Newb still building

[Sawce]

I want to build a still, but I have never done so and I have no experience with metal work or soldering. With that being said I know it's important to stick with the most basic (yet effective) of designs. So I figured a tea pot still would help me to get a decent foundation in distilling basics. The book I'm reading says to use a tea pot of 2.5qt capacity, but doesn't elaborate on how long the copper tubing should be and the diameter of said tubing. The book also said to use a fan to cool the condenser but I want to spiral the copper tubing and use ice water in a bucket to condense. Would this still set up be more suited for brown liquor (especially rum cuz that's what I'm big on lol)? I don't expect to distill this emaculate liquor my first couple of runs and to be honest I'll prob just distill water a few times just to get some solid distilling and safety techniques down.

[JollyMon]

Welcome to HD .

A tea pot might be a bit too small to get any useable output. I guess if you want a 100ml of decent stuff (at most) at a time that would be okay. But, if it were me, I would at least go for a 3-5 gallon boiler if you just want to get a handle on things before upgrading. But the length of tubing just needs to be long enough to condense all the alcohol vapor before leaving the tube, depending on the size of the tube and other factors will determine how long it should be. Ice water inst recommended as it might cause vapor collapse. Ice floats on the surface so the hot vapor comes into contact with the coldest part first (I don't use a worm so people correct me if I am wrong). Most people usually have water being inputted into their bucket from the bottom and exiting from the top, to provide a nice gradient of temperature. But I recommend reading the http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46 new reader section and you will understand lots, lots of more experienced people provided their input.

Good luck and happy stilling

[Prairiepiss]

Sory but a tea pot is a horrible idea. A 2.5 qt tea pot mite get you 1 or 2 shots of drinkable alcohol. Mite? 5 to 7 gallon range is what most consider to be the minimum. Most will tell you to go for a keg boiler. Much easier to learn with. And you will actually get a fare amount of drink from it. Cuts are much easier.

Do some good reading around here. And really think about it before you pull the trigger on a build. There is lots to learn before you make a still. And even more to learn after. And you need a good still to learn with. Or you will just get discouraged or worse hurt.

[Coaster]

@ Sawce,

Suggest putting whatever book you are reading back on the book shelve and forget what you read. The best place to obtain factual current up to date information on home hobby distilling is right here at the Home Distiller Forum.

Concerning using ice suggest reviewing the below referenced Forum posting ->

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 4#p6944244

It is very difficult to make accurate foreshot/head/heart/tail cuts with a Still charge of less than 4 gallons. Than means you are going to need at least a 5-gallon Still boiler because the rule of thumb is that you charge a Still boiler at 75 percent of total capacity.

Suggest visiting the “Must Read” New Distiller Reading Lounge and review the ‘Novice Guide for Cuts (Pot Still)’ thread ->

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 46&t=13261

Regards,
Coaster

[wendellbaker]

+1 on size. at least 5 gallons is good. from a functional perspective, as someone who is starting out (i just did in the summer/fall), 15 is good, a keg for reference. this way you can inexpensively buy 2-3 fermenters and try some small batches out easily. anything above that makes for some long runs. anything smaller than that is really precise and hard to "feel." you'll get it if you care to. Best of luck.

WB

[Sawce]

Ok thanx for all the replies I'm gonna see what good boiler I can get my hands on and work with...will definitely keep u guys updated. Great info as I don't wanna go about any of this half a$$ed
or just completely wrong