And yet another...

[fermentus decrepitus]

... new person here.
I recently became interested in distilling. Historically I've brewed an odd batch of beer or two before. Actually, they were all a bit odd. My intent with the first batch was to make a steam beer, something along the lines of Anchor Steam - like San Francisco,which it turned out like... with, you know, the cable cars, Rice-a-Roni, and and the Golden Gate Bridge, all in a bottle. And some time later a few successful batches, don't worry!
But beer isn't quite the object here, at least not directly. In a previous lifetime (oh, right, the early 90's!) I had some friends and acquaintences who made mead and a couple who had stills making Absinthe (in a perhaps more historically accurate version than essence of fennel and anise in Everclear).

Having trolled through some forums in my time I think it is important to explain where one comes from and why... exposure... interest, etc.

My story is a few weeks back I was looking through the Seattle Craigslist for some now forgotten sought after item - I daily look for a account draining plethora of vintage car, motorcycle, machine tool, nigerian monetary stock and random B.S.. Somewhere in there I came across an advertisement from a local individual offering stills for sale. Interesting, I thought... hmmmm, let's see, stock pot/beer keg, copper tubing, (hopefully) silver solder, thermometer, etc equals instant alcohol, right? While I can't run my car on it (in fact the current 10% Ethanol is bad enough on my poor Alfa Romeo's fuel system!), I do like the idea of a drink now and again. Or, if you want to readbetween lines, if I have one now I would like one again... I can't find the add anymore, but it seemed like a simple enough array of tube and fittings (though please don't let this comment belittle anyone!) that, given my background of fabrication, process engineering, etc. I could make it for less.
After some time looking online at the different approaches and uses of stills I am still at a bit of a loss... or perhaps indecisiveness...
Mash recipe? Still type? To age or not to age (or perhaps let's ask the mirror)? Oak? Charcoal? And so much more.
I am a bit of a traditionalist. My older brother once suggested I wanted to go back to a square wheel. My response was only as long as there was internal combustion - I would round those corners off! But with that said, my interest lies more in a traditional approach - I'm not inclined to add concentrate flavor, etc. as I have seen discussed and advertised. I guess this means I have to switch gears from being tolerant to patient... I am compelled to explore flavor.
My interests in boooze go from tequila/sotol to scotch, rum, gin, and whiskey. Vodka brings about too many memories of misadventures in high school...

And a little more about me - I make chocolate for a living. No really. About 7,000 pound at a time. I oversee the raw cocoa beans (a fermented product!!) from the roasting process into a bulk material referred to as liquor, then through refining processes into a finished product called chocolate. Just ask!
Looking forward to some discussions...
Best,
Erin

[rad14701]

Welcome to the forums, fermentus decrepitus... Interesting introduction... Hope you enjoy your time spent here... Good luck...

[scotty]

Soon you will change your moniker to fermentus exelentus

[LWTCS]

Welcome Erin,
Sounds like your thinking potstill.

But by the tone of your post,,,,you'll likely (if you keep with it) be running both before its all said and done. Or was that more or less??

Heres mine cuz I'm a proud papa.

[fermentus decrepitus]

Welcome Erin,
Sounds like your thinking potstill.

But by the tone of your post,,,,you'll likely (if you keep with it) be running both before its all said and done. Or was that more or less??

Heres mine cuz I'm a proud papa.

Ahh, very cool! Yes, you are correct, I am thinking potstill... seems like it may be the easiest to start with as well. I have been slammed with the day job, and, come to think of it, the night job as well (as I too am a papa!), but should have a hole cut in the empty keg here shortly and some solder flowing on copper or some tig beads on stainless... I'll be sure and post photos as it progresses.

[rad14701]

Good luck with the build, fermentus decrepitus...

"I love the smell of putting solder to copper in the morning! It smells like - VICTORY..!!!"