Wanna build a still!!

[firefly]

I alreadt have a reflux still (PSII from Brewhaus) and it seems that not many people use this type...So im willing to try and build myself a new column that I could use with my current 30L boiler...
I would like to build something for speed and just wanna make some neutral washes for now..

I read the parent site....and seeing i've never soldered...it would be my 1st time so please have some empathy.....


I would simply like some recommendations as to what I could try to build....and use with my current boiler...nothing too complicated....(stills for dummies)...I looked over some of the plans on the parent site but some don't list the sizing of the copper pieces needed....

Or if you recommend a book...feel free....I believe I have most of the popular ones....just dont know which to build right now...

P.S: there is a plan for a fractionating still in the Making Gin & Vodka book which seems not too too complicated so would that be a good choice??

[new_moonshiner]

Do a Search for the slanted plate design.. or maybe look through the stills section here for some pics.. I have never made one of these but from what I read there is some of the least amount of soldering involved.

[Husker]

There is a link in the mini-FAQ which is a full instruction on building (and running) the mini-still (instructions by Bokabob)

It "is" the mini-still, made for a 20qt stainless crock pot, but the instructions can be upscaled to a 2" pipe for your 30L boiler.

Note, the inline is pretty easy to build. However, if you dont feel comfortable doing so, you might "contract" out to a apprentice plumber to do after hours (it only takes about an hour or 2 to put together an inline. You might strike up a trade for a few bottles UJSM (or neutral).

H.

[birdwatcher]

I alreadt have a reflux still (PSII from Brewhaus) and it seems that not many people use this type...So im willing to try and build myself a new column that I could use with my current 30L boiler...
I would like to build something for speed and just wanna make some neutral washes for now..

I read the parent site....and seeing i've never soldered...it would be my 1st time so please have some empathy.....


I would simply like some recommendations as to what I could try to build....and use with my current boiler...nothing too complicated....(stills for dummies)...I looked over some of the plans on the parent site but some don't list the sizing of the copper pieces needed....

Or if you recommend a book...feel free....I believe I have most of the popular ones....just dont know which to build right now...

P.S: there is a plan for a fractionating still in the Making Gin & Vodka book which seems not too too complicated so would that be a good choice??

I built and used the still described in Making Gin and Vodka and used it with success for 12 years. I recently built an improved version described by Rudi on this forum. Either will serve you well for ethanol. The Rudi version being more expensive.

It should be noted that collecting ethanol at 4 ml per minute is not a speedy process.

You may wish to heat with propane rather than electricity depending on costs in your area.

Good luck.

G

[firefly]

Well I like the one Husker pointed out.....it says you can get 600ml/Hour of 95%..... .....if I can get that.....I will be in moonshine heaven....

But looking at the plans....not sure I fully get it...the part about the plate that is soldered near the middle of the column....

birdwatcher....does your model distill at a good rate.....I got the plans but the mini-pot still seems a little easier to build.....

Can the mini be built to 36" instead of 24"....or it's not necessary???

[HookLine]

Can the mini be built to 36" instead of 24"....or it's not necessary???

Taller gives you better separation, ie higher purity. If you can, go for 5' of packing. I have that much and easily get a very clean 600 ml/hour.

[birdwatcher]

Well I like the one Husker pointed out.....it says you can get 600ml/Hour of 95%..... .....if I can get that.....I will be in moonshine heaven....

But looking at the plans....not sure I fully get it...the part about the plate that is soldered near the middle of the column....

birdwatcher....does your model distill at a good rate.....I got the plans but the mini-pot still seems a little easier to build.....

Can the mini be built to 36" instead of 24"....or it's not necessary???

The Stone reflux in your book is rated at 270 ml. per hour. Mine new still; I have no idea. I'm in no hurry.

When it's done, it's done.

G

[firefly]

I understand the point of When it's done it's done....I too am in no hurry but when I look at a still at .puredistilling.com and it (claims)produces 1.5L per hour of 92% alcohol....with a 2' column........which is 25ml/min......
Which would I choose...a still that flows at 5-10ml and spend 12-13 hours to collect 3L or spend 4-5 hours with 1 that does the same and collects at 25ml......

So...if there is a suggestion for a type of column that runs faster than another type....feel free to suggest.......

..

[HookLine]

92% does not equal 95%.

The last few % can make a lot of difference to taste.

There is a trade-off between output rate and purity. No amount of marketing hype can get around the basic laws of physics.

[firefly]

Hookline...I would be happy with 90%..
I just wanna build something that will be faster....don't wanna build just anything....and end up with the same speed as my PSII....

Maybe I should make whiskey instead......

[HookLine]

Your call. But sure you will be happy with 90%?

If you are after fast output, go for a 3" diameter column. It will still give you high purity, but at about 2.25 times the output rate.

But it will cost more. 3" pipe and fittings ain't cheap.

[Husker]

Maybe I should make whiskey instead......

Did you feel your palm slap your forehead when you realized this

The first still head I build was a 6' offset. I have only used it about half a dozen times (if that). I did 3 washes right away, thinking it was what I was going to use (in "pot" mode, and in reflux mode). I quickly switched over to using a pot still for 90% of what I do, and now only reflux the nastiest of the head/tails to clean them up into something neutral and usable.

Flavored drinks done the RIGHT way (i.e. pot still), are the way to go. Why spend $5 a bottle on INFERIOR essences when you can make the real thing for free, and pot stills run MUCH faster than reflux. Most essences added to neutral when compared to commercial booze, tastes like jail house toilet hooch. However, when you do you mash well, and pot still properly with CAREFUL cuts, and age it properly, then you get to see that most commercial booze, tastes like the toilet hooch (which tells you how "bad" the essences really are).

The thing I "hate" about this hobby, is that it has TOTALLY ruined my ability to drink commercial hooch. I hate having to go over to someones house (or the bar), and not having good flavored drink

H.

[firefly]

HookLine...thank you.....I had an idea for a column and was gonna build a 2"....would have been a waste....
Last run I ran my still faster and my final product was at 82%...put some chared oak and hot peppers inside and it has a hot sweet taste.....quite nice actually!!!
.....so yes I would be quite happy with 90%......as I mix it anyway...

I.ll go check some prices tonight for some pipes......

[firefly]

Husker, I wish you were here so you could slap me too....

Not much of a whiskey drinker.....more into scotch and gin....so is the UJSM kinda like a Jack Daniles type of thing??

Just curious....if I run a sugar wash in pot mode....would I end up with something I can drink?? or some jail house toilet hooch??

[Husker]

Most straight sugar washes do not have all that great of a flavor structure. What you will get is a vodka "like" drink, but with some smell and some flavor.

There are some types of sugar washes which produce good flavored drink.

UJSM is one of them (yes, it is simply a sugar wash flavored by the grain). Deathwish wheat germ is also a sugar wash that is very good.

However, a "true" sugar wash (such as birdwatchers wash, or a simple sugar/turbo wash), will not be the ideal thing for a pot still.

>so is the UJSM kinda like a Jack Daniles type of thing??

Not really. It is somewhat on the light side as far as whiskeys go. I find the flavor (when aged properly on charred oak), to be VERY nice. If made properly, it is SO smooth, no harsh bite, and so much better than commercial whiskeys.

But again, these type drinks (whiskey, rum, brandy, etc), are best made with a pot still, as that type of still will not strip out the flavor from the product. Since you are looking at making a new still, a simple pot still is what I would recommend for you. Build a very short column that attaches to the boiler you have, and has a lebig condenser hung off the end of it. Then you have 2 stills. You have your PSII and you have your pot still head. Same boiler (and heating setup) will work for both units. However, they will produce quite different spirits.

H.

[firefly]

Thanks Husker....I will look into the pot still designs.....

I think I will re-read several posts before asking more questions....

After spending some time here...I just feel like building something.....I think I'll manage.....Have a torch but never used it .....

[Ricky]

firefly i think you need to back up a minute and take a breath. decide what you want to drink. if you like scotch and gin then you need to build a potstill since you already have a pd ii. the potstill will get good volume for stripping runs to put in you pd ii for gin and then run the pot slow for scotch. i can get 1gal per hour while stripping with my pot or turn it down to 1/2 gal per hour on a ujsm for some good whiskey. i to have a reflux and pot but the pot sees a lot more action. sorta like husker said.

[firefly]

Ricky.....thanks for the post......after sleeping on it....I will try to build a pot still....and keep my PSII for neutral spirits and I think I will try doing stripping runs before doing a spirit run in my PSII....

Thanks Husker and everyone else for the input.....

[zymos]

But isn't the PS II with the extra column removed a pot still?
(Newbie here, trying to figure out what to build or buy)

[QDWitherspoon]

I tried to post this question earlier, but redirected for some wierd reason. Is 16oz copper flashing ok for building a pot still? I don't know what thickness, hardness, or alloy is used in others. I want to build an onion.

QDW

[Husker]

16 oz (I assume that is 16oz per square foot, which is .021" think), would be ok for the walls of a 20 to 30L, but I would want the base thicker, possibly up to 1/16" to 1/8" think (if I were making it).

If you are looking at a 60L or larger still, then I am not sure about 16oz. It sounds like it is on the thin side for something that size. The water sealed copper alembic I have is very heavy. It is 25L (claimed size, but actually, closer to 18L). I am pretty sure the bottom is 1/8" or more, and the walls are probably 1/32" with lips rolled (thus are very rigid).

H.

[davida2]

Husker,

"Build a very short column that attaches to the boiler you have, and has a lebig condenser hung off the end of it. "

Would you please flesh this in a little with your recommendations? Dia/ht coupled with respective lebig dimensions for pot still only.?

Thank you

da2

[FireH20]

firefly, your PS II is both a pot still and a reflux still. As my father used to say, when all else fails read the instructions. The column has 2 sections. Attach only the top (condensor) section with no packing inside, to use it as a pot still.

I also have the PS II and use it as a pot still for stripping runs, then as a reflux still with copper mesh packing for the final run.

[firefly]

FireH20.... ....Thanks for the post ...but yes im already aware that my PSII can be used as a pot still... ...when I put it together.....I did notice the 2 columns.....

Im just building something a little bigger which will most likely run faster than my PSII...the size of the condenser on it is also quite small.....

cheers.....