Boiling Vessel

[mcsmp203]

Hey everyone, I'm totally new at this and want an all copper boiling vessel for my first still. Any ideas? I've looked at everything from stock pots (which are usually SS lined) to those old fire extinguishers (which would look really cool but have always been chemically eroded inside).

[rad14701]

Greetings, mcsmp203...

Any particular reason why, aside from nostalgia, you want a copper boiler...??? Most folks here are running beer kegs or stock pots, with only a few running complete copper rigs... Most of the all copper rigs are hand made from sheet stock... Copper vessels are definitely hard to find in any substantial size...

Scrap the fire extinguisher idea because even if they are pure copper they were sealed with lead based solder...

Good luck...

[mcsmp203]

No specific reason for the need for a copper boiler other than the look I guess. I'm just curious if anyone has found/converted anything that works well.

[HookLine]

A copper boiler is fine, if you find (or make) one that is right for the job.

But good quality stainless stockpots, and stainless beer kegs are very well suited to our purposes already. Very hard for a hobby stiller to do better than a keg as a boiler. That is why they are so popular here, and worth the effort to find one.

[ozone39]

I'd run down to you're local sheet metal worker and see if he has anything left from a copper roof or gutter job..Have them roll out a side wall & lid and solder it (side wall) to a base plate....When they ask tell them it's a planter....

[chaos]

im not entirely sur if this would work but a hot water cilender might work and they r mostly mad of copper and u can get them around 30 L well smallest ones i know of feel free to blast me guys if im wrong

[LWTCS]

Pretty sure Kiwi-Lembic grows those off a tree in his back garden

[Ayay]

Copper hot water cylinders have a domed top and bottom. They make a good boiler but are usually too big for home stillin needs. If the cylinder is small enough it can be used on it's side like a steam locomotive, or it can be cut in half or a third, braze on a flat copper bottom and stand it upright. Mine is cut in half and at 70L (18 US Galls) it's too big for my needs and too big for my gas burner.

My needs only became clear after trying out different ways of stillin. With the gas burner I have it's single reflux runs from a 40L charge of 12% wash. I could use the full boiler capacity for strippin but then need to upgrade the heating. Nah...I like single runs too much!

Beware of 'too big' because it can turn 'hobby' into 'work'. 'Too small' is jus plain frustration.

Go for a min 30L boiler for the contents of one 25L beer brewing barrell, and a max 50L boiler for two bbb's.