Need help choosing a Still

[Mcfly]

Hello all,

Im new to the forums and never distilled anything before. I don't want to build a still quite yet but I do want to get a smaller still for the time being just to fiddle with. My wife is going to buy me one for Christmas but I don't know which one to get. We don't have a lot of money so I'm trying to keep it under the $300 range. I've seen a few of the stills on milehidistilling that are within that budget range but I don't know which one would be the best to start out with.

Here are the three I was looking at
Pot still with Premium Milk Can 8 gallon (30L) - http://www.milehidistilling.com/product ... n-30l.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Mighty Mini Dual Purpose 3 gallon Distiller - http://www.milehidistilling.com/product ... iller.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
3 Gallon can with 2 inch Pot Still tower - http://www.milehidistilling.com/3-gallo ... pot-still/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Which one would be the best to practice with and learn on for the next few months until I can build one of my own? I'm kind of partial to the 3 gallon Can because of its price and its relatively small size.
Would this one be decent enough to learn on? What would be the advantages if any by purchasing the latter two?
Would it outweigh the $60 price difference if I'm just using it to learn and practice on until building one of my own?
Or are their any other relatively inexpensive stills from other manufacturers that you know of within the aforementioned price range?

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thank you all

[GhostfaceStillah]

Of those three, I would spend the extra money and get the "Might Mini Dual Purpose."

It will give you the most flexibility. You can pot still whiskeys, rums, et al. But you can also run it in reflux mode to make neutral spirits.

For similar design and price range, check out brewhaus. http://www.brewhaus.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow When it comes to reflux stills, I like their condenser designs better.

[Prairiepiss]

I would go with the biggest boiler you can. You are wanting to build your own later. So why not get the boiler that you can use later. No need in wasting money on something that you won't use later.

3 gallons quite small. For a few reasons.
3 gallons you could only charge it with around 2 gallons. Most use a 5 gallon bucket to ferment in. Cheap easy and a decent size.
Now let's look at how much you would get from 2 gallons.
2 gal @ 10% would have .2 gallons of 100% ABV in it. So after running it and making cuts diluting to drinking strength. You would have around .2 gal of finished product. Just under a quart.
Not to mention making cuts on that small of an amount is a lot harder.

Now before you just jump in and buy something you will regret later. Or waste your money on. Just to build something different later. Read read read. The more you read and research now. The better off you will be later. Don't get in a hurry. Patients is a must in this hobby. Take your time.

[paramedic68whiskey]

I would go with the biggest boiler you can. You are wanting to build your own later. So why not get the boiler that you can use later. No need in wasting money on something that you won't use later.

3 gallons quite small. For a few reasons.
3 gallons you could only charge it with around 2 gallons. Most use a 5 gallon bucket to ferment in. Cheap easy and a decent size.
Now let's look at how much you would get from 2 gallons.
2 gal @ 10% would have .2 gallons of 100% ABV in it. So after running it and making cuts diluting to drinking strength. You would have around .2 gal of finished product. Just under a quart.
Not to mention making cuts on that small of an amount is a lot harder.

Now before you just jump in and buy something you will regret later. Or waste your money on. Just to build something different later. Read read read. The more you read and research now. The better off you will be later. Don't get in a hurry. Patients is a must in this hobby. Take your time.

+1, I started off small and had a five gallon boiler, went 15 not long after. You will regret getting a smaller boiler. Being able to charge with more wash made me a lot less greedy and I was actually able to make fair cuts. Check around for different stills.

[sambedded]

+2
3 Gal boiler is just a toy.
I would definitely recommend 8 Gal or even 13Gal boiler. Basic pot still give you a good start for experiment. You can make a lots of different product using it. When you gain some experience you can build or buy reflux tower . Or you be be happy with just potstill.
So if you budget is limited option N1 is best for you to start.

[Mcfly]

Well thanks for all the input and help. I think im just going to get the 13 gallon boiler from milehi for now. Then buy the mighty mini dual purpose tower when I have the money.

[Prairiepiss]

13 gallon is a good size. That will last you a good while. Have a read through the cm mod link in my signature. It has some good things to have them add when you order the still.