Hey All

[SmilinLizard]

I signed up quite a while ago with all intentions of having a fine still and making my own likker by now, but like many others I've changed jobs, moved, and am now trying to get back into things and back on my feet. I don't know the politics around here but I've read several other forums and tend to like this one. The information here is good, there are a lot of views and comments and it makes you think. Drinkin and thinkin a wonderful combination. Anyway I digress. The first stills I looked into making was something like a Turbo-stomper or a tilted column with copper or stainless packing to help with the reflux then have the worm go through the condenser. looks to be about 18". Then I read the Book Buiding a Home Distilling Aparatus". Now I'm looking at making a 2"dia column x 36"L. with a 3"dia x 6"long condenser with 1/4 copper cooling coils going though it. This condensor would be "T'd" into another identical condensor. At the bottom of the 2nd condensor would be 2 needle valves one would return a portion of the reflux back into the column, the other would be the take off. Both condensers would be removable so copper packing can be installed in the column, and/or the unit can be used as a pot still. My boiler will be Stainless steel with a 10 gallon cooking capacity, it actually holds about 13 gallons. What do you think? I don't have it all drawn yet. I think I can get all the materials without a problem. Anyway, Just wanted to say Hi to everyone.


Smilin Lizard
from Northern IL.
(a Displaced Southern Boy)

[blanikdog]

G'day and welcome, lizard.

[scarecrow]

G'day mate. Lots of good reading here.

Be safe and enjoy this wonderful hobby.

scarecrow

[SmilinLizard]

Thanks for the welcome guys, Could be a good day, I'm taking my Stainless steel parts to a machine shop friend of mine to see if he can put my boiler together. I found a very nice hopper here at work that is made from SS. It's basically a funnel used to feed plastics into an injection molding machine. I'll have to flip ot over and have it modified. Flipped over it will have a 16"dia base, straight sides up 12 inches then tapers to a 2" opening. I'm going to have it cut at about 15" up from the base and a flange rolled on the 2 pieces so can bolt them together. The SS lid has to be welded on to create the new bottom, the whole thing will be 20ga. If it works out the way I hope I'll try and post some pictures soon. Then it's off to the column.

Smilin Lizard

[rad14701]

SmilinLizard, that boiler sounds interesting... Keep us posted on the progress...

[LWTCS]

SmilinLizard, that boiler sounds interesting... Keep us posted on the progress...

+1
Piccies?

[SmilinLizard]

The shop doing my welding on the boiler said they were swamped but the owner said he would do it himself but it still could be a week. He had some great ideas on how to improve my design once I explained what I was trying to accomplish. He said when I get this "thing" up and running he wanted a sample for payment, then he would make one himself. So maybe pics next week. Have to start on my column layout. When I get it drawn I'll pass it through here for comments and suggestions. When I get photos and drawings I'll jump out of this welcome screen. Everyone have a great weekend. Snows almost all gone and temps in the 50's Life is getting better.

Keep the home fires burnin'
SmilinLizard