I am a HeadCase...

[HeadCase]

Hello all, been reading for a while and gave my bits of info here and there when I had it. Though I finally decided to come over to the Welcome Center and do what I should have done a while ago, say Hi.

I live in the states and I am an Engineer by trade; I love knowing the basics of everything and being able to build something from the ground up to reap the rewards is my ultimate past time.

Now, for the alky talk:
I have already made several batches of my own beer brews and have loved it. I still have all of my equipment and I hope that it will help me moving forward into the distilling of my own spirits.

I am doing this, as everyone else is, as a hobby. I am a fan of nice, smooth Rums and full flavored Scotches. My wife is a sucker for clean, clear, smooth Vodkas. It is these items in which I am going to attempt to distill with my experience I gain here.

I have already gotten a lot of help from members of this site and I always value the opinions of those more knowledgeable then myself. I already thank you, and I hope that, over time, I can be one of the ones to help contribute my own knowledge and experience.

[rubber duck]

Welcome aboard.

If your a head case your going to fit in well here.

Since you've already brewed beer your a leg up.

[Bushman]

Welcome, that was a nice introduction. Since you are planning on a combo of whiskey, scotch, and vodka are you thinking about a dual purpose still or two separate columns that fit on one boiler?

[HeadCase]

So, going into this I am trying to decide what to build. I have already made a 3ft leibig condensor simply to see if I still have my soldering skills. It turned out very nice in my opinion though I need to clean a bit about the welds.

It is my plan to make a concentric pot still as a mini, but had made minor changes only to its height (12" to 24").

Other copper pieces that I have acquired in hopes to make a modular or maybe even 2 stills are this:
2ft of 2" Copper Pipe
4ft of 1-1/2" Copper Pipe
Several Lengths of 1/2" x 12" Copper Pipe
Nearly unlimited 3/8"OD Copper Tube Coil
about 4ft of OLD 1/4"OD Copper Tube Coil
Random Brass fittings

And other parts dedicated to my Concentric Pot Still build:
2ft of 1" Copper Pipe
2ft of 3/4" Copper Pipe
2ft of 1/2" Copper Pipe
One 3/4"x1/2"x1/2" Tee
Two 1" to 3/4" Reducers

I have a 27 Qt (~5gal) Stainless Pot that I have used for my Beer brewing. However, it has a glass lid. The ID of the inner ledge of the pot is 12-1/4" so I will have to find a bowl and fab one or make a type flat with a flange or port.
And, an already made 3ft leibig (mentioned above).

I would like the same boiler to be used for all of my builds so something adaptable would be ideal.

So, with this shopping list, what would be good to make a pot still or reflux still to satisfy what I am going for and what my wife would enjoy?

[HeadCase]

Welcome aboard.

If your a head case your going to fit in well here.

Since you've already brewed beer your a leg up.

Thanks man. I hope my experience in my field and knowledge of brews can be a contribution.

[HeadCase]

Welcome, that was a nice introduction. Since you are planning on a combo of whiskey, scotch, and vodka are you thinking about a dual purpose still or two separate columns that fit on one boiler?

Heh... I was just posting again to get other opinions. I am a bit of an impulsive person. So imediately I saw the slanted plate design and got the 1.5" x 48" pipe, but then I got to reading about packing heights, condensers, etc etc and decided to cam down a bit and read on.

So, with the list I provided any help towards my goals would be appreciated.

[rubber duck]

With the parts you have on hand I would use that 4ft section for a boka, it will be a little on the slow side but you've got the pipe so use it. You might be able to do a singe coil for the boka with the 3/8" but it's going to be a challenge.

With the 2" and 1" pipe I would make a simple goose neck pot still. Your also going to need a 2' 90 and some reducers unless you have better then average metal working skills.

I would get a keg and use that as a boiler and a tri clamp for the connection, that's the most straight forward way for interchanging still heads.

That wil get you vodka, whiskey, rum, and striping.

[blanikdog]

Head cases are alway welcome here.

Stay Safe


EDIT: Bugger me, I'm beginning to sound like a mod off holidays.

[HeadCase]

You might be able to do a singe coil for the boka with the 3/8" but it's going to be a challenge.

I should have mentioned this above but I have already coiled a single-run condenser coil from 1/4"OD tube and a double-run with 1/4"OD tube. The Single fits snugly into the 1-1/2" but I over calculated my double-run tube and got an OD of 2-1/4" on the coils so I am holding onto this for later.

With the 2" and 1" pipe I would make a simple goose neck pot still. Your also going to need a 2' 90 and some reducers unless you have better then average metal working skills.

What would you consider better then average? I don't have that many tools or a shop with mendrel bending devices, but I have a sh!t load of hand tools of all different lots.

I would get a keg and use that as a boiler and a tri clamp for the connection, that's the most straight forward way for interchanging still heads.
That wil get you vodka, whiskey, rum, and striping.

Been lookin' for a keg, so hard to find around here.

[Samohon]

Yep, welcome to HD Headcase...

Have fun on your way forward and Stay Safe...

[rubber duck]

Better then average would be better then me.

Your going to have to cut that 2" pipe and braise it at a 90 deg angle , then you have to reduce the 2"pipe down to at least an inch to 1/2 in.

Honestly if it where me I would spend the 30 bucks for a 90 and the reducers and save the headaches.

[Ayay]

H-C, you have a boiler, packed (I presume) column, and condenser...do a Boka and you will get the results you need! It's all there except the needle valve.

[HeadCase]

Built a 48" Boka, a 24" 1/2"ID Concentric Pot Still, and I am part way through my 2" column Pot Still.

I got a keg, as mentioned in some previous posts and am working at converting that. So I am on my way soon. Then I get to have the fun of the washes... Boy-Oh-Boy am I excited.

First with be Birdsong Vodka, so I can get the wife off my back for making something that could potentially blow up.... if I was entirely irresponsible and left the still unattended for any length of time, without water and an extinguisher nearby; and completely ignoring any sign of danger...

But yes, things are looking good. Just lucked out and found a copper scrap yard near my home. Needtah check them out to see what their potential is...

[hackware]

copper scrap yard...?...!!!

how fer ya from 39365...?

william...

edit: oh yeah...

welcome aboard...

i b a noob my own self...

[HeadCase]

I am across the river and definitely across the prairie from you... We even have toilets in our houses here!

Just messing with ya hackware. But not about the toilet part...

[HeadCase]

Woooohooo! Hit Rumrunner! Gawd I can't wait to be makin' my own to get to where I am for this post.

[HeadCase]

Visited the Scapper near my place. He has two large steel trash containers full of copper, clean and "dirty".

This is a pic of the clean stuff. After I saw this my head started to swim with what I could do with all of it.

Just as reference, the larger pipe that you see laying across is a 4" about 5' long.

The dirty stuff are just pieces here and there that have been used, cut, or painted. I don't think they know to use cleaning solutions (or care to use them).

I felt like a kid in a candy store.

[LWTCS]

Holly mother of God.

You are the luckiest man on the planet.

[frozenthunderbolt]

i cant scream JEALOUS loud enough to express my feelings! What are their prices like? Spot price by weight only?

[HeadCase]

Weight. About $3./lb.

[rubber duck]

So where exactly do you live? I'm paying almost double that for scrap copper depending on how much dope the owner did that day.

I'd grab that 4" stick and store it for later, your not going to get a better deal then that and you will use it latter.

[Bull Rider]

Buy the whole pile, and sell it back to them in a year when the scrap prices have tripled.

Nice find...


Bull.

[HeadCase]

I just picked up about $120 in fittings for about $30. Talking with the guy there he is going to set the fittings aside so I no longer have to go dumpster diving. I can probably get some good over sized fittings. I had my hand on a few 4" elbows. I'm willing to pick some up to sell to you folks. Let me know what you are looking for and I will see what is available.

[HeadCase]

I'm baaaack.........

[Bayou-Ruler]

I'm baaaack.........

wb

[clodev]

So did you ever make anything. Last time you left the rig was almost made? Like reading a great story and someone taking out the last few pages. hahahaha

[HeadCase]

Being in a place that the temps get very high in the summer I decided to take a break from the building at the only location that I had to build was in the garage (temps can be up to 145F at that time). I promised myself that I would get back into it when the temps cooled for the winter but my newborn has been taking up some time and finances prevented the purchase of hobby related items.

So, now as it sits I just finally got my proofing hydrometer so that I can now make my parrot, and I decided to get a new keg and make a 2" flange for the adapter to my now completed 2" pot still and the 1.5" boka.

Going to get a new/used turkey fryer setup so that I can use the propane burner for deep fry turkeys, brew my wert for my beer and use the keg as a boiler.