FELIXX'S FIRST BREW

[FelixxNZ]

Kia Ora whanau
(Hi family)

So I'm just getting into this.
I just mixed 6.5kg into 20 litres of water and have it cooling in my glass carboy.

I will then add a sachet of turbo pure 7 day yeast.

Then it will be distilled in my $1 pot still.
I plan to make apple pie with it.

Pics will come

[Copperhead road]

6.5 kg’s of what????
$1 still what is it.....we love pics of stills here!

[FelixxNZ]

6.5kg white sugar

The still was a 1 gallon aluminium pot still I got at a yard sale!

I can't take photos low enough res to upload

[Stainless]

Kia Ora Whanau
Felixx, aluminium is not a recommended material for a still, get yerself a stainless stockpot, turbo yeast is also not a desirable thing, aim for 10%abv and use bakers yeast.

[Copperhead road]

Kia Ora Whanau
Felixx, aluminium is not a recommended material for a still, get yerself a stainless stockpot, turbo yeast is also not a desirable thing, aim for 10%abv and use bakers yeast.

+1 good advice!

[TDick]

Kia Ora whanau
(Hi family)
So I'm just getting into this.
I just mixed 6.5kg into 20 litres of water and have it cooling in my glass carboy.
I will then add a sachet of turbo pure 7 day yeast.
Then it will be distilled in my $1 pot still.
I plan to make apple pie with it.

Welcome Felix!
Didn't get a chance to say hello yesterday along with my usual words to live by for fellow noobs.

Read Til You Bleed.gif (24.78 KiB) Viewed 2502 times

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[FelixxNZ]

Thank you.
I will use this batch of turbo just coz I have it.
I will get/make a stainless one soon.
This one was $1 and I just wanted to have a go first.

Just added the yeast. It's the 7 day turbo. Not the 24 hope one

[Copperhead road]

You really should NOT use aluminium Felix, just grab yourself an old stainless beer keg....problem solved

After your vinegar steam Use the turbo crud to make a wash that can be used as your sacrificial run to clean the still. (Do not drink that it can be saved for future cleaning runs or fire starter)

[Stainless]

+1 I agree with that

[Pikey]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782734/

[still_stirrin]

Mother said, “Stop that, or you’ll go blind.”

Son’s response, “Can’t I do it until I need glasses?”

[FelixxNZ]

Thanks guys I will go to a thrift store and find a large stainless stock pot.
Then I can drill a hole in the lid for my condenser to go into.

Another hole for the thermometer.

[Yummyrum]

Don't need a thermometer on a pot still . Save a drill bit .

Seriously they don't tell you anything useful at all .

[Skipper1953]

Don't need a thermometer on a pot still .

Agree 100%.

Seriously they don't tell you anything useful at all .

Bah! That is entirely dependent on what you consider to be useful.

[Coyote]

Felixx,
I have been at this a long time, you Sir are headed for a crash. Slow down. We all have been where you are, "Gotta get going now!!!" STOP. You can do whatever you want to do, but you will find a huge lack of support from a group of really knowledgeable people if you continue.
Read, learn, devour, savor, then do it again. This is a great hobby and you can have a blast with it, not so much fun when you get sick, dead,
blind . . . Strive to make a superior product that you can't buy in the store, don't make the shit from the bottom shelf.


Good luck

Coyote

[FelixxNZ]

Thank you for the feedback Coyote and others

Whilst I would love a nice big still with all the whistles and bells,
I cannot afford one just now. (2 kids, one income, you know the drill)

So I decided to have a go after buying a still for $1 at a yard sale.

Its not the perfect rig, but heck I cant just drop $800 on a new still (its what they cost here, heck the turbo yeast is $8 here)

Anyway I am not trying to ignore the advice given coyote, but it is what I have just now

I am an ex chemistry/ Biology teacher so have some basic knowledge of the principles involved. This does not make me an expert, hence I joined this forum

I have done a bit of reading and have a local guy who distills a lot.

I will be doing a lot more reading as time progresses.

Anyway I put some pictures up for you to critque some more.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Before you post another sentence, you need to read the rules we live by.

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5090

No plastic, no rubber. Some may say you're trying to break every rule.

If your wasting your money on stupid turbo yeast for $8, then you haven't stopped and listened long enough to take good advice.

Read the information that was suggested. I don't care what you think you know about distillation. To start, you obviously think it takes 5x as much to make a decent still than it really does. You either came here to learn, or you didn't. If you did come to learn, than stop everything you're doing, including defending your $1 still, and start reading.

And start with our rules. They are not up for debate.

[FelixxNZ]

umm its a glass carboy

Im not trying to defend my still I was jist posting what I had.

Where is the plastic?

I am sorry I am confused..

[FelixxNZ]

OK Lets start again..
I joined this forum to ask for advice.
It appears I need a different still. Point taken. I will remedy.
I am in NZ and things here are a lot dearer than what is available in NZ. The cheapest still in the store was $800 NZ

I went to my local brew store, they supplied the turbo, they said the wee pot was OK for a beginner (I was told differently by all of you and have taken that onboard)

I also got a glass carboy at the yard sale,

Im unsure what the plastic and rubber being mentioned is unless you mean the seal around the condensor. If so. Point taken.. I will replace the seal with steel fittings when I rebuild a steel vessel.
I did use a plastic funnel to pour the sugary water into my carboy. I admit.

Sorry.

thank you for the advice.

My issue is I obviously got crok advice from the store around the corner from me.

I then joint this forum to get clarification on some points and found the store keeper had not told me much at all.

Sorry for getting off on the wrong foot.

[Saltbush Bill]

I joined this forum to ask for advice.

And you got it, you are being given good advice. These people know about distilling, they are not trying to make life hard for you. Good luck with your new hobby.

My issue is I obviously got crok advice from the store around the corner from me

Yes they wanted to sell you things you didn't need. Just one of the many things you will learn on this and other distilling forums.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Ok. Let's assume we all thought were were on the same page. Now that we know we are not, let's get some highlights.

1) Turbos are gross and expensive. The best thing to use right now, and most of your hobby is fortunately goo'd ol cheap bakers yeast.

2) Aluminum is not un safe chemically. The problem is that ferments are very acidic, and in short time will literally eat through the pot. You'll definitely load it with high proof alcohol at the worst time, and a fire will happen. Stainless pot is safe. We're big in doing it right the first time.

3) The rubber seals are toxic, and will make your hooch taste like crap. You need to replace it with a good soldering job. Flourr paste is good, but you need something to give mechanical support to that column.

4) There is no copper in your still. You need copper to make your whiskey taste good. Stainless does not remove the impurities. That column is too small to stuff with scrubbies. Also, that condensor. Not sure how effective it will do.

5) Until you know what you are doing, don't make any recipe unless it is on this website. I'm not conceded, there are other forums that have good recipies. But there are waaaaay more crap ones out there. Just stick to the ones that have been formed and analyzed by the experts here.

6) Don't listen to anyone at a brew store about distilling. They just want to make money, and often are not educated about the hobby as well as in beer brewing. Don't do anything that you see or hear on YouTube. That is idiot row.

So, my point if you start looking at it, youy already have to rebuild a column, replace the seals, and soon replace the pot. Save yourself money, and build it right starting now. There are plenty of NZ folks to help you source.

Do it right thre first time.

[Swedish Pride]

not all youtube is created equal, this is the one the defies the norm and has good, accurate concise info and in good chunk sized pieces.
He's one of your fellow kiwis
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCThY8l ... 9HVBT59zCg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Coyote]

High heat and aluminum cookware have been linked to serious health issues, altimers, and sometimers (I know, I know I can't spell this morning).

Heat water in a SS pot, and some in an aluminum pot to boiling, let cool and taste them both. Should be end of subject.

My wife tracks all things financial. Even this hobby. Until I build the new "Man Cave", in 9 years I had spent less than $2,000 USD on all my equipment
and that includes building, redesigning, & rebuilding several stills, at least 10 - 8 gallon fermeters, along with all the other "toys".

A resourceful chap can/will find beer kegs for 20 bucks at a garage sale, scrap copper pipe for cheap, and on & on. Half of the fun of this hobby is the
building of the "toys"!

The glass carboy and plastic funnel are fine before it goes in the boiler, best plan is no plastic anywhere near your still and then your always safe.

You stated you came here to learn, and you shall. The teachers here are not kind if you attempt to tell us your dog ate your homework. You do your homework and you shall reap the benefit of knowledge.

Its a great journey, enjoy the ride.

Coyote

[Copperhead road]

Don't need a thermometer on a pot still . Save a drill bit .

Seriously they don't tell you anything useful at all .

Bang on the money yummyrum, after paying for a fancy thermoport n electronic thermometer to be included in my column I don’t even bother to turn it on nowadays.

[Pikey]

Don't need a thermometer on a pot still . Save a drill bit .

Seriously they don't tell you anything useful at all .

Bang on the money yummyrum, after paying for a fancy thermoport n electronic thermometer to be included in my column I don’t even bother to turn it on nowadays.

I run pot with a thremometer at the head and I wouldn't be without it !

When the thermometer starts to rise, I know it is time to switch my cooling water on. When it reaches 100C (212) I know it is time to swiitch the still off. At any time, I can look at the thermometer and know approximately when I will be finished and therefore when to start cooking my dinner.

If I need to switch off part way through a run, I can tell from the temperature, whether to abandon the run at that point or whether to start it up again and continue.

Ok none of that is Essential knowledge which you can't guess at by other means, but why handicap yourself ?

[FelixxNZ]

Thank you for the advice.
I will see if my mate can bring his still around for a hoon..
I will use bakers yeast next time.

My goal is to eventually make some
Apple pie moonshine.

I'm not a big drinker but like to share what I make.

I already make ham and bacon from pigs my friends shoot

I also make sausages and salami and sausages from deer etc

[TDick]

OK Lets start again..
I joined this forum to ask for advice.
I am in NZ and things here are a lot dearer than what is available in NZ.
Sorry for getting off on the wrong foot.

Felixx, I know the world has changed since I studied World Geography, but that one's got me stumped!

The cheapest still in the store was $800 NZ

Not sure about the conversion rate between US and NZ $ but must be pretty damned big!
I have never been in a brew shop and there were a LOT of items like turbo yeast and airlocks I removed from my Amazon shopping list as I read more on HD.

I offered a vendor on Ebay $200 US for a new 5 gallon copper pot, thumper and worm, freight included.

(File Photo)
He accepted. Wasn't TOP quality, but more than serviceable.

Afterwards, I discovered here I could have EASILY built a Stainless Steel for much, much less.
Just a quick check online, I found the following Walmart:

5 Gallon $30

10 Gallon - $60

In fact, I could buy the 10 Gallon, incorporate it into my still, double capacity and still be well under $300 US.

I would also suggest you call a local restaurant or restaurant supply house and ask about a new or used SS stock pot.
With help from the Old Pros here, you can probably build a 20 L stainless pot for about $200 NZ

One last thing. I have been reading here and other forums for over a year.
I have gotten TONS of help and answers to my questions, even the stupid ones.
I have also been taken to task quickly and sternly when it is evident I haven't done some research first.
And ESPECIALLY if I ignore advice that applies to Safety or Best Practices.
That advice, as outlined below, is pretty damned inflexible.
Everything else is a personal decision.
Now,
Read
Build
Enjoy


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[Copperhead road]

That 10 gallon stock pot looks like pretty good quality.....

But valve for money I think an old beer keg is hard to beat plus 50L capacity is a good size for hobby, you will end up wanting that size anyways. “Guaranteed” you can pick these up second hand for thirty bucks if ya look around.

Had you been in Australia Felix I would be more than happy to gift you a beer keg to get ya started, but since your in the US maybe put the word out on the forum here that you are looking for one and the “keg genie” may appear out of nowhere.
You would be surprised what is out there if you ask nicely....

[FelixxNZ]

Sorry I'm in NZ .
Looking for a keg now.

Thank you though

[FelixxNZ]

Hi folks thank you for the advice

I went to a local brewery and am swapping 2 venison salami for a keg this afternoon.
I also found out my sister in law just began to date a plumber so I will be giving him a shopping list of copper firms etc and then he can teach me to braze up the rest of it.
Looks like the rough start on here is getting smoother.

Thanks again