Store Bought Pot Still anyone tried one of these?

[Stilly]

I am pretty much a roll your own type of guy. That said, I saw this on ebay and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these folks. Looks like a nice rig at a reasonable price maybe. Might help some person who is not interested in building their own.

Disclaimer: no association, no knowledge of product etc, etc.

cheers
stilly

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Gallon-Copper ... 5376150%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[snksknr]

I personally would'nt get a still from ebay. The worm on that condensor coil looks a bit short and looks like 3/8" tubing, I would use atleast 1/2" tubing. If you want a quality store bought pot still checkout milehigh.com. you can get a 13 gallon boiler and pot still head for about $80 less. And you'll probably get better customer support from milehigh than you would an overseas ebay company. I would also checkout hillbillystills. Both are good companies. Either way good luck on your choice.

[Stilly]

snksknr,

Like I said, I roll my own. I was passing the info along. I don't think Mile Hi builds all copper pot stills but maybe times have changed. Good catch on the worm.

cheers
stilly

[randycisme]

I bought a 5 Gal. Copper Pot Still from whiskeystill.net, it works great.

http://www.whiskeystill.net/collections ... l-for-sale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Burks]

I bought a 5 Gal. Copper Pot Still from whiskeystill.net, it works great.

http://www.whiskeystill.net/collections ... l-for-sale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

That is nothing short if a work of art. I do t think its bad for the price either. Wow.

[Usge]

I am pretty much a roll your own type of guy. That said, I saw this on ebay and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these folks. Looks like a nice rig at a reasonable price maybe. Might help some person who is not interested in building their own.

Disclaimer: no association, no knowledge of product etc, etc.

cheers
stilly

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Gallon-Copper ... 5376150%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

this is a water seal, alembic type potstill. It uses a water jacket around the boiler..which gently heats the contents (keeps from burning) and heats evenly. Good for making grappa (cooking grape skins,etc). The price is high if you ask me..but it's being imported. You can tell by how even and orderly the little hammer pings are in the head that this was made on a machine...not hand hammered. And yes..the condenser looks wonky.

The other still mentioned here is a classic style soldered union alembic. These are great for making whiskey/brandy. You don't really need the therm on the head...it's in the wrong place anyway. But, at 5 gals..capacity...you'll be running 3.5 to 4 gal in it. You'd need about a 7 to 8 gal size of this to actually run a 5 gal still charge. None-the-less...it's a classic still design that works well. The price isn't "bad"...it just depends on what their shipping costs are. You can also get these from portugal in varying grade/price levels and designs. http://www.copper-alembic.com/index.php?lang=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow But, the shipping is very expensive anymore.

[Stoner]

I bought a 5 Gal. Copper Pot Still from whiskeystill.net, it works great.

http://www.whiskeystill.net/collections ... l-for-sale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I use the same one. It doesn't use clamps like modern designs, but the old school way of using water and flour to make a seal has definitely grown into an endearing quality bout it. The customer service was pretty good as well. I'm pretty sure I threw away my thermometer with the packing (it was well hid) and they over-nighted one to me after I explained I had an pretty expensive honey wash that couldn't wait any longer.

As for mile-hi, I was actually able to stop by the store on a ski trip to colorado. I was quite impressed with them as well. Both great businesses IMO

[Prairiepiss]

I explained I had an pretty expensive honey wash that couldn't wait any longer.

That's funny. A honey wash that can't wait. My last honey ferment took over a year in the fermenter.

[Stoner]

I explained I had an pretty expensive honey wash that couldn't wait any longer.

That's funny. A honey wash that can't wait. My last honey ferment took over a year in the fermenter.

Well, that would have saved me a lot of sweat. Expensive washes + inexperience = paranoia