Home Distiller

Slowly, slowly… This week I received all of the parts for my 4” 4-plate flute column. I have my boiler, my 5.5lW ripple element with housing and cable, and I have all the components I need to build an element controller. Plus, I just scored a BAP (20gal Spike brewing kettle) and a 50’ 1/2” copper wo...

… A 3" dedIcated Nuetral still is a better option .Maybe just use a 3" packed column but keep the 4" Deflag and above for neutrals. Thanks for the input, Yummy. I have a few feet of 3” copper tube on which I can slap some TC ferrules to make a dedicated neutrals column, then the deph...

Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Fri Aug 26, 2022 12:18 pm Nothing wrong with putting a 4 plate 4 inch column on a 50 L keg..............it's a very common combination.

Thanks very much, Bill!

Based on considerations of the limited spare time I have to play with, I’ve decided to purchase a modular bubble plate still. I’m choosing to spend money to save time on build so that I can move into fermenting/distilling sooner, and have ample flexibility to go in a few directions. Recapping, my in...

Okay, it’s been a while. I hope everyone is well. I’ve been busy with the less fun parts of life, so I haven’t made the progress I had hoped for. Based on considerations of the limited spare time I have to play with, I’ve decided to purchase a modular bubble plate still. I’m choosing to spend money ...

Prairiepiss wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:12 pm Have you read though the Flute talk thread? Yes all of it?
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=17952

Zombie thread resurrection: anyone know why I cannot access the quoted thread?

Thanks!

Alas, I am not knowledgeable with the physics (fluid dynamics?) involved, so cannot advise you. How much resistance does your heat-exchanger have? Got a pic maybe? Sorry, I thought I’d posted a link to the heat exchanger. 12”x12” is the smallest I’d consider going. I haven’t actually run the number...

I have been more than happy with this pump. It's 7' max lift works nicely on my (64" packed) CCVM rig and despite being quite small, has never been 'primed'. It also drives my wort chiller to cool each mash to pitch temp. It's been a workhorse and I just replaced the original one I bought in '...

IMO the amount of extra separation will be about zero "once the column and packing heat up".....or if you get any at all it wont be noticable without some sort of scientific equipment to measure the difference. Completely agree, especially for the separation of water/ethanol. One would pr...

You won't benefit having the riser full of packing during a pot still stripping run or a pot still spirit run. Since my still is 100% stainless, I put 3-4 rolls of copper mesh at the base of the riser due to the lack of copper. The only way to benefit from a fully packed column is if you have a ref...

Vulpes, I see your drawing shows a certain kind of 6" reducer on top of the boiler. I would compare the price of this kind of reducer from multiple sources. You might be able to save some money. Salt, I’ve actually found end-cap reducers from this company for less (https://conical-fermenter.co...

Copper placement research. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.2050-0416.2011.tb00450.x/pdf 15% in the wash is a bit ambitious and may stress the yeast into making undesirable flavors. NZChris, thank you! Journal articles! I am here for this! Also, a 15% wash was just a straw man scenario ...

Ok, I've been reading and thinking and planning and obsessing. I'm going to post on this thread until I get things up and running, at which time I can create a new thread illustrating tangible progress. This post is a bit long, it's me kind of thinking out loud and... ahem... distilling my ideas dow...

Thanks for all the friendly greetings everyone. Sorry If I don't reply to all of them. I've talked myself down to starting with a pot still to get the hang of things, work on some sugar washes and then maybe try something on the easier side like a rum or something. I found out that I have an unused ...

can3443 wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 9:13 am One thing to throw a wrench in your information overload stage...

Thanks for the suggestion, can.

Welcome to HD! I'd shoot for a 15 gallon boiler - either a keg which you would then need to modify with the various riser/column/element/drain/fill ports or maybe a similar sized milkcan boiler with the ports already there... Potstill riser and liebig then you can add a reflux column at some point....

Thanks, CC. I don’t want to overstate any experience I come to the table with. Bench top distillation with lab glassware is one thing, but operating a still for producing potables is a whole other beast. I probably have enough background knowledge to trick myself into thinking I know what’s what, on...

Hi all, I’m an aspiring hobbyist in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. I say aspiring hobbyist to mean that I’m aspiring to have a hobby. I’ve spent the last 10-15 years focused mostly on career and family and am now looking for something to add a little creativity and balance to my life. Home distil...