new user, still ideas?

[skinny]

Hi i've been looking at this design: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =17&t=6900
yet i can't find any 1.5 inch copper pipe other than a 20' stick of it. I am very new at this whole distilling process and was wondering if you all had any ideas for a pot still or a hybrid type still as the one in the link above. Thanks,
Skinny

[Mantix]

I ran into the same problem when I built my still (GBM's stovetop was my inspiration too). I ended up getting in touch with a plumber who got me a 3 inch diameter 3 1/2 foot segment from one of his jobs. It was like 30 bucks, not bad for the thick walled good stuff. If I were you I would either call around to a couple plumbing companies and see if they will sell you their surplus or find a plumbing supply/hardware store that sells by the foot (most don't, but some do). Hope this helps.

[LWTCS]

I got lucky and and found a 4' peice with a ding. Most supply houses only sell the full sticks.

At times it can help if you bring em likker to sample.

[olddog]

My local plumbers merchant sells 2" by the metre, but $50 a metre is not cheap.

[HookLine]

It is a very cheap investment when reckoned over the lifetime of the still, and the returns it gives you.

[olddog]

I will drink to that

[HookLine]

[Slow & Steady]

Skinny, the only suggestion I would change in the design would be the condenser. I would use a worm condenser rather than the Liebig condenser, although used by many the Liebig condenser is a little more problematic;
1) if run off tape water it is more wasteful of water, if tape water fails you have a very serious situation (explosive gasses escaping).
2) if run off re-circulated water it is susceptible to pump failure, again (explosive gasses escaping).
3) from posts that Hawke has made he reports that the Liebig condenser tends to breath/huff more than his worm designs.

The worm condenser is bulky but I have never had a worm failure that resulted in Alcohol vapor escaping into the work area.

S&S

[Husker]

3) from posts that Hawke has made he reports that the Liebig condenser tends to breath/huff more than his worm designs.

I am a strong believe also in worms. Very simple, and simply work (and are old school )

However, they can huff/puff. Happens most often when the water in the top is too cold. So people that dump ice into a worm bucket will see this. as for the way I like to run a worm, get it big enough, and you do not have to change water. If you DO have to change water, make it so that you add water to the bottom of the bucket, and remove the hot water from the top. The water in the bucket will become 'layered', with hot water on top, and cooler on bottom. You want to preserve this temp gradient if you are adding water. You simply want the cooler section to become larger, and push upwards, while taking the hottest layers away. This layered water will help to get your vapor to 'collapse' into liquid in a slow smooth manner, and will avoid the huffing puffing issue seen when vapor collapses instantly, due to hitting TOO cold of an area.

However, in general terms, yes, a worm IS less likely than a liebig to huff/puff. The liebig is short, and to knock the vapor all down, you have to push coolant pretty quickly, thus, forcing it to collapse quick.

H.