My First Still....So I went Big!!!!

[MICKoWAR]

Just wanted to hear some feed back on this build. If anyone has built a still like this and have some good tips?????? That would help
that would be great!!!!

Let me just say, that is fucking epic!

My second still will be a converted keg, with a similar column =)

[ProChargedHarley03]

Well it has changed a bit from the beginning!!!!
Lol!!! Thanks MICKoWar;) Im very happy with it!!!!!
And god speed on you're next build

[JollyMon]

I have to agree with everyone else. Watching this come together over the months has been a great privileged. That thing looks bad A and I hope it performs as good as it looks. Im sure that "Jekyll & Hyde" will provide you years and years of quality spirit (that is if you stop modifying it every other run ). Keep up the good work and will continue to look forward to hear about your results.

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks JollyMon!! this is going to be the way it stays!!!!If i have any other mods, I will build something new!!!! I ran it as a pot still today!!! worked like a top!!!!

[ProChargedHarley03]

I just wanted to put the link on this page of "Jekyll and Hyde" so you all can see it run!!!!!

http://youtu.be/coo6MsBknSg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

thanks to all of you on Home Distiller Forum for all the great help on this build!!!!

[Prairiepiss]

That's awesome PCH. Love the table top.

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks,PP it also is a good support for the column too!

[Kidnapper2]

That thing is freakin' cool

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks Kidnapper2

[Richard7]

Looks like you are showing me the way to go when I decide to go a little bigger! By the way, I think you have a little too much column for your boiler and I have too much boiler for my column, so why don't we just swap columns! LOL!!!! Love the work you have done and up the post!

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks Richard7, I had a lot of fun doing it too!!..lol
Oh I will keep up with updates for sure!!!

[Prairiepiss]

So when are you going to give us some numbers an run results?

[ProChargedHarley03]

I am waiting on yeast right now!!! But I did run 13 gallons
Of UJSSM two days ago. Since I run a shorter column now
As a pot still, I have noticed that the my heads are clear now
And my tails are cloudy!! With the old tall column
My heads were cloudy and my tails were clear!!! The UJSSM
That I ran was about 11% and with the single run
Started to come out at 63% heart was 58% then collected
Till 30%! So I think this weekend I will take all of this
And dilute it down to 40% and see what I can get

[ProChargedHarley03]

Well yesterday was spring cleaning day!!!! I boild up some water and vinagar and soaked and scrubbed it with long carboy brushes!!! wow!!! this thing was dirty inside!!
I have done about 8 runs total, one think that I did that i think was a big contributor, my first run of wine and beer. I have read in this forum about running beer in you're
still will leave a oily residue. After scrubbing my still, the water and brushes had a oily residue, brown and smelly, I think this was hops oil

Also needed to free up some 1/2 gallon jars of my hootch!!! so i moved my 3 gallons of heart into a glass carboy.

UJSSM 60% 120 Proof ready for summer

[ProChargedHarley03]

So my still is all clean now, its time to give Jecklle & Hyde a permanent place to stay. Today was operation homecoming, and this is how it went

[Kidnapper2]

What a set-up. So well thought out. I've read this entire thread, reading the growth of the project and it's simply inspiring. When I first got the bug to give this "hobby" a shot. I really didn't I would look at it as anything more than something to do when it's cold out and I'm bored. But seeing what true investment in knowledge and creativity can produce has changed my entire outlook.

I think in the next couple weeks, I will be copper shopping and heavy reading on design and process.

The only thing missing from this set-up is the topless waitress to serve the high quality spirits that will be flowing out of it. Unless you have that already and forgot to include her in the pics.

[Sungy]

That is one fine hunk of copper porn. Sweet set up for your rig / fermentors.

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks for the nice words!!!!!! It's been a blast posting my first build
For everyone to see. Sorry, No don't have a topless waitress
But I know with the high proof stuff, everyone will be shirtless
After drinking that stuff....lol

[ProChargedHarley03]

Today I got some numbers with Jekyll and Hyde!!!!


I wanted to dilute my UJSSM to 40%, but i added to much water , so i had to add some heart
of a past run just to get it to 36%, so i had 6 gallons to run.

This is a smaller run, so i collected 400ml in 12 different jars!

the run went smooth, no leaks and the new rack worked great!!!

so i let everything cool down to 60 Degrees to do my proofing.

foreshot jar 200ml no reflux 172 proof 86%

Jar #1 400ml full reflux 182 proof 91%

Jar #2 400ml full reflux 188 proof 94%

Jar #3 400ml full reflux 188 proof 94%

Jar #4 400ml full reflux 188 proof 94%

Jar #5 400ml full reflux 188 proof 94%

Jar #6 400ml full reflux 182 proof 91%

Jar #7 400ml full reflux 178 proof 89%

Jar #8 400ml full reflux 176 proof 88%

Jar #9 400ml full reflux 176 proof 88%

Jar #10 400ml full reflux 172 proof 86%

Jar #11 400ml full reflux 169 proof 84%

Jar #12 400ml full reflux 169 proof 84%

i collected about 1/2 gallon more before i shut it down, i ran with the reflux wide open, and collected with a fine stream.
it took about 3 hours start to finish.

[rad14701]

Congratulations, ProChargedHarley03... Those are some good numbers...

[Prairiepiss]

Yes Congrats Procharged. Numbers are looking good.

I can't wait to see what kind of numbers you start getting after you learn to drive that beast. And a boiler charge like you want.

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks guy!!! I do have one warning when doing a high spirit run
Like this!!!!!

I stuck my nose down in the jar to check the smell!!!!!ouch!! Bad idea

Next time I will keep my nose out of the jar....

I will be doing some UJSSM!!! This week going to go about 4-5 gen then do a full 40% run!!! With the heads an tails;)

Need to stock up for summer!!!

[rad14701]

I stuck my nose down in the jar to check the smell!!!!!ouch!! Bad idea

You learn not to do that real quick...

[hendecp]

PCH, like all the others have said, what an awesome build! I went with a CM version first, ran it once with just water and abandoned it directly after and moved on to a Boka. Anyway,going way back to the beginning of these posts, you made a mod with a small coil coming off take off point with the parrot attached. Did you ever re-modify that with the vent? Also, is that coil connected to the parrot cool the take off liquid enough to accurately take a reading on the fly?

I have "still envy" now! Looks beautiful and puts my 2" x 3' Boka to shame!

[ProChargedHarley03]

Thanks hendecp!!! i did not vent the parrot, mine run's real smooth no bounce at all.

my parrot does a great job cooling, but not enough to do a accurate reading!!!

I use it to help me with the later part of the run.

I have a new vid of it running!!! shows the parrot!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6d1HgHnii0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[ProChargedHarley03]

So it begins!!!!! 20 gallons of UJSSM Bubbling away!!!!

I have enough corn yeast and sugar for 5 batches, I'm going
To be swiming in shine.......

[Richard7]

It's after 11pm here and I'm waiting on my ferm to cool down enough to pitch my yeast. I am doing rads all bran, love the taste of the grains and just as easy as a sugar wash! Way to go rad! I like the numbers you posted. I noticed you took fores with no reflux. Husker has a great post about running a reflux column but I can't find it right now. I will send you a link to it soon. I thought running reflux while taking fores was a bad Idea, why would you want to dump that stuff back down the column? But it seems reflux helps the foreshots to accumulate. I don't understand how, if some one could chime in and explain that would be great! good luck with your runs

[ProChargedHarley03]

Yep!! I need to read up on that!!!! All bran!!!!! Nice I do need to give that one a try
But I first need to taste the uncle Jessie's recipe!!! Yes I did say I need to taste it..lol
I have yet to drink or taste any of my spirits;( I have been attending a nine month class
That does not allow me to drink alcohol..;( but in three week, I can drink all I want

[Richard7]

I found Huskers post I was telling you about http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5107 on the forth comment Husker gives some really good running advice for reflux stills.

If I was in a class like the one you are in it would drive me crazy knowing that I had a still like yours and not getting to try the product! Your first runs are going to be aged by the time you get to try them !

Your still is really looking great, the only thing I would suggest is to have a way to bypass the parrot for taking fore shots. The % you have coming off looks real good for making neutral spirits. Jar's #5,6,7 would really make some good Apple Pie!

Good luck to ya, and keep up the good work!

[Richard7]

It just dawned on me, a nine month class that does not allow you to drink......are you pregnant? LOL ! Just kidding.