My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Many like to post about a first successful ferment (or first all grain mash), or first still built/bought or first good run of the still. Tell us about all of these great times here.
Pics are VERY welcome, we drool over pretty copper 8)

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

Hey guys been awhile since my last post, I been working on a safer still site before I bbn posted anymore. I'm now setup in a garage, a hour from where I live but I feel much safer far as someone popping in as this place is in the hills. I ditched then styrofoam archery target and now have cinder blocks and concrete bags, which I been soaking with water to get them hard then I will beem taking off the paper. I now also run a thumper, a third of the size of my pot, thanks to a friend on here I made, I'm very grateful for. I think this a safer setup than my previous. Let me know guys
20210731_201259.jpg
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

I'm been cleaning it up also, there is a few things laying there but is not there now as I been cleaning it more during the run
User avatar
jonnys_spirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
Location: The Milky Way

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by jonnys_spirit »

79242599-BC73-4CC9-8806-885CD1757118.jpeg
A lil easier to see here.
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
User avatar
Deplorable
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3980
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:10 pm
Location: In the East, (IYKYK)

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Deplorable »

Looks much safer.
Fear and ridicule are the tactics of weak-minded cowards and tyrants who have no other leadership talent from which to draw in order to persuade.
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

Deplorable wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 5:59 pm Looks much safer.
Thank you, it's going to get better from here.
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 5:32 pm 79242599-BC73-4CC9-8806-885CD1757118.jpeg

A lil easier to see here.
Thank you Johnny, I'm still learning how to do pics on here lol
Corn Cracker
Swill Maker
Posts: 377
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 7:25 am
Location: Southern U.S

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Corn Cracker »

Cool, man! That's a whole lot better!!!
An hour away sux but, risk vs reward is now evening out a bit
"To ease the pressures of this world here's the way i got it figured, the thing to do for me and you is to drink lots of good corn liquor"
Buck Owens
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

Corn Cracker wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 4:20 am Cool, man! That's a whole lot better!!!
An hour away sux but, risk vs reward is now evening out a bit
Ya, it does feel alot better
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7596
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Yummyrum »

Good stuff Hybrid pot still :thumbup:
Thanks for letting us know how you sorted it .

Just make sure you have plenty of ventilation . Windows open .
Don’t want to asphyxiate yourself .
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

Yummyrum wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:23 pm Good stuff Hybrid pot still :thumbup:
Thanks for letting us know how you sorted it .

Just make sure you have plenty of ventilation . Windows open .
Don’t want to asphyxiate yourself .
Thank you Yummyrum, didn't mean to take so long but had to move everything a hour away and re plumb it because of new spot and I added a thumper and had to plumb it also and have to drive a hour to it everytime I do something to run it, but i like it alot better there, safer and more room and nobody around for miles lol. I do, and garage door open. Alot better than before
opus345
Novice
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2019 10:59 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by opus345 »

If you don't have one, a Fire Extinguisher would be a great safety addition.

Take care

opus
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

opus345 wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:33 pm If you don't have one, a Fire Extinguisher would be a great safety addition.

Take care

opus
I do have one, a couple, a water charge with air and a ABC. I figure if something bad was to happen, I would try water one first because it would be easier to clean up than a ABC with chemical everywhere lol
The Baker
Master of Distillation
Posts: 4656
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:48 am
Location: Northern Victoria, Australia

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by The Baker »

Check out types of fire extinguisher for ethanol fires.
I know water itself can spread the flames.
Unsure about water based extinguishers.
It seems carbon dioxide extinguishers are good, and clean-up is minimal. That's
why we had them in the bakery.

Geoff
The Baker
Corn Cracker
Swill Maker
Posts: 377
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 7:25 am
Location: Southern U.S

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Corn Cracker »

If it's an alcohol fire don't use water on it.
Keep progressing brotha, your gonna have the safest set up around before long pumping out some quality likker
"To ease the pressures of this world here's the way i got it figured, the thing to do for me and you is to drink lots of good corn liquor"
Buck Owens
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

The Baker wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:44 pm Check out types of fire extinguisher for ethanol fires.
I know water itself can spread the flames.
Unsure about water based extinguishers.
It seems carbon dioxide extinguishers are good, and clean-up is minimal. That's
why we had them in the bakery.

Geoff
Alright, that's good to know, thank you. I'm going to look into one of them
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

Corn Cracker wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:53 pm If it's an alcohol fire don't use water on it.
Keep progressing brotha, your gonna have the safest set up around before long pumping out some quality likker
Thank you Corn Cracker. I'm working on it and will continue to progress. Been doing a lot of reading on some new things, I'll post some pics of them soon and see what you all think before I apply them to a real likker run
User avatar
S-Cackalacky
retired
Posts: 5990
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Virginia, USA

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by S-Cackalacky »

Corn Cracker wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:53 pm If it's an alcohol fire don't use water on it.
Keep progressing brotha, your gonna have the safest set up around before long pumping out some quality likker
Have to disagree with that advice. Alcohol mixes with water and will bring down the ABV to the point that it is no longer combustible.

Flammable petroleum based liquids are the opposite. It will float on the surface of the water and spread the flame. Water should never be used to try to extinguish an oil based fire.

This is well documented over the history of the forum. I have a garden sprayer loaded with water nearby when I distill.
Every new member should read this before doing anything else:
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9645
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Saltbush Bill »

I agree........there is always a garden hose close handy near my still along with an extinguisher.
We are not dealing with something that floats on water.
User avatar
Hambone
Rumrunner
Posts: 509
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:24 am
Location: MO, just around the bend...

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hambone »

+1

Keep spraying the water well after you stop seeing flames…
Good judgement is the result of experience.

Experience is usually the result of bad judgement..
User avatar
jonnys_spirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
Location: The Milky Way

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by jonnys_spirit »

...But don't spray water into electrical circuits AND stand in the puddle...

As always - Check for vapor leaks using a mirror (or the back of a shiny spoon) whenever you run. You will also usually see condensate at a leak point. When you find a leak stop and repair it before proceeding and don't repair with solder/open flame around a boiler (hot or not) full of ethanol.

Cheers!
-j
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

S-Cackalacky wrote: Wed Aug 11, 2021 6:50 am
Corn Cracker wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:53 pm If it's an alcohol fire don't use water on it.
Keep progressing brotha, your gonna have the safest set up around before long pumping out some quality likker
Have to disagree with that advice. Alcohol mixes with water and will bring down the ABV to the point that it is no longer combustible.

Flammable petroleum based liquids are the opposite. It will float on the surface of the water and spread the flame. Water should never be used to try to extinguish an oil based fire.

This is well documented over the history of the forum. I have a garden sprayer loaded with water nearby when I distill.
I'll remember this, thank you cackalacky for the info and for all your help man. I appreciate it
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Re: My first safe setup, I think.. let me know please

Post by Hybrid pot still »

Thank you everyone for the info and knowledge, I'm grateful to be a part of a good group with good feedback and lessons
Hybrid pot still
Swill Maker
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Just want to check in and say hi to my friends

Post by Hybrid pot still »

I'm still alive and making liquor, didn't really know where to post something like this but, hello guys and "little Bestie" and I are still making good and safe runs, and I did a couple changes to her, just shortened pipes especially between thumper and condenser, and lyne arm because I feel safer using flame since I been doing alot of runs with fire and comfortable with it and a leak free still. Good distilling my friends!also that is water by the jar, not a spill
A6F6E9DA-7496-4EBF-A78F-012D8CEF76DC.jpeg
771EECC6-F63C-4F41-852F-CCA12B624520.jpeg
771EECC6-F63C-4F41-852F-CCA12B624520.jpeg (42.19 KiB) Viewed 993 times
Post Reply