World Class Still

[CrackBadger]

This looks way too good to be true. They say this still can be built for $100US. Is this actually a decent still? Is it safe?
moonshine-still.com/
I'm renovating a bar at the moment so I can easily get my hands on an empty keg.

[trthskr4]

You've heard it before, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." There have been several folks here built that still, for more than $100 by the way and then spend that much more changing the design so it will work well. Look around the site especially in "Column distillation and design" and see what you find or do a search with that website on the forum search feature.

[Husker]

The valved reflux still shown there is not a bad design. However the internal reflux still is a Piece of CRAP, and should not even be talked about in terms of "world class".

There are many still designs you can find in these forums, or on the parent site (http://homedistiller.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow), which can be made cheaply.

If you can get a keg for free, then you can easily build a very quality pot still for $100. If you are able to scrounge good, then probably even less than that.

H.

[rad14701]

I highly doubt that either of those designs can be built for $100USD today due to increased copper prices... While nice looking designs, several members here have had less than "world class" results using them... You'll find cheaper alternatives here that perform as well as, if not better than, those two designs...

[CrackBadger]

Good to hear because I really like the idea of the keg still. Even if it doesn't have the copper reflux apparatus on top (I'm assuming pot stills don't use reflux) it will still look pretty cool.

[ol' rummie]

I have built the internal reflux design for close to $200 not including the boiler or heater, I don't recommend this design, although it works well and you can get a decent product from it, you can get better regulation from a valved reflux design, look around the forums and mother site for some good designs.
If you want a pot still, they are usually a bit cheaper to build, and again there's lots of good pics on these forums.

[nutmg1]

Hey Crack,
What do you want to make? The style of still you make determines what kind of product you get out of it.

You need to read the parent site to figure out exactly what you really want to do. I recently built an offset reflux and it cost way more than 100 dollars. I already had a keg but there are lots of little parts that cost you don't see on that website. You need temp control. You need to hook up a water source as well as a drain. You need to be able to weld or pay for someone to weld copper or SS to your keg. You also need hose, temp guage, parrot as well as fermenter, take off containers. The list goes on and on.

In the end its all more than worth it though. Just read read read here and ask questions after that. You'll save money if you do that before you start spending.

[CrackBadger]

Jesus christ that sounds like its gonna cost me a thousand dollars. I'm gonna have to go out and buy a welder and I need a tap and a drain? Well that pretty much stops me in my tracks. I don't have a tap in the back garden. I plan on keeping it simple and fermenting potatoes so I'm probably gonna need a reflux still to make vodka or whatever. Is it possible to make half decent spirits that don't need to be aged with a pot still?

Is there no way I can build a half decent reflux still without spending more than $500 and doesn't require a tap? Like I said I can get a keg so I can use that as the container but how hard are all these other bits and pieces to get and are they all absolutely necessary? Seeing as pot stills are much simpler and cheaper maybe I should go for one of those. Can brandy be distilled from wine with pot stills or is that the department of reflux stills?

Someone told me that there are many good still designs on this site. I checked the parent site and the only designs are the World Class Still. I checked the still forums and the designs are complicated and they don't really give step by step instructions to building them. Do any of you know a good still design for beginners? Nothing too complicated and expensive.

[Husker]

You will not "need" a tap. A lot of people use a tub of water, and a recirculation pump ($25-$50 from a place like Harbor Frieght).

You can also put together a good pot still with little cash outlay. WAY less than $500. You can ferment in good HDPE 5 gallon buckets (with lid and air lock). Cost on those, even if you get them from a brew shop is $20 or so (MUCH less if you can get the buckets, as an air lock goes for under a buck).

Like other have said, do some site research before spending ANY money. Make sure you know what type still you want, and then see what is actually needed for it. To know the "type" of still, you need to first figure out WHAT you want to make.

H.

[Uncle Jesse]

Why anyone would say it's not good to use copper in a still is absolutely beyond me.

[theholymackerel]

I checked the parent site and the only designs are the World Class Still. I checked the still forums and the designs are complicated and they don't really give step by step instructions to building them. Do any of you know a good still design for beginners? Nothing too complicated and expensive.

First of all if the World class still was the only one ya saw on the parent site, then ya didn't even try.

Secondly yer gettin' all worked up about a 1000$ still and that's just nonsence. A kick-ass reflux column can be built for less than 200$ includin payin' a weilder. One could be built on the cheep for way less than a 100$.

As for a good still design for a beginner that isn't complicated or expensive would be a potstill. There ain't a simpler still and one could easily be built for 20-40$.


I suggest ya relax, and read alot more... yer operatin' from almost no info.







I wish ya luck.

[Hawke]

It does sound like he needs to read more
I built the valved reflux, because I didn't want to wait to find cheaper pieces, it cost me around $500 for material (had to buy way more of each size pipe than I needed).
Although, I have managed to build two other stills with just a little more outlay.

All you need, to build any still from common plumbing copper, is:
A propane torch
Leadfree solder
Flux
Hacksaw and/or pipe cutter
Drill and assortment of bits
Flat and round files
Sandpaper