What The Hell Did I Buy?!? Posted Pictures. ~Help~

[Jetzon]

Howdy all!

I just joined this site a few days ago and I Sure do wish I found this site before I bought this thing from those A-Holes at Stilldrinkn. I need Any and All opinions on this setup. Please Please Feel free to say the Good the Bad and the Ugly about this still. What I'm looking to make is Whiskey-Shine. I really like Peach,Cherry,Blackberry and so on Flavored Shine. I would also like to make some of UJSM! I don't want to make Vodka or Gin. Whats the Best type of still for me? Ive been reading here night and day and I think Pot stills sound a bit hard to run, having to run the wash a few times and all that. Being that I'm a newbie and all and reading All the post here I think reflux sounds a little easer for me. Would any of you here use this setup that I have now? I can solder and figure out how to make my own now "Thanks to all your Great post and Pictures here". I'm running it right now with water and vinager to clean it out real good. I don't have the coolant water lines hooked up. I hope thats OK.
I have Copper structure running up the 45deg column right now. I have 5-6 pieces of rolled up copper mesh running all the way threw the 45deg column, Is that to much? Its from top to bottom in that 45deg column. Sorry I need to learn the right lingo "wording" for what I'm trying to say here. I'm sure most of you here are tired of all the Newbie questions here, But once I learn I'll start commenting back to the newbies.
Thank you all that post any comments back!

[Safegyde]

That is a nice looking piece. Should produce a lot of product.

Is that a slobber box or a thumper there? Either way you should take the packing out of that. The reason for the packing is to create a reflux action and it sends some of the non alcohol back down the column to mix with the rising vapor, etc. Once it reaches the thumper it won't go back into the column so the packing is pointless.....if anyone disagrees please speak your mind.

If you really want a strong flavored beverage as you said then you should take all of the packing out of the column as well. You will already get some reflux for having it at 45 degrees and being so tall, so if you have packing in the column then it will operate more like a reflux and strip most of your flavor out. What you have here is a still that can be run both ways. You can remove the thumper and keep the column packing and produce a nice neutral spirit, or remove the column packing and keep the thumper to produce a nice flavored drink/whiskey/schnapps, etc.

You also might want to think about using a much larger thumper. Ususally about a third of the boiler size is what you should aim for. My pot still is only a 2 1/2 gallon and my thumper is a little bigger than yours. I put off 160 proof (80% abv)

If that beautiful thing was my still I would keep the packing column, turn the thumper into a slobber box without the packing, and operate it like a reflux. I would then make another attachment or another still to run like a pot still.

Keep us updated.

[Jetzon]

God I hate to sound like a Tard here but your saying Slobber box/ Thumper? Is that the Mason jar? I'm learning the lingo here but not fast enough lol.
I have the 45 deg column Packed with copper, I should have taken the copper out of the Mason jar there. It was in it when I hooked it up and just left it in there. They said "stilldrinkn Guys" to add your Peach or Cherry what ever flavor you wanted into the Mason jar there with the mesh, Thats how they suggest flavoring your spirits. Anybody know if that would work? I was looking at Taters pictures of making Peach. freezing 50 or so lbs and then chopping it up with mortar mixer, that sure Aint how they told me!
Ive been thinking about removing that mason jar and just hooking the copper pipes up bypassing that Jar, What'cha think about that All?

[punkin]

Nice.
If it was mine, i'd remove the packing from the column, i'd take the doubler/mason jar away, and i'd turn the column round so it's counterbalancing itself as designed, rather than wanting to tip over.

Then i'd concentrate on learning to drive it for a few washes as a pot still, using UJSM or some other simple wash, build up a nice little stockpile of good sippin whiskey/bourbon flavoured spirits and spend a few weeks reading all the threads in Mash,Ferment, Tried andTrue, and Recipe Developement.

You'll get good at it real quick, you'll have all the confidence you need from the good spirits you're already drinking, and you'll quickly figure out where you want to experiment and where you have no interest.

[Safegyde]

A slobber box is to collect the "slobber" that could possibly come up from the boiler (won't happen though if you have packing in the column) The incoming tube doesn't go to the bottom of the mason jar in a slobber box, it simply allows the vapor to go from one tube to the other and allows the heavier stuff to collect in the jar. A thumper has the incoming tube going all the way close to the bottom to allow the vapor to pass through the liquid in the jar creating a second distilliation in a sense. Adding flavor to the thumper is a way of flavoring your spirit, but you might as well add it to the finished product so you can have better control of the proof and the strength of the flavor. Either way I would take out the mesh from there.

[mrotch]

I can solder and figure out how to make my own now

Remove the mason jar and run straight to the condensor.

I would de-solder the lyne arm from the connector to the mason jar and the connector after the mason jar - looks like you may need a reducer (3/4 to 1/2) to reconnect the condensor to the lyne arm. Solder her back up, then spin the whole head 180 degrees so it balances over the keg..

Removing that doubler/thumper will make it run a lot more stable and it will be much easier to learn how to run your still. A setup like that needs a lot of babysitting and can be frustrating to learn on. Keep it simple from the beginning and add the doubler back later to see if you were missing anything

She should make some fine whiskey and rum for ya!

[Jetzon]

Thanks all, I will turn the head to counter balance. I was running it for the first time and letting it drip into the sink. I ran it for two hours with Vinager and water to try and clean it out and That Didn't Work! Its got a Bunch of Green stuff from the solder and flux. What would you guys suggest using to clean all this out? I might start a new post asking about this but I'll post some of the pics here too. Is it common to have Green inside your copper pipes like this? I know Ive seen it in water pipes but I didn't know if its OK when making Spirits? Any and All suggestions Welcome here!

How many hours would you let it run with water and vinager in it?

Should I use something else to clean it out and for first firing?

I'm not running the water lines now, I was hoping that would let it get hotter.

Here's some Pictures showing All that Green around solder joints. How do I get it off or should I even worry about it?

[Safegyde]

With a big still like that you are going to have to make several, several runs to completely clean out all the green gunk. Just keep adding a little vinegar each time till it comes out clean. After you don't see anymore green stuff you need to do about two more runs to get all the vinegar out, just use plain old water.

[Dnderhead]

Take a trip over to stills and appurence/ cleaning copper ,it mite help

[new_moonshiner]

do a search on the method that pint suggested to clean copper and SS with PH up.. works good also..

[Old_Blue]

I'd clean it up, hacksaw that jar off and reconnect with out it, run 3 cheap sugar washes through it, and get down to business

Nothing going to puke through that column.

[big worm]

looking at the pics i see its electric..thats cool.. um the off set thing looks bad the bowl seems to be stressed or dented. loose the jar and pack the column ,but try to be sure its real copper not just copper colored. straighten out the column if you can. the jar stuff looks like it was made from scrap peices, just to look fancy and catch the eye like "look at me i must be worth the price" imho i don't think it will do anything but get in the way and stress you out. ya know all in all with a few adjustments and plenty of reading here you will do quite well with it.
bw

[Dnderhead]

I'm thinkin that head supposed to point in the other direction (180)
then it would be counterbalanced

[mikeac]

Personally I wouldn't loss the jar. I think it was a kinda neat idea from still drinking (must have been by accident...). I don't think it's meant as either a slobber box or a thumper, more of a gin head. Botanicals can be placed in it on top of the mesh and as a result the steam will pass through it. Fruit could also be used in the place of botanicals...I haven't tried this but would love to hear results from someone who does?

[nutmg1]

Thanks for the Pic's Jetzon. Mine should be shipping soon. Hopefully.


I'm looking forward to seeing what you get out of it.

[dr_gribb]

Nice soldering job!
Do you have any pictures of the el-side of this rigg?

btw, nice to see picture of the inside of a still for a change.

[ChillinDistilln]

Take all of that packing out. I can almost tell by looking that it's not 100% copper and a magnet would stick just fine.

The same type of packing came with one I bought on ebay and as far as I can tell it's best use is on the output of a washing machine for a lint trap.

[punkin]

Another suggestion to further complicate your efforts.
If it was me, i'd be looking for a brass flange to connect to your boiler and chucking that galvanised one away.

Probably not the first thing you have to do, but i'd be keeping an eye out for one.

[junkyard dawg]

my $.02

Take out that cork and solder in a threaded copper fitting and fit a dial thermometer or a thermowell to fit that digital. I hate batteries and would go for the dial, but thats just me...

[nutmg1]

So can this still be used as a Pot Still if you don't put packing in the column and a reflux if you do?

[Dnderhead]

you would have "hybrid" somewhere between pot Still and reflux .what %
would come off ? only way to find out is try it . that is what the big
distilleries do 1 run at 80%

[nutmg1]

Sorry for the stupid questions.


Here's what their web site says.


"You can run the Raptor with Structured Packing for a more refined Spirit.

Operate The Raptor with NO PACKING and achieve Complete True Flavor!"



If I understand correctly a pot still simply boils the must, beer, wine or wash and transforms the vapor (alcohol) into liquid when the it hits the condensers.


So that being said if you operate this still with no packing in the column then there is no reflux and you get flavor in the output. So for Whiskey use a sour or corn mash and run this still with no packing.


Now if you add packing and close the output/tweak the temp you can get the reflux through the packing and get a clear output seperate the heads/foreshots/tails to purify? So to make Vodka run a sugar wash through the still with packing in the column and make sure you reflux it?

I think I got it but just want to make sure.

[nutmg1]

I don't really understand the thumper. How does it work? If he vapor travels into the thumper then up and into the condenser then I don't see the purpose of the thumper.


Now the website says wait for liquid to fill up past the feeder tube in the thumper and bubbles. If this happens I don't see how vapor then forms with no heat in the thumper to make it to the condenser.

I must be missing something.

[CoopsOz]

When the liquid in the thumper boils it releases vapour just like in your main kettle, it's essentially a 2nd distillation on the way through. They call it a doubler because the ABV increases due the 2nd distillation.

[Dnderhead]

jest as coopoz SASE it is like a second still but that one is to small to do
Anny good it mite be good fore flavors as in gin etc i would see if i could remove it but have so i could put it back in with some kind of couplers

[Jetzon]

Well I just opened the boiler to clean out and add some water to finish running and this thing is FULL of rust! every nut, bolt, wing nut is rusted! even the part that you attach the column to the boiler! Now I have to figure out how to attach this to the boiler and buy All New hard wear. I'm taking pictures for those of you that have one of these or waiting for one. your gonna have to fix this before you fire yours up, Or You'll have the same mess here!
Anybody have some pictures that I can see how to attach this The Right Way?!?
If anybody can get there money back from these guys better Try Real hard Now! I sure hope they get what they deserve.
Should I replace the water heater elements? or can I clean them up?

[HookLine]

Holy F#$&^%*&#! That is really shoddy work.

I think the elements should be okay though. They look like copper and an overnight soak of the copper part in vinegar should fix that. Or even just a bit of steel wool and elbow grease (only lightly, don't want to strip the copper coating off). Water heating elements are generally pretty tough. They are the least of your concerns.

[Jetzon]

they were metal looking. "water heater elements" there not copper, Now they look like they are. I'm ready to give up. This was a summer thing for me to have some fun with. I work my ass off during the winter with my business and I take some time off during the summer. I thought this might be fun but its really getting me down. I have no clue what I'm doing here and I Just Had to buy from a bunch of crooks. I'm trying to figure out how to run one of these and being thats its not an every day type that one would use is Really confusing me!
I would really like to thank you all for your post here. I'm sure you have better things to do then hold a newbies hand here.
I need to find a flange that will fit on this boiler.
Once I get this all back together, what should I use to wash EVERYTHING out with? I'm worried about how much Rust I have in this whole system now!
I'm heading into town to see what I can find. I'll post some pictures when I get this figured out and maybe you all can say whether this is OK or not.

Thank you all So much

Jetzon

[HookLine]

Don't bail out on the elements or the whole deal yet. Hit those elements with some steel wool and see what is underneath. There is almost certainly some copper under that crud, if so then they should be okay (after a bit of cleaning up).

You also have what looks like a very nice keg, and a decent piece of 2" copper pipe you can reuse for a pot still.

How do the element mounts on the keg look? Okay? That is fairly critical.

I would also be pretty cautious about that heat controller, given the *cough* quality of the rest of their work.

But if those two things are okay then you can almost certainly salvage a decent still from that, but it will take some work.

Must be pretty discouraging though. You have my sympathy, and I am pretty sure everybody else here is on your side, for what that is worth. Those stilldrinkin guys are shameless scum.

[Jetzon]

OK, I have All New nuts and bolts. All stainless steel $20 bucks worth.
I cant seem to find a brass 2" floor flange. They have galvanized ones but thats what on it now and as you can see its rusting too. I bought some copper fitting to bypass that mason jar setup. hopefully i wont have to solder the whole thing, I would like to try it once with the jar. They say thats where you can add flavor like Peach,Cherry what ever you want.
Any suggestions on the flange? I got a price on a brass one, sounds like around $30 bucks and I'm not sure if thats even the right one.

they used black pipe fittings for the heat elements. there a little rusted too, Is that OK? Might have been all the other things rusting causing the rust to stick to them? Is black pipe fittings OK to use for water heating elements? Dont you love the JB weld they used to attach the fittings! But no leaks from it.
I can clean the bottom of the stainless steel bowl, But I need something to use as a flange and a gasket? they used a real thin piece of cork and as you can see it came in damaged and leaked some.
question I have is Black pipe fittings in the keg OK? and how would you attach the Head to the keg? Only option I can think of is getting that brass flange.. HELP!

Inside keg look. Looking at both black pipe fittings

inside keg close up of black pipe fitting

Outside of keg. trying to show the Rust

Another outside shot.

This is the Flange,Bowl and 2" threaded copper piece that attaches it all together.



I hope I'm not posting to many pictures, Its easier for me to show then to explain. I cant thank you All enough for taking your time and trying to help me out here!
Oh Yeah, A friend just gave me 2 packs of Prestige Turbo Pure 24 hr yeast. its for 14% and its 6kg. Is that for making Vodka? been trying to read what its for? Also gave me 3 packs of Complete Enzymes. He use to make beer and somebody left it over at his house, Its still good by date.
What do you use that type of yeast to make? From what I can tell its just for Vodka or str8 grain?
Jetzon