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Disclaimer! I have only made two barrels up to now. But i have had great succes using grooves and a "loose tongue", in essence an elongated biscuit joint. I stopped just shy of the ends, as I figured it would minimise potential sources for leaks. I used a ball bearing supported groove bit...

I've used a 9mm flute bit. To cut the groove. Then alter cutter height to make the tongue. Really fidley and requires a router bench/table and you are sure the cutter doesn't move in the collet. I usually make one head at a time. So can tolerate the caffeine of set up. Also helps I've got access to...

For those that use a T&G type connection to join the staves, what type of bit works best? Looks like there are several router but patterns out there that could maybe work.

I have been playing around with bung alternatives. I soldered in a stainless steel coupling using a very cool little device from brew hardware. It's a dimpling die that also pushes the coupling I into the can. I don't have the skills to weld so this seems like a great alternative if anyone is lookin...

I'm really liking the sound of a badmo shop Vinyard meet up!

Since my first badmo barrel (#249) I have been propping them up from the back so all the liquid can come into contact with the barrel head. In my mind this would mean the s/v would go up as the amount of barrel head surface area in contact with the liquid stays the same as the volume decreases with ...

Ok cool. Do you by chance have a link. I seem to be having a hard time locating these types.of bolts. I opened Chrome and did a google search for “3/4" x 2" 304 stainless steel bolt hex” and got a handful of results. Marine Bolt came up first with 304 stainless bolts. The Amazon hit was f...

I'm very interested in a meet up. I'm in Portland. It would be nice to share ideas with people who are also into it. Never really been able to talk one on one with anyone also in the hobby.

People talk about using a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar and run it through with the condenser off for about an hour. Sugar wash is probably the cheapest and best thing to do for a sacrificial run. I think you are saying is with the condenser coolant water off but with the condenser connected s...

Yep exactly

People talk about using a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar and run it through with the condenser off for about an hour. Sugar wash is probably the cheapest and best thing to do for a sacrificial run.

Ok cool. Do you by chance have a link. I seem to be having a hard time locating these types.of bolts. I opened Chrome and did a google search for “3/4" x 2" 304 stainless steel bolt hex” and got a handful of results. Marine Bolt came up first with 304 stainless bolts. The Amazon hit was f...

What's everyone's thoughts on alternative materials for the bung. I don't really want to spend the money on the equipment to taper a bung with a matching tapered hole. I have thought about using a stainless steel bolt but the bigger ones are harder to find and kind of expensive. I have also thought...

What's everyone's thoughts on alternative materials for the bung. I don't really want to spend the money on the equipment to taper a bung with a matching tapered hole. I have thought about using a stainless steel bolt but the bigger ones are harder to find and kind of expensive. I have also thought...

So I got one of the Badmo legacy infinity barrels with the 1-1/2" tri-clamp port welded into it. image.png Really like the idea, but they're extra spendy and the cork they sent was complete garbage (leaked from the get go and broke off in the port after one use). cork.JPG There's been talk mul...

subbrew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:22 am I use a SS bolt on my Badmo clones and I have run them in and out with no problem I did have one leak from the initial fill but just coated it with beeswax and it sealed when I ran in back in.

What size bolt did you use and where did you get it?

You can get 1/2"NPT (~3/4" holes size) stainless plugs on amazon for about $3.00 each, much cheaper than large stainless bolts. Yeah I saw those. Do you know how long the threaded part of those are? I have no idea if it's an issue but would it be an issue if only half the hole was taken u...

higgins wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:42 am I've used T-tops from old liquor bottles as bungs in some of my badmo clones. I just drill a hole the same size as the bottle neck (usually 19mm). I make sure I only use those with real cork rather than synthetic.

Have you ever put the cork in the stainless as opposed to the wood?

higgins wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:42 am I've used T-tops from old liquor bottles as bungs in some of my badmo clones. I just drill a hole the same size as the bottle neck (usually 19mm). I make sure I only use those with real cork rather than synthetic.

A cork does sound like the easiest way. That seals ok?

That's an idea. Would it be ab issue fitting the Tapered bung into a straight hole?

What's everyone's thoughts on alternative materials for the bung. I don't really want to spend the money on the equipment to taper a bung with a matching tapered hole. I have thought about using a stainless steel bolt but the bigger ones are harder to find and kind of expensive. I have also thought ...

Thanks otis. I'm using a band saw with a circle cutting jig and then finish it off with a disc sander with a jig similar to the one Ben had initially.

So if you are using a tongue and groove. If you buy one of the standard tongue and groove bits for a router is the fit snug enough for the staves to press fit together to stay together when cutting the circle?

Alright cool thanks. I will look at getting a heat gun. So you fit the staves together without wax, cut the circle, take the staves apart then apply wax and clamp together?

Thanks for the reply otis. Do you think using something like a heat gun would work to soften up the wax before squeezing the staves together?

I have been trying to dial in my process for making my own badmo barrels. I'm practicing with 2x4s as to not ruin the good wood until I'm sure I know what I'm doing. I have been jointing the boards and using dowels. When I dry fit the boards together they fit perfect, no gaps. When I apply a thin la...

Distilling with reflux column is a whole new experience. It will take some practice. There are a lot of good videos and articles out there. I would recommend pumping water to the dephlagmater from a separate pump as opposed to a hose from the house to avoid water pressure fluctuations, that will re...

Distilling with reflux column is a whole new experience. It will take some practice. There are a lot of good videos and articles out there. I would recommend pumping water to the dephlagmater from a separate pump as opposed to a hose from the house to avoid water pressure fluctuations, that will rea...

Anyone know of a good way to smooth out the edge of the barrel head and get the slight taper to.match the barrel without using a disc sander which I don't have access to?

Hello everyone. Been distilling for a couple years now and have somehow not been a member here until now, but I have looked over many topics here. Currently trying to figure out how I'm going to build a bad mo barrel.