thanks for the warm welcome , pics our still

[gary.angie]

Just getting her setup and placement right .
We will Run the finished through the wall to the collection pot on the other side (prevents the methanol and ethanol fires from the gas flame when i kick the container over )
Just in the process of building the filtering bench (will post pics when done)
Hydroponics in the back ground is where we will grow the Artemisia absinthium.
cheers
Questions welcome

[gary.angie]

HI again , I forgot to mention , We are running glass marbles in the reflux just wondered what peoples views were on these , i know some use steel wool etc , is there a section in this forum on this subject ?

cheers

[new_moonshiner]

what material is the collection container made from?

[Ayay]

Hi gary.angie, that sure looks a solid and well built unit. The hose connections indicate there is a reflux coil inside the riser and with a short column it runs as an enhanced pot still. Nothing wrong with that.

I question having a valve at the end of the take-off spout. If the valve is closed can the vapors escape somewhere else?
new_moonshiner's Question is inportant, that container should be glass if youll be drinking from it.
Some copper in the boiler or column will absorb or react with sulphurs from the wash. Copper mesh packed in the column will do that as well as be more efficient than marbles for the refluxing.

Lovely garden!

[plonker]

Yeah, nice solid still, and your garden looks great!

We are growing our absinthe herbs at the moment.. just wish the rain would stop for a couple of days and let things dry out..

Got roman and ordinary wormwood growing well, hyssop is hating the wet weather.. anise and sweet fennel growing well from seed.. just cant get the angelica to germinate....

[gary.angie]

Thanks for the info on the copper , i will arrange that asap .

Yes the Plastic bottle and tap are for photo only . it will be glass and no tap at running time.
I'm going to replace all the tubes with lab grade tubing where needed.

I here you. re the weather and plants , hence the indoor with grow lights , give us a controlled environment.

G

[Bumblingblockhead]

First thing you want to do is get rid of that valve at the end of the line where it drips out. NO VALVE! This is dangerous if you forget to open it, and if you close it after you shut down your still, you could collapse your still from the vacuum that forms. Second thing is get rid of the plastic hose coming off your condenser for collection, and replace with copper line. And last thing, throw away that plastic bottle at once! Get a glass jar!

*The only thing you want your finished booze to come in contact with is copper, wood, and glass.*

[rad14701]

*The only thing you want your finished booze to come in contact with is copper, wood, and glass.*

And stainless steel...

[kiwistiller]

If you ever feel like selling any Artemisia absinthium, PM me. I wanted to make absinthe but have struggled to find the herbs needed in NZ. looks like you've got that sorted out though

[Bumblingblockhead]

rad14701 wrote: And stainless steel.

Stainless is safe, and perfectly usable. But I'd still have copper be the last metal the booze touches. so my quote stands.

[gary.angie]

Yes to the tap/valve being removed (it was for photo effect) and the plastic bottle.
I will arrange a copper end piece! and glass capture .
(and yes i would love a a full copper still , its on my wish list ).
im going to create a new topic ( re Ceramics )if any ones got some ideas.

cheers

[gary.angie]

ps ceramic discussion is in research and theory posts

cheers

[Bumblingblockhead]

Your stainless rig looks just fine to me. With that copper line on the end, and column packed with copper scrubbies (not chemically treated), you should have a winner.

[gary.angie]

Some thing I just discovered , I went to insert copper (purpose made)mesh into condenser tube as per instruction and when peering down the condenser with torch, I discovered the the inside is copper, my uncle,when he made it , has inserted a full length of copper pipe from the top of the head right through the condenser. with an amazing tight fit (bully for him ). that helps me heaps.
Also i read that white vinegar will clean the copper between runs ?
I have finally finished cleaning and buffing the whole still with brass wire brush on an electric drill , what a mission.
also thanks to father tipping all the sediment into still with each run he did (hes so rough) it had baked to the bottom about 1/4 inch thick and black.
Had to use drill extensions and about two hours elbow grease.
But its sparkling now !!!
also found out, the old man, while borrowing the still , found charcoal to expensive so he was filtering with toilet paper and river sand (ha ha ) hes a classic.
So his brew was run with all the sediment in (probably not worked out ) and a 1/4 inch burnt crap on the bottom (adding to flavor) he ketp the first cup for fuel for his fish smoker , but mixed all the tailings in to the finish.
he then filtered it with toilet paper and river sand (grin) what a blend thell be none other like it .

I love stories like that when ya sitting round swigging.

gg whos got some more stories (or is the a posting place for them)

[kiwistiller]

haha awesome, bog roll and river sand

This is your thread, tell any stories you want

[gary.angie]

OK some more pics
Comments welcome.
Just got her cleaned up and ready to run this weekend
you can see in one of the pics there is a copper mesh insert in the condenser (its a bit like a fine loose chain mail that you roll up .
Im hoping this and the copper pipe inserted in the condenser will be OK. ?
ill post the run details after the weekend. I'm going to do a stripping run then a distill.
we will use the baking soda on the low wines as we are gonna make vodka for her first run since she arrived backed to us.
fingers crossed
G & A

[gary.angie]

PS forgot to mention , in the photo showing the copper in the condenser, just below the condenser , you can see two attachments on the neck , I decided im going to put a pressure gauge in (just till i get familiar with her again) wasn't to sure on that packed copper mesh in the condenser !(its packed about 5 inches long inside)the condenser.

G & A

[Ayay]

Your ol man did a good job!

The copper mesh and pipe only needs a rinse between runs, hot water will wash off any stinky tails from the previous run. Otherwise it's best to let the copper keep it's patina and do it's own thing. Running dilute vinegar is for prepping the copper in a new still or after doing some soldering or welding.

Practise running some cheap wine, the alcohol will break-in your freshly scrubbed still and be a final cleaning process.

The coil condenser is your reflux control, no cooling through the coil = pot still, and lots of cooling = reflux is happening. It will be good to know if the coil can knock down all the vapors before they can get to the leibig condenser. If it does then you have 100% reflux, but it will be a balance between the heat input as well. The leibig must condense all vapors that get past the coil condenser.

Good luck

[rad14701]

You should not need a pressure gauge on your still unless the design is fundamentally flawed, which yours doesn't appear to be... Any pressure should be coming out the liebig, otherwise it will probably sneak out past the thermometer bung which is your safety valve even though it shouldn't be needed... It would take a very sensitive pressure gauge to register a potential problem anyway...

[gary.angie]

Thanks , ill take that advice and make sure the thermometer is not in to tight.

G & A