make a boiler at my parents house due to the tools available and I have been working on it for a week or so. One of my moms old friends called that she had not talked to in 10 years or so. I walk by and just ha...

That 10.48%, or 10.5% is the potential pure ethanol in the wash... However, when running the still you won't be taking off pure ethanol and you'll never extract every drop of pure ethanol in the boiler... So the volume of spirits will be greater than that percentage due to water and any other const...

1.072 - .992 = .080 x 131 = 10.48% ABV so does this mean in a 5 gallon batch 10.48% will be pure ethanol or does this mean or 10.48% fores, heads, hearts & tails. In theory I should be able to get 2 quarts (half gallon) of alcohol. when I check my OG I did not get a temperature reading my temper...

rad14701 wrote:You're gonna get chemical reactions between the copper and aluminum foil and the high proof alcohol will deteriorate the aluminum... Use flour paste instead...

did not think of that. thank you

I went ahead and did a practice cleaning on a 1 gallon still. This is different from the original image I posted. (I just wanted to make sure I was not ruining my "good" still.) I think I am going to go ahead and give it a good scrubbing and then let it naturally patina. here are the resul...

Not sure what that boiler is mae of but it shouldn't be made of anything that will rust. It is 100% copper. I was unaware that you should remove every drop of water. then I found this place. I think the water eventually evaporated and left rust. I get a slight rust residue when I do my vinegar/wate...

What part of the still is the picture?. Rad, I get that same look when I brush a hot soldered joint with flux, I always thought it was the acid in the flux turning it black. is it the same deal with acid in a wash turning it black?. If that's what is happening :think: Edit; now I've thought about i...

never heard of Bar keepers friend but it seems like it would do the job. thank you for the advice.
I would rather suffer through a long cleaning run vs nasty likker.