- My Still
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Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
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OBX Phantom
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Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
I decided to add a thumper and worm to my pot still so I thought I would share some pix of my build. My still is a milk can still from Mile Hi, So I decided I would use an antique cow milker for the thumper, also it is perfect becase it has a sealable lid, and lid also has 2 holes in it for the in and out. Hope you enjoy.... and let me know what you think.
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Finishing touches
- thumper and worm in bucket
- thumper connection
- completed unit
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Good setup mate! 
Do you have to cycle the water in the worm bucket to allow it to keep temp low? I'm considering adding one to my pot, be great if you could post side by side comparison notes of pot and the pot + thumper.
Cheers for the pics mate, tells a thousand words
Do you have to cycle the water in the worm bucket to allow it to keep temp low? I'm considering adding one to my pot, be great if you could post side by side comparison notes of pot and the pot + thumper.Cheers for the pics mate, tells a thousand words
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Thanks for the compliment.
At first I tried to use frozen bottles of water to keep the water cool, but it just took to many bottles and I ran out. Then I had to start syphoning off water and adding new.... real pain in the arse. So I went and got 2 thru hull fittings for a boat. Like you would use to run your bilge pump hose thru the hull of your boat. I put one in the bottom of the bucket to bring water in and one in the top in order to drain water off. then I hook the garden hose to the bottom one and regulate the flow so it constantly cycles.
As for no.s I have posted my no's on here somewhere. but basically I get about 4% higher ABV. with the thumper at the beginning. And with the thumper the ABV stays at a steady rate through out the run... until the alcohol in the still starts to run out. As compared to without the thumper the ABV drops off steadily about 1 to 2% per jar (pint jars) through out the run.
At first I tried to use frozen bottles of water to keep the water cool, but it just took to many bottles and I ran out. Then I had to start syphoning off water and adding new.... real pain in the arse. So I went and got 2 thru hull fittings for a boat. Like you would use to run your bilge pump hose thru the hull of your boat. I put one in the bottom of the bucket to bring water in and one in the top in order to drain water off. then I hook the garden hose to the bottom one and regulate the flow so it constantly cycles.
As for no.s I have posted my no's on here somewhere. but basically I get about 4% higher ABV. with the thumper at the beginning. And with the thumper the ABV stays at a steady rate through out the run... until the alcohol in the still starts to run out. As compared to without the thumper the ABV drops off steadily about 1 to 2% per jar (pint jars) through out the run.
- finished set up
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
OBX....nice job! The coil particularly looks nice and even. Could you speak more about the difference in the flavor/taste/cut results you experience in using your thumper vs not? I think this is something people considering adding one would be interested in. Thanks!
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Thank you Usge!!!
The coil is 1/2 in tubing, and I wrapped it around an 8 in. cylinder, then I divided the no. coils by the distance to the top of my bucket then soldered small tubing down 3 sides of the coil to hold it even.
As for flavor/taste/cuts well I have only used it twice since I finished it. Once for a low wines/feints run and once for a corn wash run (similar to UJSM) only I cook my corn and malt it. as for the Low wines/feints run this was also the first run of low weins/feints that I have ever done so I really don't have anything to compare it to, but I do know that the product tasted a whole lot better. Even at 83% it was sweet at first sip, then you get the alc. taste, but it is not harsh and doesn't burn, I must say it is Smmmooootth 
. Also primed the thumper with feints, and I was really surprised at how nasty the backset in the thumper was. it was very milky looking and also had a thin layer of oil on top of it. So that shows just how much the thumper filtered the product.
No's for low wines/feints run (Note: these are for pint jars)
1: 80%
2: 80%
3: 80%
4: 81%
5: 82%
6 thru 28: 83%
29 thru 38: dropped off from the 83% down to 54% so approx. 3% drop per jar.
As for the corn wash run. I didn't write down the no.s because I am planning on running it again the same as I did above once I collect enough to fill my 10 gal. boiler again. But I do know that it started at 80% and stayed at 80% for about 8 pint jars (1 gal.) then fell off to about 55% over the next 5 jars, so about 5% per jar. but I kept kept collecting til I had 2 gal. because I am going to run it again. As for the taste, I still felt that it was kinda harsh and needs run again even with the thumper.
So as for ABV It is like I said earlier in this post. It is few percent higher than without the thumper, and they stay steady over the large part of the run, then drop off quickly.
As for making cuts, I think the thumper makes cuts easier because it seems to seperate them better. As you can see with the low wines/feints run the ABV. rose from 80% to 83% over the first 6 jars and I ended up setting the first 5 jars aside to heads, the taste did not become really smooth until the 6th. jar.
As for tails I think the thumper keeps you from entering into the tails later in your run. because it filters more of the nasties out, and stays at a higher ABV. for a longer period.
I also did notice that I get a smaller over all volume out of the still with the thumper, as compared to without it. But that is because without it you are getting more water in your product... hence the lower ABV.
I hope this will help people who are trying to decide wether to add a thumper or not.
The coil is 1/2 in tubing, and I wrapped it around an 8 in. cylinder, then I divided the no. coils by the distance to the top of my bucket then soldered small tubing down 3 sides of the coil to hold it even.
As for flavor/taste/cuts well I have only used it twice since I finished it. Once for a low wines/feints run and once for a corn wash run (similar to UJSM) only I cook my corn and malt it. as for the Low wines/feints run this was also the first run of low weins/feints that I have ever done so I really don't have anything to compare it to, but I do know that the product tasted a whole lot better. Even at 83% it was sweet at first sip, then you get the alc. taste, but it is not harsh and doesn't burn, I must say it is Smmmooootth
. Also primed the thumper with feints, and I was really surprised at how nasty the backset in the thumper was. it was very milky looking and also had a thin layer of oil on top of it. So that shows just how much the thumper filtered the product.No's for low wines/feints run (Note: these are for pint jars)
1: 80%
2: 80%
3: 80%
4: 81%
5: 82%
6 thru 28: 83%
29 thru 38: dropped off from the 83% down to 54% so approx. 3% drop per jar.
As for the corn wash run. I didn't write down the no.s because I am planning on running it again the same as I did above once I collect enough to fill my 10 gal. boiler again. But I do know that it started at 80% and stayed at 80% for about 8 pint jars (1 gal.) then fell off to about 55% over the next 5 jars, so about 5% per jar. but I kept kept collecting til I had 2 gal. because I am going to run it again. As for the taste, I still felt that it was kinda harsh and needs run again even with the thumper.
So as for ABV It is like I said earlier in this post. It is few percent higher than without the thumper, and they stay steady over the large part of the run, then drop off quickly.
As for making cuts, I think the thumper makes cuts easier because it seems to seperate them better. As you can see with the low wines/feints run the ABV. rose from 80% to 83% over the first 6 jars and I ended up setting the first 5 jars aside to heads, the taste did not become really smooth until the 6th. jar.
As for tails I think the thumper keeps you from entering into the tails later in your run. because it filters more of the nasties out, and stays at a higher ABV. for a longer period.
I also did notice that I get a smaller over all volume out of the still with the thumper, as compared to without it. But that is because without it you are getting more water in your product... hence the lower ABV.
I hope this will help people who are trying to decide wether to add a thumper or not.
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Very cool! my first still pot was that exact same old milk pale!!!
http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... &mode=view
I was worried about that black gasket though... maybe wrapping it with teff tape would make it safe...
http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... &mode=view
I was worried about that black gasket though... maybe wrapping it with teff tape would make it safe...
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Nice... it looks like the same milker that I am using for my thumper. And yes I have thought about the fact that the gasket is rubber. I have only used it 2 times and I think that before I use it again I will wrap it with teflon tape. I have also been wondering how long it was going to take before someone noticed that and commented on it 
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Haha yeah no one noticed it on mine either. I only noticed it because I knew it was there on mine.
The product I made was fine, but yeah I would cover it with the teflon. Not much is really exposed on the inside but just for peace of mind I would do it.
I only ran mine twice and then I sold it, and upgraded to a larger still
The product I made was fine, but yeah I would cover it with the teflon. Not much is really exposed on the inside but just for peace of mind I would do it.
I only ran mine twice and then I sold it, and upgraded to a larger still
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Thanks for posting those figures OBX!
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Your Welcome urrazeb!!!! Hope it helps everyone.
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Just out of interest obx is there any alc in the thumper liquid? Do u use it to dilute low wines if there is? or not worth it? 
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
urrezab, You can start off with any liquid you would like in the thumper, water, low wines, wash, or something like a juice or so on as a flavoring. But the higher ALC. content you start off with the faster the thumper will heat up and start producing.
The way it works is the steam from your boiler bubbles through the liquid in the thumper and heats the thumper so it eventually gets hot enough to send the steam on to your codenser. So the higher your ALC. content of the liquid you start with the faster it will heat up to producing temp.. If you start out with just say water for instance, then the ALC. content has to build up in the water until it has enough ALC in it to reach producing temp.
When I am running a wash I charge it with wash, and when I am doing a spirit run I charge it with tails or low wines.
If you will notice in the pic of the lid there is one tube that extends down to just above the bottom of your thumper, this is the inlet tube, from your boiler so the steam from your boiler bubbles through the liquid in the thumper, thus the liquid also acts like a filter. then there is a second tube that just does come through the top of the lid, this is the outlet were your steam will exit to your condensor after bubbling through your water. The benefit of a thumper is that is like double distilling all in one run. This is why thumpers are also called "doublers"
I hope you understand what I am saying and that this helped answer your question.
The way it works is the steam from your boiler bubbles through the liquid in the thumper and heats the thumper so it eventually gets hot enough to send the steam on to your codenser. So the higher your ALC. content of the liquid you start with the faster it will heat up to producing temp.. If you start out with just say water for instance, then the ALC. content has to build up in the water until it has enough ALC in it to reach producing temp.
When I am running a wash I charge it with wash, and when I am doing a spirit run I charge it with tails or low wines.
If you will notice in the pic of the lid there is one tube that extends down to just above the bottom of your thumper, this is the inlet tube, from your boiler so the steam from your boiler bubbles through the liquid in the thumper, thus the liquid also acts like a filter. then there is a second tube that just does come through the top of the lid, this is the outlet were your steam will exit to your condensor after bubbling through your water. The benefit of a thumper is that is like double distilling all in one run. This is why thumpers are also called "doublers"
I hope you understand what I am saying and that this helped answer your question.
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Perfect! thank you very much for taking the time to explain this!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
You said it using malted corn , how much malt do you use and how much non malted corn you use
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
outlaw...I'll just jump in to say...according to those with more experience mashing with malted corn, it's best to use "all" malted corn if you want to use it alone (ie., without another source of enzymes) because the diastatic power of it is not as great as other malted grains.
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
10-4 usage I just read where he said it was similar to ujssm Didn't know if he was using sugar or not I remember one of you post where u tried to use malted corn instead of yeast . I just did a lactic sour run last weekend and tuned out really good !!!!
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
") because the diastatic power of it is not as great as other malted grains.""
correct,,,at its best corn malt has a DP of 100.thats enough to convert its self and the same amount again..
BUT.........
home made malt is not going to be the best, not only you dont have the best control, not all will sprout.
you have no way of testing the DP,,well you could but by the time you did so you mite as well just use more and have it over with. it whould be something to consider if doing several thousand pounds.
correct,,,at its best corn malt has a DP of 100.thats enough to convert its self and the same amount again..
BUT.........
home made malt is not going to be the best, not only you dont have the best control, not all will sprout.
you have no way of testing the DP,,well you could but by the time you did so you mite as well just use more and have it over with. it whould be something to consider if doing several thousand pounds.
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
I have not used malted corn yet. I just put 3 lbs. of corn in a tray with some paper towels on the bottom and a towel on top and wet it. It worked, and it has been setting long enough that most of the kernels have sprouted. Thank you guys for chiming in because I did not know that corn will not work as well as other malts.
501 outlaw what I was saying about the UJSSM is the recipe that I have been using is basically the same portions as UJSSM, but UJSSM does not require cooking and malting. I have been cooking and malting what I am making, and I am also adding enough sugar to get it up to around 1.08 - 1.09 SG I have also been substituting a little bit of the corn with some sweet feed just because I have a bag of it and I didn't like the product that I made from a SF wash so I just trying to use it up. So here is the recipe that I have been using for a 12 gallon batch.
10 lbs cracked corn
3 lbs. sweet feed
2.5 lbs. HIAA malted barley
10 lbs. sugar
1 teaspoon of fleschmanns quick rise yeast
And I know that doesn't sound like much yeast but it will be bubbling away in just a few hours.
501 outlaw what I was saying about the UJSSM is the recipe that I have been using is basically the same portions as UJSSM, but UJSSM does not require cooking and malting. I have been cooking and malting what I am making, and I am also adding enough sugar to get it up to around 1.08 - 1.09 SG I have also been substituting a little bit of the corn with some sweet feed just because I have a bag of it and I didn't like the product that I made from a SF wash so I just trying to use it up. So here is the recipe that I have been using for a 12 gallon batch.
10 lbs cracked corn
3 lbs. sweet feed
2.5 lbs. HIAA malted barley
10 lbs. sugar
1 teaspoon of fleschmanns quick rise yeast
And I know that doesn't sound like much yeast but it will be bubbling away in just a few hours.
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
I hear ya I tried the sweet feed and didn't like it either. I just buy cracked corn. Lbon rye and steam rolled oat It make a really good likker. I made some malted corn and the best way I found to get the sprouts of was I made a basket out of rabbit wire and told the kids to shake the piss out of it. Lol it worked
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
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OBX Phantom
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Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
What is Lbon rye? The likker that I made from the low wines/feints run turned out really good, and it was a combination of some of the SF likker, low wines and tails from my corn runs, and also a gallon of pear brandy tails... lol but it is really good and I got about 4 gallons out of a 10 gal. charge. By the way that is a good idea for getting rid of the sprouts, I might have to try that.
If you are not living on the "Edge", then you are taking up too much space!!!
Re: Adding a Thumper and worm to my pot still {pics}
Elbon Rye was developed in Oklahoma and is a Southern type of cereal rye
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
