Aliexpress / homemade still mix

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)

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Shipwreckedspirits
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Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Shipwreckedspirits »

Hey all.

I’m getting into this hobby with the dream of hopefully one day opening a small scale hobby distillery. I’m lucky enough to have a good mate who is a pretty handy boilermaker who has thrown together some bits for me.... the rest I’ve got on the way from Aliexpress.

Ive got a basic chem knowledge and have been reading about the process for a few years.... just no hands on experience yet.

Anyway, here’s some early progress pics. I’ll keep updating here as bits arrive.

Basics are

50L keg. 4in tri clamp, sight glass, drain, tri clamp for 2 elements.
2 x 3000w elements with individual scrs to control voltage on the way
4 plate bubble column from aliexpress
Onion and 4in > 2in column 50cm high
Aliexpress deflag
3in 560mm Shotgun condenser with stand and parrot

My main interest is whisky, but want to dabble in rum and neutral
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Demy
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Demy »

You have a nice set-up to do many things. Only one tip: controls the seals of the plates, if they are silicone wrap with Teflon ribbon. I often buy from AliExpress and I feel good with purchases, I often see their goods on specialized sites at very high costs, the only flaw is the slowness with which the packages arrive ... sometimes I have to wait even 2 months, in Average at least 1 month.
NormandieStill
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by NormandieStill »

Demy wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:30 am You have a nice set-up to do many things. Only one tip: controls the seals of the plates, if they are silicone wrap with Teflon ribbon. I often buy from AliExpress and I feel good with purchases, I often see their goods on specialized sites at very high costs, the only flaw is the slowness with which the packages arrive ... sometimes I have to wait even 2 months, in Average at least 1 month.
I find that since the new European regulations which mean you have to pay VAT on AliExpress purchases, the customs clearance has got way faster. My last two orders both arrived within 2 weeks (to France) whereas before it would normally be a month to 6 weeks. Looking at the tracking info, both parcels cleared customs in a day rather than a week or two.
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Demy
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Demy »

NormandieStill wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:37 am
Demy wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:30 am You have a nice set-up to do many things. Only one tip: controls the seals of the plates, if they are silicone wrap with Teflon ribbon. I often buy from AliExpress and I feel good with purchases, I often see their goods on specialized sites at very high costs, the only flaw is the slowness with which the packages arrive ... sometimes I have to wait even 2 months, in Average at least 1 month.
I find that since the new European regulations which mean you have to pay VAT on AliExpress purchases, the customs clearance has got way faster. My last two orders both arrived within 2 weeks (to France) whereas before it would normally be a month to 6 weeks. Looking at the tracking info, both parcels cleared customs in a day rather than a week or two.
Some are coming first but for others it has not changed much (shipping to Italy), it could change in the future. Prices (like all goods even locally) have increased (VAT + Damned Covid) at least here in Italy ...
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by greggn »

Shipwreckedspirits wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 11:09 pm
a pretty handy boilermaker who has thrown together some bits for me....

Having been "thrown together", those pieces landed nicely. Congratulations on a beautiful build.
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by SOWIWAB »

Neat build makes me feel like well clandestine chemistry xD lol How much did this bad boy run you?
Shipwreckedspirits
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Shipwreckedspirits »

Columns arrived! 4inch bubble plate and 4in to 2in column with 12L onion. I’m happy with the quality. Both from distillex on Aliexpress. Post took a bit over 6 weeks and was all packed well.

My mate has looked after me and done the boiler and bits for cost of materials only. The rest of the prices can be found on Aliexpress. I asked for a discount on shipping because I bought a few things and got maybe $20 off?
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EricTheRed
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by EricTheRed »

sweet!
Question - should that top bubbler plate not be at the bottom so you can see what is going on?
My fekking eyes are bleeding! Installed BS Filters - better! :D
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NormandieStill
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by NormandieStill »

Don't forget to wrap those pretty blue silicone seals in PTFE.

And +1 to what EricTheRed says.
"I have a potstill that smears like a fresh plowed coon on the highway" - Jimbo

A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers
Shipwreckedspirits
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Shipwreckedspirits »

EricTheRed wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:58 am sweet!
Question - should that top bubbler plate not be at the bottom so you can see what is going on?
I had read that often the bottom plate didn’t do much so thought it might be better like this... but this was based off not much. Being able to see the top plate is more important I guess.

I got the pyre gaskets for all the other places I’ll need them but don’t think I remembered to get them for the column. I’ll grab some tape and make sure they’re wrapped.
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Saltbush Bill
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Shipwreckedspirits wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:08 pm I had read that often the bottom plate didn’t do much so thought it might be better like this
Dont know where you read that , but its complete rubbish.
The bottom plate works just as hard as the others do.
The bottom plate and its window can and will also give you clues to when tails are on the way.
If the top plate is left where it is at the moment its going to be very close to the dephlegmator......and that is not a great idea.
Shipwreckedspirits
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Re: Aliexpress / homemade still mix

Post by Shipwreckedspirits »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:17 pm
Shipwreckedspirits wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:08 pm I had read that often the bottom plate didn’t do much so thought it might be better like this
Dont know where you read that , but its complete rubbish.
The bottom plate works just as hard as the others do.
The bottom plate and its window can and will also give you clues to when tails are on the way.
If the top plate is left where it is at the moment its going to be very close to the dephlegmator......and that is not a great idea.

Good to know! I’ll swap them over when I tape up the blue gaskets. Hopefully my mate gets the bits to me in a few weeks.... in the meantime I’m going to do a kale wash to practice fermenting / to use as a sacrificial run after the cleaning run
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