Rookie Questions

[oakspring]

Ok...I'm gathering parts, pieces, and stuff for my first still. I'm trying to read everything I can (so please forgive me if my search Mojo is weak), but I have some some serious questions that I have yet been able to find.

Questions:

1. I've read the various opinions regarding brass fittings. Are they good, bad, evil, can be rendered safe for not? I've noticed various brass fittings on pictures on stills here, what's the final say? I'm talking about water line brass fitting from places like Home Depot or Lowe's; Valves, Elbows, Connectors and such?

2. I'm building a Bokabob 2" Reflux still from "scrap" heavy copper tubing. How can I clean this material properly to insure t - hat any product produced there in is safe? I've read about vinegar and water, or Hydrogen Peroxide and water, or Muriatic Acid? The copper pipe is used (scrap) and shows some signs tarnishing on the inside and I really want to properly clean it.

3. Which is better, safer and more effective: internal or external heat on the boiler? I've been considering going with either Hot Water Heater elements in a converted beer keg or going with a propane "turkey" burner arrangement.

4. Sources...sources...sources. Where in the U.S. is the best source for various pieces and parts for building a still?

5. What is the positive/negative of adding a Lieberg to a Bokabob design? Yeah - Neah - whatever?

THANKS

Oak

[still crazy]

Ok...I'm gathering parts, pieces, and stuff for my first still. I'm trying to read everything I can (so please forgive me if my search Mojo is weak), but I have some some serious questions that I have yet been able to find.

Questions:

1. I've read the various opinions regarding brass fittings. Are they good, bad, evil, can be rendered safe for not? I've noticed various brass fittings on pictures on stills here, what's the final say? I'm talking about water line brass fitting from places like Home Depot or Lowe's; Valves, Elbows, Connectors and such? Brass needs to be pickled. Avoid it if you can

2. I'm building a Bokabob 2" Reflux still from "scrap" heavy copper tubing. Define HEAVY (type) How can I clean this material properly to insure t - hat any product produced there in is safe? I've read about vinegar and water, or Hydrogen Peroxide and water, or Muriatic Acid? The copper pipe is used (scrap) and shows some signs tarnishing on the inside and I really want to properly clean it. Vinegar and rock salt mixed is what I have found works best.

3. Which is better, safer and more effective: internal or external heat on the boiler? I've been considering going with either Hot Water Heater elements in a converted beer keg or going with a propane "turkey" burner arrangement. Matter of personal preference, Fire can be dangerous but so can uninsulated electrical work.

4. Sources...sources...sources. Where in the U.S. is the best source for various pieces and parts for building a still? Depends on where you are where I am plentiful in Kentucky not so.

5. What is the positive/negative of adding a Lieberg to a Bokabob design? Yeah - Neah - whatever? Always helps to cool your product.

THANKS

Oak

[oakspring]

[quote="still crazy"][quote="oakspring"]
Questions:

1. Brass needs to be pickled. Avoid it if you can Do you need to pickle brass valves and connecting components that are intended for use in domestic water lines?

2. Define HEAVY (type) Industrial strength - about twice as thick as what they are selling for two-inch diameter copper pipe at Lowe's and Home depot

3. Matter of personal preference, Fire can be dangerous but so can uninsulated electrical work. Open flames and alcohol is a concern as well as trying to control the heat. I think a hot water heating elements would allow for more delicate control.

[Dnderhead]

yes pickling brass removes surface lead , even tho some are said to be "lead free" you cant be sure. is it is best to be safe.
(some are said to be lead free and contain 8%)
acidic acid (vinegar) and hydrogen peroxides will remove surface lead .if you "pickle" for about 5min longer and you can re expose the lead.
salt/vinegar is used to clean copper.soak your cruddy copper in it.it will remove oxides.

the type of heat is up to you as long as you have good control over it and it is steady "no thermostats etc."

[Mud Mechanik]

5. What is the positive/negative of adding a Lieberg to a Bokabob design? Yeah - Neah - whatever?

THANKS

Oak

This one is simple, You have to have some kind of condenser, the Liebeg and worm is the most common. The worm uses water in a barrel or bucket to cool the output, and the Liebeg uses water flow across the output line to do the same job. I'm sure that you will find strong opinions favoring each one of them here, I have each but prefer the Liebeg due to the simplicity of vapor tubing. MM

[oakspring]

THANKS!! for the feed back guys! Much appreciated. As a matter of standard practice I think I'll just pickle anything not copper or stainless. The last thing I want is lead at any level in my hooch. I'm sure as most folks here I'll end up with both types of stills especially since I'm a Scotch and Rum drinker. I'd really like to build and old fashioned "Popcorn" style moonshine still, of course scaled down considerably from "Popcorn" Sutton's style. I think it would be interesting as well as quite a challenge to build one out of sheet copper, solder and rivets. For now the Boka is where I'm starting and I understand it can be run as either a reflux or pot still so that seems like a good place to begin. The Lieberg looks like a good addition to the kit, as well as simple enough to build, so I think I'll go with that.

More questions on the build:

1. Right now I have a half keg that I was planning on using as my boiler. I'm debating whether to leave the top intact and just remove the Sankey valve and attach the tower directly to it with one of those compression clamps. My concern is how the heck can you really clean out something like that with such a small opening?

2. Would it be to my advantage to cut a larger opening and use an inverted stainless steel bowl for a lid as I've seen some do? And if so...how the heck do you clamp the bowl/lid down adequately enough?

3. I will probably be electrifying the keg with two 120v / 1500 watt water heating elements and installing a drain valve and some means to keep and eye on the internal temperature. Where is the best location for a boiler thermometer? Digital or dial?

4. Is there an optimum diameter and length for a Lieberg? I've read 3/4" in a 1 inch diameter tube, 1/2" in a 3/4" diameter tube and lengths of varying dimensions. I'm planning on about a total 68" tall, 2" diameter tower. The upper 22" section has a double helical 1/4" copper condenser that is approximately 8" overall length of double wound coil. I think it took me about ten feet of 1/4 tubing to build this - as per the awesome directions from this website...thanks for the sticky!!

I'm going to try and take as many pictures as I can of the process to help other first time builders. Hope everything comes together as easily as many folks here expressed.

Cheers

[LWTCS]

1. Good hose out usually all ya need.
2. Don't do it.

4. Often this choice is predicated on available materials. Either will prolly work jes fine.