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First Timer..

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:40 pm
by Kastro
How are things all..
First timer on here, Im based in Ireland and have been into building whatever i can from recycled material and brewing beers etc

So i decided to combine the both to a certain degree and after loads of research here I built a still, it still has loads of room for improvement, but as i said i like to recycle, so im using what i can get for next to nothing :)

The belly is a 50ltr Keg that i was given by a local pub, i know the owner well ;)
then the stack is made from stainless steel that i got from the local scrap yard, in total it cost about 20euro.

criticism is welcome as im only starting out but by no means afraid.

The top hose is the inlet for the water, it flows down on the outside of the vapor pipe, reaches the bottom of its chamber and flows back up in an outer chamber coming out the lower hose.. (ill draw it up in photoshop and show)

its roughly 7 foot in height, theres no packing inside and i havent an element for it yet, i was thinking of going with gas as my welding isnt the best to put a element inside the belly.

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Im also looking for a few different poitin/poteen recipes if anyone can point me in the right direction?

Cheers.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:41 pm
by Samohon
Welcome to The Academy of Home Distillation Kastro.... :D

Nice rig you have there my friend and cheap too. But it looks like a very tall Pot still.
I dont think putting packing into the column will make the output cleaner.
Have a look for the Bokakob Slant plate, or the VM (Vapour Management) systems, you could adapt this very easily.
Either way, your gonna need some kind of reflux condenser.

Never the less man, its a great start. Your on your way to becoming addicted to home distillation.
Once again, Welcome and be safe man... :D

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:44 pm
by LWTCS
Indeed Kastro,
She's kinda perty.

Welcome

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:57 pm
by MuleKicker
LWTCS wrote:Indeed Kastro,
She's kinda perty.

Welcome
That stainless kinda grows on ya. 8)

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:18 pm
by pumpman
That is a nice looking rig but I just can't grasp what your doing with your water flow. The general rule on condensor water flow is in at the bottom and out the top. If you put your cooling water in the top you may collapse the vapor to quickly and cause problems. I would build a new liebig condensor with only one chamber over the vapor tube and run the water upward.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:01 am
by Kastro
the way its built, the water can flow in either the top or the bottom tubing.
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Re: First Timer..

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:33 pm
by Kentucky shinner
I wish I had me a good Heiliarc welder, I woul love a stainless rig... You nee to put you some copper somewhere in the vapor path however. I would at the least place a few copper scrubbies in the column.
Good luck with your shiny rig
Kentucky SHinner

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:00 pm
by MuleKicker
pumpman wrote:That is a nice looking rig but I just can't grasp what your doing with your water flow. The general rule on condensor water flow is in at the bottom and out the top. If you put your cooling water in the top you may collapse the vapor to quickly and cause problems. I would build a new liebig condensor with only one chamber over the vapor tube and run the water upward.
Yeah, looks good. But there are alot better designs out there. Needs a reflux condenser in the collumn to be a reflux rig. Its just a tall pot still right now. Think that may have been mentioned??

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:00 am
by Kastro
yeah i guess it is a tall pot still, but theres nothing wrong with that for a first project.. ;)
gunna get it finally assembled and see how it runs, hopefully like a charm :D

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:06 am
by LWTCS
Kastro wrote:yeah i guess it is a tall pot still, but theres nothing wrong with that for a first project.. ;)
gunna get it finally assembled and see how it runs, hopefully like a charm :D

I'm sure she will do just fine.

Strip run hard and fast collect everything down to 20% or so.
Then a spirit run.
Collect in small jars
find the center jar and work your way out to conclude what your keeping for drink.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:40 am
by Kastro
so strip with enough heat that the top of the column is almost too hot to touch and hen reduce heat yea? what type of a wash/water and vinager should i use for that or is there an area about strip runs that i should read about?

im also a little worried about the o rings i have in between the column and keg etc, im not sure if they will stand up to the spirit.

is there more reading materials regarding the jars?
sorry im asking so much questions rather than searching, im in work and cant be seen to using internet so much, i can have a nice long read tonight.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:59 am
by LWTCS
O RINGS!!!!

No rubber in that vapor path.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:03 am
by LWTCS
Too many basic questions.

Post no more till a few reading days have past.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:16 am
by Kastro
sorry been stuck in work and havent been able to really get much reading done.
have a good evening of reading in front of me.

cheers.

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:47 pm
by davidwh
As a side issue,

my first pot design was fairly high...over a metre (mainly cost i was not settled on final design at the time). Given the hieght, it induces some natural reflux aided by just 2 scrubbers.
man could it pull high abv's like mid 70's without issue...

Height could be an absolute bonus 4 you

dave

Re: First Timer..

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 3:02 am
by Kastro
cheers dave, ive been thinking of adding some copper or stainless scrubs as packing and maby a outer cooling coil on the stem close to the top to induce more reflux.. that wont be for a few weeks, i want to run it as is first to see the difference, ive changed up the design a little so the water is introduced from the bottom tube on the still, it was a simple reading error on my behalf..
been reading loads the last few days, even managing to sneak in a hour in work :)

of to check out some more on wiki.

cant wait for my first cook :)