leaving stil setup

Little or nothing to do with distillation.

Moderator: Site Moderator

googe
retired
Posts: 3848
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:53 pm
Location: awwstralian in new zealund

leaving stil setup

Post by googe »

Just wondering if you pack your still away or leave it setup?. I used to pack mine up every time but have been leaving it setup for a while now. Kind of figured I don't tell anyone what I do and he the cops came they'd need a warrant, highly unlikely they would cause I try to be a decent citizen. I feel like i'm standing up for my right to do what we do by leaving it setup and not letting them make me paranoid!.
Here's to alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all life's problems.
"Homer J Simpson"
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by NZChris »

When stilling was illegal in NZ, I'd break mine down and spread it around the property so that nothing was obviously stilling related. With big fermenters and double distilling, it only needed to be assembled a couple of times a year at the most.
User avatar
moosemilk
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2661
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:47 am

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by moosemilk »

I take mine down. I still outside so leaving it up isn't an option. Plus taking it apart, it gets a good rinse after each run.
crazy
Novice
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 2:38 pm
Location: " From Deep in the Sticks of Ky "

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by crazy »

I take all mine down , as I've aquirered too many to leave up in my small work space. A 3" VM , a 2" pot still & a thumper. All on 15.5 gallon de-commissioned kegs. Too many toys too little space.....lol . Hope to finish my 4" bubbler soon an eliminate all the others as I feel i'll not need them any more. :D
bentstick
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1444
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:41 pm
Location: Great Lake State

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by bentstick »

It stays setup,gets to be to much to take it down and put back together everytime i use it,which as not not been alot lately! We seldom have visiters and it is in aspot not accessable without being in the house!
It is what you make it
User avatar
Danespirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2647
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:09 am
Location: Denmark

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Danespirit »

I am stilling in my bathroom, so i take it down.
It's modular and broken down to column, refluxcondenser, Liebig and boiler, no one suspects a still.
Cops don't come here,cause i am not a crook.
Even if the unthinkable should happen and they show up with a warrant, i highly doubt they would recognize the bunch of parts as a still.
Should it happen..i am a dumb as a piece of wood. "I am just making essences out of herbs". :angel:
User avatar
Bushman
Admin
Posts: 17986
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:29 am
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Bushman »

I take mine down for cleaning but do not hide it as it sits in my outbuilding and knowone goes in without my permission.
yakattack
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1755
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 5:37 am

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by yakattack »

It depends really. I'm in my garage and neighbors arnt nosey. If I'm using it fairly consistently I leave it up. If its not being used for a few days I take it apart. It only takes a few minutes so its no big deal.

Would love to have it set up full time and running :p

Yak
HDNB wrote: The trick here is to learn what leads to a stalled mash....and quit doing that.
carbohydratesn
Swill Maker
Posts: 398
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:37 am

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by carbohydratesn »

If I'm going to make another run the same day, or the next day, I'll leave it set up. Get stripping runs going, set it up for reflux after stripping is done, then leave it out overnight to start first thing in the morning. Otherwise it comes apart and everything gets a rinse with hot water.
User avatar
DAD300
Master of Distillation
Posts: 2839
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:46 am
Location: Southern U.S.

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by DAD300 »

Never together for more than a weekend...I wish I could leave it up.
CCVM http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... d#p7104768" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Ethyl Carbamate Docs viewtopic.php?f=6&t=55219&p=7309262&hil ... e#p7309262
DSP-AR-20005
User avatar
justsomeguy
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 101
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 4:30 pm

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by justsomeguy »

Mine stays up in the garage but I have built some things to conceal it from anyone that isnt deep into the garage. Nobody I dont know goes there. Some of my friends have seen it and dont even have a clue what it is.
45 ACP..... Turning human garbage into useful fertilizer since 1911
sltm1
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1059
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:12 am

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by sltm1 »

I pull mine apart after every run for cleaning then just leave it in pieces till next time. Privacy isn't a problem as it's in the house.
A Paraphrase of a Joe Walsh Album Title, "The Drinkier I get, The Smokier I Play!!"
Every new member should read this before doing anything else:
ben stiller
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:49 pm
Location: New York

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by ben stiller »

I remove my column for cleaning but usually leave it assembled and sitting in the corner. I am off the beaten path and don't have a lot of visitors that would come inside and see it.
User avatar
Tokoroa_Shiner
Distiller
Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:02 am

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Tokoroa_Shiner »

Mine get pulled down. Until the day I get a TIG machine, inch ball valve and 4" cleaning port.
Must read topics for new members

The Rules By Which We Live By
Safety And Related Issues
New Distillers Reading Lounge

Have Fun, Keep Safe and Shine On
User avatar
Brutal
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1349
Joined: Sat May 18, 2013 6:02 pm

Re: leaving still setup

Post by Brutal »

I put on welding gloves and completely disassemble mine while its still hot, steam coming out of it. I built mine for that. One time about 8 years ago I was backing out of the driveway and my garage door just started opening. I didn't even have a remote with me and I have never found an explanation for the event. All I know is if it happens again they ain't gonna see no still sitting there. Just a few innocent kegs and stuff..
Steam injection rig http://tinyurl.com/kxmz8hy
All grain corn mash with steam injection and enzymes http://tinyurl.com/mp6zdt5
Inner tube condenser http://tinyurl.com/zkp3ps6
Drunk-N-Smurf
Rumrunner
Posts: 682
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:56 pm
Location: Alberta

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Drunk-N-Smurf »

Mine stays set up. Ready to go whenever I am. :D
Hangover? I don't get no stinking hangover!
User avatar
Bigbob
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3128
Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:57 pm
Location: SE Oklahoma

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Bigbob »

A 21/2 gal alembic does have advantages! Rinse it off after using, put up on a shelf. Oh look how cute!
If you wear underwear then it's a dress!
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=62150 How I run a small still
User avatar
Appalachia-Shiner
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 496
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:21 am
Location: Appalachia

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Appalachia-Shiner »

I clean it after each run, and just leave it dissembled till I need it again.
I leave the boiler in the "Still Shed" usually sitting on top of the propane burner; bring the Copper in the house for safekeeping. I always replace the delivery spear in the SS Keg to keep bugs or dirt out.
User avatar
MitchyBourbon
Distiller
Posts: 2304
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:03 pm

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by MitchyBourbon »

I completely diassemble and hide the copper. The boiler gets put on my beer brew stand along side all my fermenters in plain site. This takes up 2 stalls of my garage. We entertain anywhere from 10 to 40 people almost every weekend. I'm lucky if I know half the people that come. In the summer I try to keep people outside but in the winter it just ain't feasable. And these people go everywhere so all my copper gets put away in my safe.
I'm goin the distance...
User avatar
MoonBreath
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2238
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:34 pm
Location: Horseshoe Bend, Ky.

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by MoonBreath »

Rig-up, tear -down..
One day soon I hope to have it to where I can leave everything set up.
*Spend it all, Use it up, Wear it out*
Beware of sheet-sniffers and dime-droppers!
heartcut
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2781
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:31 am
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by heartcut »

The boiler stays in the atrium on top of the pretty new ss burner with a plant sitting on top of a tile. The rest is broken down and (on a shelf behind a curtain) in the garage along with the shredder, press, brew pots, barrels and fermenters. No cars allowed.
heartcut

We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know.

W. H. Auden
Stainless dude
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 593
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:33 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest US

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Stainless dude »

I used to take it down and put the column and boiler out of site, now it stays up but is in the basement where only wife and I go....besides too much stuff to hide now, roller mill, hammer mill, masher, fermenters yikes!!
User avatar
cranky
Master of Distillation
Posts: 6505
Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2013 3:18 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by cranky »

I take mine down and put away because you never know when a fire or earthquake or something might force you to let someone like a fireman or inspector into your house or garage or shed and the last thing I want them to find is a still to further complicate a disaster. Wish I could feel good about leaving mine up because the new rig weighs a ton and is a bit of a pain to take down and put back up.
User avatar
ranger_ric
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1277
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:24 pm
Location: West Of Eden

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by ranger_ric »

I gotta leave mine up...
I have 4 5gal UJSSM fermenters going and my pot still is 5 gal. So I am running almost every day. Stripping run once a day and every 5th day a spirit run.... repeat...

This stuff does keep getting better and better
If you are not willing to learn
No One Can Help You...
If you are Determined to Learn
No One can STOP you!!
We want you to be safe and succeed so start here
User avatar
thecroweater
retired
Posts: 6079
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:04 am
Location: Central Highlands Vic. Australia

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by thecroweater »

Rarely pull it down, only happens to clean it or change the configuration in which case also to thoroughly clean it
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Benjamin Franklin
User avatar
coastershiner
Bootlegger
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2014 5:06 pm
Location: Canada, eh

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by coastershiner »

I always have one set up ready. Pot or refux, whichever were doin at the time. It takes about 20 min to change over. The shed is 100% dedicated to stillin, so its all good.
User avatar
Rastus
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 694
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:27 pm

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Rastus »

kettle and column sit in mechanical room with a old sheet over them.. the other parts of the flute are stashed and only 3 triclamps and 3 camlocks away from full function.
She was just a moonshiner,
But he loved her Still
User avatar
Truckinbutch
Angel's Share
Angel's Share
Posts: 8107
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:49 pm

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by Truckinbutch »

I paste up my rig when two 44 gallon Brutes get finished . That's gonna be 4 strip runs and 2 spirit runs at my convenience . Then the cap comes off the boiler to cook up a reload for the fermenters .
If you ain't the lead dog in the team , the scenery never changes . Ga Flatwoods made my avatar and I want to thank him for that .
Don't drink water , fish fornicate in it .
User avatar
bearriver
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 4442
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:17 pm
Location: Western Washington

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by bearriver »

I relocated the contents of my garage into an outbuilding, and put my still stuff in the garage. I don't take anything down. When I'm done with a run, normally I just rinse it in place with water and call it good enough. When the garage door is open, then I might throw a blanket over the still.

The neighbors know what I do, and unwanted visitors don't get very far. Having three angry 100 pound dobermans dissuades anyone from sticking their nose where it doesn't belong...
User avatar
S-Cackalacky
retired
Posts: 5990
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Virginia, USA

Re: leaving stil setup

Post by S-Cackalacky »

I tare it down and stash it after each session. I set it up on the laundry counter where everybody in the family folds their laundry. I hope to get a corner of the basement set up so I can pretty much leave it out. My fermenting is done in a different part of the basement (opposite end), so there's a lot of toting buckets back and forth. It will be nice to get it all consolidated in one place.
Every new member should read this before doing anything else:
Post Reply