PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE

[onreybear]

I own a 2.5Liter COPPER ALEMBICS... that I can make good quality but very very small runs... IT has been suggested that I get the ESSENTIAL EXTRACTOR II series and all that it
requires
I would need to run on an electric hat source not LP or gas due to
fire
and the area I live in... I also have read about these AMAZING STILLS that are plastic buckets and use drop in adjustable heaters... I am only interested in GRAIN or WHISKEY aspects not BEER or wine and I would like to make larger runs NOT HUGE but a few liters to a gallon or so at a time after one or two runs and I wish to get into aging etc... I do not have a great deal to invest so I am looking at the
plastic
units as they run about $100 for the GOLD or best unit... SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO BUY also if I did save the money what about the COUNTER TOP DISTILLATION UNIT that is complete... if the plastic units will work and allow me to get into the craft quicker can someone suggest if they are OK....
I have had great suggestions from everyone but I just am on a DISABILITY INCOME and I need something that is complete due to I do not ride well and I am several hours from HOME DEPOT ETC... I do not mean to be a NAG and I know that I am asking for something that is not the REALLY BEST way to go but I need help an please can someone out there offer me the
help
in the direction .. MONEY is important and $300 or so is a fortune and will take me 6 months to save just that.. THANKS in ADVANCE and
thanks for
everyone
who
has offered info so far but now I am into the reality of cost
and
what to do.... PLEASE HELP
*)o(* ONREY BEAR
__________________

[Hack]

Don't get in a hurry. This site has answers to many of the questions you asked. Take your time. Read the parent site. Read around on the forums. If you are willing to invest your time in this I'm sure you will find it well worth it. Lastly try out the handy search function for any of your specific questions. Most have been asked and answered many times before.

[Hawke]

You need to go back and read the Forum Rules and other stickies.
The Amazing Still is a piece of crap and very dangerous to health and property.
Save up your money while reading the parent site and the stickies. When you have an idea of what is what, you will have enough money saved to build a larger potstill that will suit your needs. And not make you sick.

[tennessee.boy]

Reading, reading, reading these forums and the wiki taught me how to build a proper still for very little money. It's all here--you just have to dig a bit.

As for the "amazing still"--you won't be killed two minutes after you plug it in, but it mixes many no-no's:
--plastic in the vapor path
--unattended operation
--use of components (aquarium heater) in environments they can not tolerate (high concentration of corrosive alcohol)

A pot, a bucket, a coil of copper tube, a few c-clamps and a couple of compression fittings are all you need to make a far superior rig. All the knowledge you need is on the site--you don't need to solder or weld, or work sheet metal or anything like that. I don't know why anyone wants to _buy_ a still--you'll never really know what it's made of unless you make it yourself. Safest, and most satisfying.

Enjoy the journey!

[onreybear]

Thank you all for the information... I am sorry about the bending of rules will not happen again.. and as Much as I wanted it to be different I knew that I was going to have to to what it takes or I am not going tog et what I want nor learn what the craft is all about so THANK YOU ONE AND ALL
*)o(* onrey bear...

[StabbyJoe]

If you want cheap, but good, scrap yards will be your friend. Think of something stainless/copper of the size you want (eg. keg, stock pot, pressure cooker) and try and get it cheap... after that, a couple of meters of copper pipe and a soldering kit will make you a nice still... as far as saving goes, I understand money being an issue, but you can always stick to your alembic until you can scale up - you shouldn't have any shortages or anything...

Good luck

[tracker0945]

onreybear
You can make something as cheap and easy as you wish.
A stock pot as large as you can physically handle, drill a hole in the lid, fit a compression fitting to take 1/2" copper tube, run the copper tube as a coil through a pot of water for cooling and you have a pot still.
Place that on a gas (propane) burner. Don't be afraid, just make sure you have adequate ventilation and fire supression facilities available (hot oil to cook french fries is just as dangerous) (well nearly)
If you want to go electric (and somewhat safer), drill a hole in the pot and fit an internal element with a voltage control. Still no fancy metalwork skills involved.
You are in business, no fancy welding, no up-market digital controllers etc.

Go read, you will find your answers.


Cheers.

[Freedave]

in addition to what every one else has said. you said you're on disability. me too. do you have a stilling buddy to help with the hands on stuff? maybe you don't need help. but if you're at all like me you may need lots. so find a trusted friend and get him interested. also finding used parts as suggested before is good. good will, st Vincent depaul, rummage sales, junk yards, auctions, and ...

good luck to you.

[Dnderhead]

We git you going in this you will be like hawk looking for mice, but you will be looking in yard sales for pots ,panes ,boles, food processors, ice cream makers,bread makers ,grinders , plastic pails ,spoons ,jugs , bottles, funnels and I'm shore I left a lot out.

[Barney Fife]

ice cream makers,bread makers

What use would be have for those, Dnder?

[Dnderhead]

the geared motors make a grate way to stir cooked mash also can be used to run hand cranked grinders etc


yes I'm a scrounger

[Barney Fife]

Gotcha!

[tracker0945]

Dnder,
Always thinking outside the square.
A practice which should be encouraged.


Cheers.

[onreybear]

I want to thank all of you for your advice and help... Right now my biggest buddy is my wife we live in a RURAL area of california so she willingly is my bud in this actually she bought me the POT STILL after hearing me for several years say I sure would like to be doing this... SO thank you one and ALL and THANKS to her for getting this thing going..
*)o(* onreybear