Home Distiller

Who buys Everclear?? Kidding.. I finally got through with this after two days of running and turned the heat up.. Now it's dropped to 160.. Son of a.... So i guess I'll just proof this down, throw some oak chips in it, and let y'all know how it turns out in six months or so. If i can wait that long ...

Thanks for all the input. I'm happy with what's going on. I'll probably end up filtering a bunch of the high proof stuff through my homemade four-stage activated carbon filer and using it as a neutral. but I still got quite a bit of hearts to put on oak. Which I will post in a new thread...

OK... I just tested my meter with a bottle of Seagrams 7, 40% ABV. My meter read 45% @ 73 Deg F (room temp). Using the parent site calculator, this shows me that my meter is high by 3%. So worst case, I'm still pulling around 87% (90 x .03 = 2.7). After about a gallon at that ABV, I think it's final...

No, but according to the Alcohol Temperature Correction calculator on the parent site, the true ABV is 89.1% (90% @ 66 deg F). I'm probably running too slow for a pot still (3-4 drips to a broken stream). But what's coming off now is carrying a strong tails flavor, but still a very high proof. Ultim...

So I finally got enough UJSSM saved up from three and a half stripping runs (had to toss half a run when I scorched my thumper) to do my spirit run. I charged the boiler with five gallons of 50%, and dumped in another gallon of bottled spring water to bring it down to 40%. I dumped a gallon of prehe...

Just my $0.02, but I like the tall 1/4 as a thumper mainly because it's exactly the same height as the 1/2 keg. Makes setup a breeze because you don't have to elevate the thump keg or run more copper than necessary. Here's my setup, and aside from scorching the thump keg with a torch a couple of wee...

Thanks for the help guys! As for patience, two quarts of rye and two quarts of UJSSM on medium toasted oak chips. THAT will test your patience!

Happy "Big Game" day everybody! (Don't want to get the site in trouble for copywright ingringement :D ). After having to shut down mid-run, on restart I tried to get things rolling a little faster by pre-heating the thump keg with a torch (see pic). I had the nozzle right up against the ho...

The plan is to have the boiler and thumper at the same height. I already have a length of 2", so I'm just wanting to make sure I'm not wasting materials.

So is there any benefit to having longer connecting pipes? Either on the verticals or the horizontal? Or is it pretty much irrelevant on this small of a setup? I could save around two feet of the 2" if there's not. And would OK to leave any of the fillings unsoldered and just paste them up when...

OK. Thanks for the input. That was my initial design, just up-90-over-90-down. But I figured I could get a little "cleaner" by introducing the angle that I could pack with copper. I'd like to make a good, clean, flavored whiskey, and not yet worrying about neutral spirits.

Initially I'll be using a propane burner, but when time (read: $$) allow, I'd like to add an electric element to the boiler.

Hello, and thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience. I'm bringing this over from the introductions forum to get some input on my first build. Currently, I have the material for a 2" angled lyne arm then down into the thump. Coming out of the thump via 1" to the worm. I...

Nevermind....

Thanks autocorrect.... Lirbig arm, not lie if arm.....

Thanks for the info. Currently, I have the material for a 2" angled lyne arm then down into the thump. Coming out of the thump via 1" to the worm. I have the material, and will probably build, a nice lie if arm to replace the worm. I will post a couple photos in the"My First" for...

Hello to all. I've been reading this site for a couple months now, learned a ton, and have finally decided to jump in. I'm mainly interested in a pot still for flavored brandies, and true corn moonshine. At least to begin with. About a month ago, I drew up a design using a SS stockpot and SS mixing ...