Distilling in Garage

[rgarry]

Recently moved and now I have neighbors who can see into my back yard. I was using a pot still and using a burner outside and worked great. I just purchased a Column still from a good building who is known on this forum (from Barlow Kentucky- don't want to mention names and be in violation of rule but most of you know who I'm talking about). Will be using the heating element (electric). My hot water heater is in the garage and its electric. If I distill in the garage with door shut (2 car garage), would this be safe. I'm not sure if I need to be concerned about flammable vapors. Any thoughts from those of you who distill in close quarers. Thanks

[kenfyoozed]

do you have a window in that garage? if so open it and place a fan in there as well. Or you could do the same by opening the garage door about a foot and placing a fan to blow out the fumes. Or open the garage and pull the cars up close so you cant see past the cars. Or hand a curtain to block the view while door is open........ Many ways to hide in plane sight...

Hope your rig works good for you.....

[Prairiepiss]

Well I distill in my master bathroom. How's that for tight quarters? I will tell you it sucks. But safe as you make it. If your still is all sealed up and not leaking vapor. The way it should be. There is no problem. There will be some smells that come from it but nothing bad. Just be prepared. Fire extinguisher is a must. With you running electric a vent fan isn't needed during your run. Unless something were to happen and you needed to clear vapors out of the room.

I dream to one day have a garage to run mine in.

[rgarry]

There is no windows. It does have a door into the house and I can blow fumes that way but that doesn't seem smart. I was thinking about keeping the garage door up a foot or so, but worried about uninvited guest (ie the fuz). I guess I spent too much time reading the post of people who got busted. I read somewhere that there are less than 30 bust a year. I wasn't sure how much of a concern vapors would be with a properly made still, cooled effeciently etc. Don't want to burn the house down since I doubt the home owners will cover it

[Boda Getta]

I do all my distilling with propane in my 2 car garage (with no cars in) and never had a problem. I have windows but I leave the garage door open about 2 feet at the bottom and believe that would suffice even if the windows were closed. Of course, I try and observe all safety precautions.

Good luck,
BG

[Dnderhead]

Ive distilled in enclosed places,if you see yellow flames then you know inaficient o2.

[Ayay]

No problem provided the still is free of leaks, you turn on the coolant long before the vapours hit the condenser, and you are constantly nearby. These things happen when least expected so being nearby is the most important...you can take immediate action before it becomes more than a smell.

There's always a delightful smell during a run, and if using gas there's also the CO2. An extractor fan in the roof will direct any smells upwards, and suck fresh air into the garage via some inlet somewhere else.

[rgarry]

Alright, you guys make be feel more secure. Thanks

[rgarry]

Just want to update this post. Have been doing it with no issues. Obviously, I checked the still for leaks and watch it like a hawk.

[heartcut]

Carbon Monoxide monitors are cheap and might add a little more security. CO makes you really relaxed.

[rgarry]

I agree. I have 2 smoke detectors and 2 extinguishers in garage.

[Husker]

The best fire extinguisher for 'most' ethanol fires, is a couple of 5 gallon buckets of water, staged, so you can kick them over, as you run out. ethanol will ONLY burn in high strength form (above 40% or pretty high proof and hot). Thus, water dumped onto the problem can nip it in the bud (IF DONE QUICKLY), and if you can get a fire out prior to any other flammables getting hot enough to ignite, the fire simply goes out.

The additional extinguishers are good also. If the fire does 'escape' the ethanol vapors (i.e. it heats some other flammable material up to ignition point), then the water dump may not be enough.

I still in the garage when the weather sux. I always have 2 5 gallon buckets close to the back door, and also 2 of them close to the front garage door. I also have an extinguisher near both exits. Then if something flames up, I can get the hell out of there, but on my way out, stop for a second IN A SAFER location, and try to fight any fire, the best I can.

I do watch closely, so have NEVER had a fire issue. But the ONLY time you can be prepared, is BEFORE an event happens. It is hard to prepare, when picking through the burnt rubble of your former home

H.

[Prairiepiss]

Good ideas Husker. I never thought of just a plain bucket of water. That makes good sense. For an alcohol fire.

But caution should be used if firing with electric. Pull the plug before dumping.

And water won't do much for propane. But having an actual extinguisher handy to can take care of that. If it gets to that point.

[Husker]

Agreed PP. One should be ready for any situation. If the collection container breaks, gets kicked over, etc, and high proof spills on the floor, and ignites, it is pretty easy to douse it with water, and squash it, before it lights up anything else. However, if your propane hose breaks, and starts whipping around like a flame thrower, then you obviously have a different beast to handle. Same if you have a wiring fire.

Again, these situations should not happen, if you pay attention while stillin. But no one can predict when Murphy will hit you with some unforeseen event. Being prepared BEFORE hand, is the only safe way to get through it, with nothing more than singed eyebrows.

2 summers ago, I had a football land in my backyard while stilling. Now it did not hit the still, or collection container, but it certainly 'could have'. Could I have ever predicted some event like that, ..... Nope. Could I recover and handle such event, ..... Yup. Speaking of situations like this, since I was sitting right there, it was no big deal. I walked over, picked up the ball, and tossed it to the neighbor kid. Had I not been there, or paying attention, he may have climbed the fence, seen the 'strange' thing, and told someone. It would really suck to have the police show up, to check out the 'meth lab' that the neighbor kid dropped dime on.

H.

[Prairiepiss]

Your idea of having what you need up stream from the still is great too. Position things so the most potential of a fire is the furthest from the exit. And what you need to fight it on the way to the exit. And your position is between the still and the exit.

I go to as many as 6 customers a day. And the first thing I look for is a fire extinguisher. The second is the exit. And I tell you what. Most fire extinguishers are not placed in the best spots. And most don't even think about it. Oh Yeh we got one somewhere? Worst yet fire extinguisher 2 foot from main gas line into the building in the back corner surrounded by racking. I guess you pay more attention to it if you have actually had to fight a fire or two or three ok 5. 3 in the Air force around aircraft. 2 on forklifts that I was working on. Kept all the pins as a reminder. And I try to take the equipment I am working on outside next to my service van. Where I have a fire extinguisher at the side door and the back door. And nothing blocking me. And nothing but that piece of equipment to get damaged.

[heartcut]

It is reassuring to note that a "regular" propane botle should shut itself off if a big leak forms. My 100# bottle doesn't and I've been thinking about installing a high flow valve on it. May just go to ss braided hoses. Good idea on the water, never thought of it even though I recycle the stuff in buckets...