Let the fun begin! Unboxing my new still

[Michaeln416]

FedEx just left and I'm opening up the crates right now. What wonderful anticipation! More pics to follow once I get her all spiffed up.

[fullhouse]

HURRY WITH THE PICS WOULD YA! J/J congrats on your new arrival!

[Washashore]

Is that threaded stop made of brass?

[Oxbo Rene]

That's it ??????
That's all the pics you give us ?????
Right off, looks like the thermometer is out of place ! ! !
(Just kiddin) ...........

[Michaeln416]

Inside crate #2:

[rumbuff]

better than christmas eh?

[Oxbo Rene]

Git that bich outta the box and show us something ! ! ! !

[Michaeln416]

Is that threaded stop made of brass?

I will double check and if it is I will pickle it in vinegar and peroxide before using.

Should I also be concerned with the brass connector for the thermometer?

Thanks for noticing that!

[Oxbo Rene]

Brass is so-so, etc, etc, etc........
I did take the precaution of pickling my brass = pretty simple process ....
Better safe than sorry, etc, etc ....................................

[Michaeln416]

Here she is waiting for her first sponge bath in copper cream:

[emptyglass]

Do that again baby.

That was just like watching a strip show.
I was exited, but I only get wood if it has a heartbeat, but I got exited none the less.

More like watching a big block get un crated.
Might be worth your while hunting down a 2" copper cap, just to make it really right. In time you may want to put hot cam in it (enlarge the outlet) and bore it out (enlarge the boiler capacity), but it does look like it would make what it was meant to real nice.

V-nice.

[Washashore]

Is that threaded stop made of brass?

I will double check and if it is I will pickle it in vinegar and peroxide before using.

Should I also be concerned with the brass connector for the thermometer?

Thanks for noticing that!

Wow, absolutely beautiful! Yes, i'd pickle any brass that will be exposed to the wash and/or vapor path.

[Oxbo Rene]

WOW ! ! ! ! !
Absolutely beautiful ! ! ! ! ! !
Congrats ! ! ! !

[vinper]

very nice . question do the cooling lines go through the tower . just to help brace/support the liebig or another reason?

[Michaeln416]

very nice . question do the cooling lines go through the tower . just to help brace/support the liebig or another reason?

Yes the cooling lines run through the tower. It does make things tight and compact as well as giving it strength and support. Here is a look up from the base of the tower:

[RumRaider]

She is a beauty! What are you going to use for a heatsource? Will the cooling lines in the tower be wrapped in copper mesh to provide some reflux or will it not make any difference? Again, beautiful setup! Thanks for the pics!

[bentstick]

Nice spread of copper you have there,bet is better in person than in pictures!! As I have been told lets get with it,numbers is what we want!!

[Michaeln416]

She is a beauty! What are you going to use for a heatsource? Will the cooling lines in the tower be wrapped in copper mesh to provide some reflux or will it not make any difference? Again, beautiful setup! Thanks for the pics!

Thank you RumRaider. The heat source will be propane, and oh boy do I have lots of propane! That is a picture below of my tank, now completely buried underground.

No I do not plan on packing any copper mesh for reflux, I intend to start off without it and only pack it if the results aren't what I'm looking for. I have a stainless steel reflux still that is well packed with copper mesh that I use for a sugar wash neutral.

[Michaeln416]

Nice spread of copper you have there,bet is better in person than in pictures!! As I have been told lets get with it,numbers is what we want!!

Thanks bentstick, I'm still admiring her. It was about a 10 month wait after it was ordered. But well worth it based on first impressions. Of course the true test is firing her up, and I have 10 gallons of red wine ready for the occasion. However it will have to wait until next week as we have house guests visiting from out of town that require my full attention.

[Oxbo Rene]

Damned Dog ! ! ! ! !
Git outta here ! ! ! ! ! ! !!

[Washashore]

Holy crap that's a big tank.... It's gotta be close to $7k just to fill it!

[blind drunk]

That's a submarine!

[bentstick]

What the size is that monster, by US measurements I would guess what we call a 1000/1500 tank? Shit my little 500 tank cost close to $400.00 to fill to 75%.

[Michaeln416]

When it arrived I said to the delivery guy "I thought I ordered a yellow submarine". He didn't get it.

It is 4,000 liters. The beauty of having a tank over-sized for your needs is that you can fill it when prices are low. I paid only 35 cents per liter and will top it up once a year whenever prices are below 40 cents. It was a problem getting Natural Gas to the house, so this was the alternative which I now think is a better solution. We are gradually switching all the appliances in the house to gas as we can afford it, so that tank isn't just for my still.

[Michaeln416]

Is that threaded stop made of brass?

It appears the the top and bottom of that cap were pre-treated with something. When I placed it in the pickling solution the reaction only took place around the threads. The top and bottom were inert. Any idea if that coating will stand the test of time inside a still? I may try pickling it again after a few runs to see how well it held up.

[emptyglass]

Is that threaded stop made of brass?

It appears the the top and bottom of that cap were pre-treated with something. When I placed it in the pickling solution the reaction only took place around the threads. The top and bottom were inert. Any idea if that coating will stand the test of time inside a still? I may try pickling it again after a few runs to see how well it held up.

Could bea laquer coating, or could be oiled. That would stop the pickling reacting with the rest of it.

very nice . question do the cooling lines go through the tower . just to help brace/support the liebig or another reason?

The tube also create some reflux. Pretty old school, but it works. Good for brandys, and other drinks.



I had a ute (pick up) with a 600 litre gas tank. Fill up once a month, but I had to take some lunch with me when I filled it. I like your style Michaeln.

[Michaeln416]

I had a ute (pick up) with a 600 litre gas tank. Fill up once a month, but I had to take some lunch with me when I filled it. I like your style Michaeln.

I have never never heard of a pick up truck being called a Ute before. I had to Google it and now see that it is short for utility vehicle. I like it, though don't see it catching on up here. So what do you pay per liter for propane down under?

[chris_adams]

Ahhh.. i'd like to kiss your stills. They're beautiful!! Happy moonshining!

[Prairiepiss]

LP around my part of the states runs around #1.25 a gallon.

I had a 500 gallon tank and a old house full of room heaters for a while. That killed my pocket book. That was 16 years ago. And we were paying $1.00 a gallon then. I couldn't ever get more then 150 gal at a time. I don't miss that one bit.

The only way I would go this route now. Is if it was a new or newer house. Well insulated and a good efficient heater.

Nice green submarine.

That would make one hell of a smoker.

[Odin]

The general, the colonel, or the corporal? What's he called. Scottish style still with some refluxing, right? Amazing job. What a gift to give yourself.

Congrats man!

Odin.