I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
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deliciousrum
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I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
I'm glad to finally be able to brew properly now that I have my own still, would you guys be able to help me out and tell me what parts I need to complete it? It comes with everything pictured, don't they normally have a thermometer hole in the condenser part? Thanks for your help.
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Re: I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
Is that boiler and top aluminum...???
Re: I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
looks like a "old" still spirits model from NZ based on that condenser
i think that one is a CM style with some sort of coil in the column before the condenser
they did do them in Ally for a while....
i think that one is a CM style with some sort of coil in the column before the condenser
they did do them in Ally for a while....
Re: I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
Is there a problem with aluminum, especially for the boiler?rad14701 wrote:Is that boiler and top aluminum...???
In Flanders fields the poppies blow * Between the crosses, row on row, * We are the Dead. Short days ago * We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, * Loved and were loved, and now we lie * In Flanders fields. -- from a WWI poem
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whiskeytripping
- Swill Maker
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Re: I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
Lampshade, YES there is a problem with aluminum. Nothing but stainless steel, or copper. The aluminum won't hold up very long. Neither will porcelain covered iron pots. Look for the above materials. You can build a potstill from common items from lowes or home depot. Good luck and be safe
Re: I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST STILL!!!!!
Well, let's not be alarmist here. Stainless and copper are BEST for boilers and pretty much every other damn part of a still.
An aluminum boiler can still be serviceable for a time with the understanding that it is a reactive metal and will require more care and attention (read: time) and will have a shorter service life.
Aluminum metal will pit fairly easily, will stain, and most certainly does not like to be in contact with too alkaline or acidic a solution. My feeling was always that aluminum vessels would be more of a concern during the brewing process owing to the harsh chemical sanitizers that are sometimes employed.
In the role as still boiler, and seeing how it is already "yours" I would suggest just using some common sense -- store it clean and dry between runs; only fill with wash or mash right before it is time to run; empty and clean as soon as cooled after a run; do not use strongly acidic or basic cleaners/sanitizers on it and don't "soak" it in any cleaners; always rinse with a copious amount of fresh, clean, potable water and dry promptly.
As an aside, you may wish to contact Still Spirits to ask if they are the original manufacturer/distributor of the still and if they ever made a replacement stainless steel boiler that would work with the rest of the parts. Just an idea...
While you could probably modify a stainless stockpot or similar to work, I think by time you reach a point where that is necessary (you wear out the aluminum boiler), you will have moved onto a bigger LM or VM still either purchased or home-made.
Let us know how things work out and, of course, how all those runs you are going to do turn out!
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Was cruising the Parent site. Check out the pic of the CM stills at http://homedistiller.org/intro/types/reflux
The one on the left looks like yours and links to Still Spirits.
An aluminum boiler can still be serviceable for a time with the understanding that it is a reactive metal and will require more care and attention (read: time) and will have a shorter service life.
Aluminum metal will pit fairly easily, will stain, and most certainly does not like to be in contact with too alkaline or acidic a solution. My feeling was always that aluminum vessels would be more of a concern during the brewing process owing to the harsh chemical sanitizers that are sometimes employed.
In the role as still boiler, and seeing how it is already "yours" I would suggest just using some common sense -- store it clean and dry between runs; only fill with wash or mash right before it is time to run; empty and clean as soon as cooled after a run; do not use strongly acidic or basic cleaners/sanitizers on it and don't "soak" it in any cleaners; always rinse with a copious amount of fresh, clean, potable water and dry promptly.
As an aside, you may wish to contact Still Spirits to ask if they are the original manufacturer/distributor of the still and if they ever made a replacement stainless steel boiler that would work with the rest of the parts. Just an idea...
While you could probably modify a stainless stockpot or similar to work, I think by time you reach a point where that is necessary (you wear out the aluminum boiler), you will have moved onto a bigger LM or VM still either purchased or home-made.
Let us know how things work out and, of course, how all those runs you are going to do turn out!
---------------------
Was cruising the Parent site. Check out the pic of the CM stills at http://homedistiller.org/intro/types/reflux
The one on the left looks like yours and links to Still Spirits.
jumps out of perfectly good airplanes...
Blue Skies,
skydiveMD
Blue Skies,
skydiveMD