My first build ... IF I ever get there

[drpotoroo]

Hi everyone,
Here is my thread for my plans to build my first still. My plan is to build a 2" boka reflux column. So far I have a 1500mm (59") long 50mm OD (2") copper pipe and some 12mm OD (1/2") scrap copper from renovating the house. There is just enough of this to perhaps make a 300mm (12") shotgun condenser. My calculations are that a shotgun condenser made with 6 300mm lengths of 12mm copper will have greater surface area than a helix condenser made using 3 metres (118") of 6mm copper, and it would likely use less length in the column than a single-wound helix.

Those are my calculations - I realise the real-world functioning might be a different matter.

I also have about 10 squares of flattened copper that are a bit bigger than the column. Figure I'll use a couple of these for the plates in the boka.

I have a 7500 litre (2000 gal) rainwater tank with a decent quality pump that supplies water from the tank to our laundry. I'm thinking I would try to connect food-grade hose between the tank tap and condenser, then run food grade hose back into the tank inlet.

I don't yet have a heat source. I was planning to buy a portable, 2000W induction cooker from ebay (about $70: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-Star-Chef- ... 3a6c69e517" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow) that has 9 power levels as well as 10 level thermostat control up to 240 degC - in contrast to all other portable electric burners that cycle only.

For a boiler I was planning on buying a 305mm base 20lt (5 gal) stainless steel stock pot. That's bigger than the 270mm induction plate. Need to investigate if that would be a problem.

Now the BIGGEST obstacle to this build: My wife is against it. She is against it because distilling is illegal and she is afraid I'll get caught. And even if I don't get caught she hates the idea that I'd be doing something that is illegal.

So, here are my three questions for now:

• Does the induction cooker sound okay? From my understanding this should not require modification since it has power level control.
• Having no soldering experience (apart from a little with electronics), is the shotgun condenser a bad idea? I don't mind buying copper, but I'm almost certain I'll stuff up winding a condenser coil.
• Most importantly: Any tips for how to reassure my wife? I don't want to be doing something she doesn't like, so it's going to be either I allay her fears or I don't build.

[Coaster]

@ drpotoroo,

I would not recommend someone with “no soldering experience” attempting to build a Shotgun Condenser. There are a couple of Forum ‘Coil Winding’ tutorials. Suggest reviewing them. Also there are some Forum Members who are very proficient in ‘Coil Winding’ – suggest visiting the ‘Classified Ads’ sub-forum and post there inquiring if someone would wind a coil for you.

Regards,
Coaster

[Prairiepiss]

Induction hot plate. You need to have a boiler that will work on an induction surface. These are usually more expensive then normal pots. Make sure it will work. As far as the heat source? Not sure?

Start out basic solder 101. Build a parrot, or something that you can get a feel for soldering. I would agree with coaster. A shotgun isn't something you want to start on if you have never soldered anything before.

Wife. Well um Yeh. Start out making wine or brewing beer. Get her use to it. Then slip a still in later on.

[drpotoroo]

Induction hot plate. You need to have a boiler that will work on an induction surface. These are usually more expensive then normal pots. Make sure it will work. As far as the heat source? Not sure?

I think most stainless steel cookware does these days. The ones I'm looking at on ebay say they are suitable for induction cooktops.

Start out basic solder 101. Build a parrot, or something that you can get a feel for soldering. I would agree with coaster. A shotgun isn't something you want to start on if you have never soldered anything before.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will start collecting materials to make a parrot.

Wife. Well um Yeh. Start out making wine or brewing beer. Get her use to it. Then slip a still in later on.

Been doing beer for years - she's okay with that because it's legal. Already got a small airstill recently and she barely tolerates that. The idea of building a real still pretty much pushed her over the edge.

Thanks for the tips. I see someone recently posted another coil winding method. I'll have a think about it.

[fullhouse]

how long has she been around? does she have any trade value? might could trade her in...just sayin

[Braz]

how long has she been around? does she have any trade value? might could trade her in...just sayin

Been my experience that they depreciate pretty quickly and don't have any trade in value. In fact you usually have to pay, sometimes a lot, to get rid of them.

[drpotoroo]

Lucky for me then that she's well worth keeping.

[freespirited]

LOL you guys crack me up. As for the coil hit me up I have them for what you will pay to buy the material. You could also build a still that breaks down and goes away. When the cat is away the mice will play

[drpotoroo]

As for the coil hit me up I have them for what you will pay to buy the material.

That's a generous offer. But do you live in Australia? I've been thinking about it more and reckon I might eventually give winding my own a go. If I fail spectacularly I'll keep your offer in mind.

You could also build a still that breaks down and goes away. When the cat is away the mice will play

I don't think I want to introduce secrets into our relationship. Also, the cat is rarely away or, if she is, I've usually got two, soon to be three, young boys to look after.

[tiny_tummies]

I use one of those portable induction plates. I don't think they would be the best for trying to run a reflux column because they cycle on/off to produce the lower power outputs (even if it doesn't explicitly say that it cycles, I would bet that it does at that price range). Every time they cycle off, your vapor column is going to collapse - you'll notice this especially at the really low power outputs (200-600 watts). You might be able to get around this if you have a really heavy bottomed pot, or you put a cast iron plate in between the hot plate and the boiler to soak up and hold some heat, but I wouldn't completely count on it.

My stock pot is bigger than the base of my hot plate by ~2 inches - not a problem there.

The induction plates do a really great job at coupling the heat input to the boiler so that not much heat is lost in the process.

[WV Shine]

Definitely stress the fact that you're not producing this stuff to sell... that's the reason 99% of people get caught. As long as you're under the radar, in your own home, drinking your own stuff... do you really thing the ATF/IRS/FBI, whoever, is gonna care? They're after the big dogs that are: 1. Poducing enough product to constitute a serious tax violation. 2. Producing unsafe products and selling them to everyone they can fool.

Also stress that this isn't gonna be something you'll be blabbing on about in loose company... hopefully you don't have any 'good' friends that would rat ya out

[drpotoroo]

I use one of those portable induction plates. I don't think they would be the best for trying to run a reflux column because they cycle on/off to produce the lower power outputs (even if it doesn't explicitly say that it cycles, I would bet that it does at that price range). Every time they cycle off, your vapor column is going to collapse - you'll notice this especially at the really low power outputs (200-600 watts).

Thanks for letting me know! I had thought when it referred to power levels as well as thermostat control that it must not cycle, but now you mention it, it makes sense that it still would. Not the news I hoped for, but better to find out now...

I guess I understand why everyone really pushes propane. I'm still pretty keen on electric, for safety, so I guess I'll start looking for a variable transformer that doesn't cost a fortune...

[Sungy]

Check put mulekickers MK5500 power controller. Easy to build yourself and works a treat. Im very pleased with the one I made with his plans.

As for the wife tell her it is a disaster readiness tool that requires you to practice manufacturing clean water. Then when you fill it with your mash you will have to boil off all that nasty ethanol and collect it for "disposal" before you can collect your distilled water.