Distillation monster
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Distillation monster
A little about yourself
Hey guys, I'm Stone, sometimes called Stoner, hence the SN. (no, I don't smoke, my last name is Stone)
A little about what you want to do, and or what you would like to gain from the site/forum.
So, a bit about me. I'm an operator at a very large oil company. I've been out there for about 5 years and picked up distilling when I was taking classes. Until recently, I've been only interested in the process. Now I'm thinking about looking at recipes and, well, more into the art of it all.
In my "studies" I've made many, many stills. The most proud of which was continuous distillation unit that provided consistent feed and no pumps (using coffee heaters at the re-boiler and feed driver.) here's a pic:
Should be noted this was a proof of concept design, and not a drinkin' still.
A little about what still you currently have, or what you are wanting to make/buy
My production still is a 52 qt stainless pot with a 2"x3' packed double internal reflux still. (stove-top still)
No good pictures of it, but I have a drawing I did for a friend:
Butttt like I said, I'm wanting to get into the art of it all, and my still has trouble running anything less than 90-95% pure, so I've been looking around for an authentic copper pot still. I actually picked one up in Romania earlier in the year, but it was extremely small and not intended to be practical. It did, however, get me interested. Larger copper pot stills are a bit pricey , so if all else fails and I cant justify the cash, I'll just make a new, short/no reflux column and use it on my old pot.
Any other additional information you find helpful
I travel quite a bit and served in the Army
Where you are at.
Born and raised Texan
Happy to be part of the family
*edit* I'm now anonymous
Hey guys, I'm Stone, sometimes called Stoner, hence the SN. (no, I don't smoke, my last name is Stone)
A little about what you want to do, and or what you would like to gain from the site/forum.
So, a bit about me. I'm an operator at a very large oil company. I've been out there for about 5 years and picked up distilling when I was taking classes. Until recently, I've been only interested in the process. Now I'm thinking about looking at recipes and, well, more into the art of it all.
In my "studies" I've made many, many stills. The most proud of which was continuous distillation unit that provided consistent feed and no pumps (using coffee heaters at the re-boiler and feed driver.) here's a pic:
Should be noted this was a proof of concept design, and not a drinkin' still.
A little about what still you currently have, or what you are wanting to make/buy
My production still is a 52 qt stainless pot with a 2"x3' packed double internal reflux still. (stove-top still)
No good pictures of it, but I have a drawing I did for a friend:
Butttt like I said, I'm wanting to get into the art of it all, and my still has trouble running anything less than 90-95% pure, so I've been looking around for an authentic copper pot still. I actually picked one up in Romania earlier in the year, but it was extremely small and not intended to be practical. It did, however, get me interested. Larger copper pot stills are a bit pricey , so if all else fails and I cant justify the cash, I'll just make a new, short/no reflux column and use it on my old pot.
Any other additional information you find helpful
I travel quite a bit and served in the Army
Where you are at.
Born and raised Texan
Happy to be part of the family
*edit* I'm now anonymous
Last edited by Stoner on Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Distillation monster
Rube Goldberg would have been proud of that one
Welcome.
H.
Welcome.
H.
Hillbilly Rebel: Unless you are one of the people on this site who are legalling distilling, keep a low profile, don't tell, don't sell.
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Re: Distillation monster
heh heh, thanks! I've always been fond of Goldberg machines. probably because even some of the best engineered ones fail when at competition, so I feel a sort of kinship in engineering failures. I was surprised as hell when this thing not only worked as designed, but that it put out a burnable product!
The feed rate was 2.5gph at about 75% purity (running a simple turbo-yeast mash)
My friends didn't understand my excitement
~Stone
The feed rate was 2.5gph at about 75% purity (running a simple turbo-yeast mash)
My friends didn't understand my excitement
~Stone
Re: Distillation monster
Gday, cool pic.
If you are looking for an authentic copper pot still that is not too expensive then I can say that these guys are good. Their Biggest alembic is 20 litre so maybe too small for you but I have a 10 litre one from them here at home and it's great quality. Price in my opinion was pretty good as well.
http://www.coppermasters.com/prod_detai ... &iOffset=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
If you are looking for an authentic copper pot still that is not too expensive then I can say that these guys are good. Their Biggest alembic is 20 litre so maybe too small for you but I have a 10 litre one from them here at home and it's great quality. Price in my opinion was pretty good as well.
http://www.coppermasters.com/prod_detai ... &iOffset=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Only this, and nothing more.'
Re: Distillation monster
Thanks a lot! they actually look like the same stills, just a ton cheaper!devotus wrote:Gday, cool pic.
If you are looking for an authentic copper pot still that is not too expensive then I can say that these guys are good. Their Biggest alembic is 20 litre so maybe too small for you but I have a 10 litre one from them here at home and it's great quality. Price in my opinion was pretty good as well.
http://www.coppermasters.com/prod_detai ... &iOffset=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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Re: Distillation monster
welcome...............
Bayou Ethanol
Ethanol Fuel Producer
AFP-LA-15027
http://www.BayouEthanol.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Ethanol Fuel Producer
AFP-LA-15027
http://www.BayouEthanol.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Re: Distillation monster
thanks!Bayou-Ruler wrote:welcome...............
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Re: Distillation monster
Damn! Happy to have another crazy evil genius on board. Keep the pictures coming. Remember, Not too much personal info. This after all an illegal hobby. Welcome aboard Distillation Monster Stone.
Re: Distillation monster
Haha, thanks! And I'm not too terribly worried. After all, if anyone cared to, they could link your SN with your IP, have a chit-chat with your ISP and have your name/address/probable cause in two shakes of a lambs tail. Keeping it a hobby is what keeps us safe—well, reasonably so. At least, that's my take on it.mash rookie wrote:Damn! Happy to have another crazy evil genius on board. Keep the pictures coming. Remember, Not too much personal info. This after all an illegal hobby. Welcome aboard Distillation Monster Stone.
~Stone
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Re: Distillation monster
Welcome aboard.
I don't know if I would have a pic with me in it posted. But to each his own.
You know with a few mods to the CM still you have you could make don good whiskey with it. And improve the reflux performance while your at it. It would be a lot cheaper then buying a new one.
Good luck be safe.
I don't know if I would have a pic with me in it posted. But to each his own.
You know with a few mods to the CM still you have you could make don good whiskey with it. And improve the reflux performance while your at it. It would be a lot cheaper then buying a new one.
Good luck be safe.
It'snotsocoldnow.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Re: Distillation monster
Thank you!Prairiepiss wrote: You know with a few mods to the CM still you have you could make don good whiskey with it. And improve the reflux performance while your at it. It would be a lot cheaper then buying a new one.
Good luck be safe.
Now I've always thought that continuous stills were inferior to pot because you couldn't separate heads/tails. I had intended on using it to run large batches->cut->carbon filter->re-run in a pot for a final. How could I modify this thing to be good off of a straight run?
here's another pic of the re-boiler end, the above is a bit confusing.
I eventually want to remake this still; make it nice and pretty, and if the design (or continuous stills in general) is capable of straight-run whiskey, your suggestions would not go unused.
~Stone
Re: Distillation monster
**I should add: without using an additional downstream column to flash the light-ends...
although...............
~Stone
although...............
~Stone
Re: Distillation monster
Just lop off a column section,,,add a tri=clamp adapter to either end for re-attachment if needed and throw the column section on to a a more conventional boiler......Stoner wrote:How could I modify this thing to be good off of a straight run?
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
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Re: Distillation monster
I think he was talking about the monster still? Not the one he's running? Could be wrong?LWTCS wrote:Just lop off a column section,,,add a tri=clamp adapter to either end for re-attachment if needed and throw the column section on to a a more conventional boiler......Stoner wrote:How could I modify this thing to be good off of a straight run?
It'snotsocoldnow.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Re: Distillation monster
Hahaha PP that thing is a monster...Prairiepiss wrote:monster still?
Stoney have a gander at the diagrams and plans thread
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
Re: Distillation monster
I'm lost as well..Prairiepiss wrote:I think he was talking about the monster still? Not the one he's running? Could be wrong?LWTCS wrote:Just lop off a column section,,,add a tri=clamp adapter to either end for re-attachment if needed and throw the column section on to a a more conventional boiler......Stoner wrote:How could I modify this thing to be good off of a straight run?
Re: Distillation monster
Your column section that is directly adjacent to your liebig condenser....
Cut it out and add some adapters so that if needed you can re-attach......Then install the column (and condenser)section onto a conventional boiler and run as a batch system so that you can make cuts and gitcha some drankin stock.........
Cut it out and add some adapters so that if needed you can re-attach......Then install the column (and condenser)section onto a conventional boiler and run as a batch system so that you can make cuts and gitcha some drankin stock.........
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
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Re: Distillation monster
I was speaking of the still in your drawing. That I thought you said you were using?
If you cut the tubes that go through the column. And reroute them so you can feed the product condenser separate from the through tubes in the column. You would have a pot still. Just by not using the through tubes. You could also gain better control of the refluxing by controlling the two separate.
This mite help with it. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=25732
If you cut the tubes that go through the column. And reroute them so you can feed the product condenser separate from the through tubes in the column. You would have a pot still. Just by not using the through tubes. You could also gain better control of the refluxing by controlling the two separate.
This mite help with it. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=25732
It'snotsocoldnow.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Re: Distillation monster
ahhhhh, damn. I thought we were modifying the continuous process...LWTCS wrote:Your column section that is directly adjacent to your liebig condenser....
Cut it out and add some adapters so that if needed you can re-attach......Then install the column (and condenser)section onto a conventional boiler and run as a batch system so that you can make cuts and gitcha some drankin stock.........
I've got a pot still, unfortunately this is an an old, bad-angeled pic.
She now sits on a 52quart stainless pot. But you're still right; she strips too much taste out, a cut is a good idea.
But alas, I think we gettin' a we-bit technical for an introduction, i probably should take these discussions to the correct topics
thank you for the warm welcome fellas!
~Stone
Re: Distillation monster
In that CM drawing the water flow is backwards... Cold water should enter at the bottom of the product condenser and exit out the top, counter-flow to the vapor... You always want the coldest part of the condenser to be the furthest away from the boiler so you can guarantee adequate vapor knock down...
I'll pass on commenting on that continuous contraption...
I'll pass on commenting on that continuous contraption...
Re: Distillation monster
Sir,,,,,,,, your ability to exercise restraint is surely unmatched in the whole of the universe and beyondrad14701 wrote:I'll pass on commenting on that continuous contraption...
Have you no appreciation what kind of intestinal fortitude it may require to leak check and outfit like that??????
For the luv of god man
Edit again:
And so forth and so on!
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
Re: Distillation monster
Aye, if the cooling water was optimized for the condenser, you'd be right. At it is, however, it's optimized for internal reflux control. Having a cooler tower bottom would defeat the purpose of having the upper section, wouldn't it? As I recall, the whole purpose for having a tower of any sort is for a temperature gradient; coming in a far second being liquid-vapor contact (but this wouldn't amount to nothing in distillation without a temp. gradient) However, maybe this is one of the things I need to learn because right now the only sense it makes to me is as an extra (too much IMO) safety measure.rad14701 wrote:In that CM drawing the water flow is backwards... Cold water should enter at the bottom of the product condenser and exit out the top, counter-flow to the vapor... You always want the coldest part of the condenser to be the furthest away from the boiler so you can guarantee adequate vapor knock down...
I'll pass on commenting on that continuous contraption...
~ Stone
My stills: Continuous Still, Pot Still, Whiskey Still
Last edited by Stoner on Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Distillation monster
In retrospect—and probably due to my job—my view of safety probably differs quitttttteeeeeeeeeee a bit from most people.rad14701 wrote:I'll pass on commenting on that continuous contraption...
~ Stone
My stills: Continuous Still, Pot Still, Whiskey Still
Last edited by Stoner on Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Distillation monster
After reading this whole topic there is one clue for the lack of flavour...turbo yeast.
Welcome Stoner! The still is only 1/4 of the whole process. 1.Good clean flavoursome brew. 2. A still to get rid of excess water and nasties. 3. Airing and making the cuts. 4. After treatment such as filtering and ageing.
Welcome Stoner! The still is only 1/4 of the whole process. 1.Good clean flavoursome brew. 2. A still to get rid of excess water and nasties. 3. Airing and making the cuts. 4. After treatment such as filtering and ageing.
cornflakes...stripped and refluxed
Re: Distillation monster
Perhaps a bit more research is in order... There is good reason why that CM design has been modified over the years to have separate cooling controls... Also, for proper temperature gradient within column you'd want to coolest water at the bottom of the column where the hottest vapor is...Stoner wrote:Aye, if the cooling water was optimized for the condenser, you'd be right. At it is, however, it's optimized for internal reflux control. Having a cooler tower bottom would defeat the purpose of having the upper section, wouldn't it? As I recall, the whole purpose for having a tower of any sort is for a temperature gradient; coming in a far second being liquid-vapor contact (but this wouldn't amount to nothing in distillation without a temp. gradient) However, maybe this is one of the things I need to learn because right now the only sense it makes to me is as an extra (too much IMO) safety measure.