HOW

[dswks]

Hello all. I discovered the forum a couple of weeks ago while researching building do's and don'ts. Bookmarked you, and peeked in a couple of times while I was building my still - usually after I had already made a mistake and required a do-over: Stainless steel or copper only for the pot (D'oh!), try not to use brass, but if you do, use lead-free only (D'oh!!). Make sure to use lead-free solder (D'oh!!!). Anyway, I finally have a small 5 gallon, hopefully safe, home distiller ready to go. I made my first batch of mash yesterday, and it's happily percolating away in a spare bedroom. Smells like somone farted at the corn festival, though (wife not too happy), but it's still too cold in the Northeast to put it outside or in the garage. Maybe I'll light some candles

[jholmz]

welcome to the forum just take it nice and slow ands make sure you do your cleaning runs, i would take a look at birdwatchers recipe in tried and true for your sacrificial run, it will also give you a look at how your still is going to work while running, its a cheap recipe to do and will make your house smell like rising bread. have fun and be safe

[NC Dayzz]

Hello all. I discovered the forum a couple of weeks ago while researching building do's and don'ts. Bookmarked you, and peeked in a couple of times while I was building my still - usually after I had already made a mistake and required a do-over: Stainless steel or copper only for the pot (D'oh!), try not to use brass, but if you do, use lead-free only (D'oh!!). Make sure to use lead-free solder (D'oh!!!). Anyway, I finally have a small 5 gallon, hopefully safe, home distiller ready to go. I made my first batch of mash yesterday, and it's happily percolating away in a spare bedroom. Smells like somone farted at the corn festival, though (wife not too happy), but it's still too cold in the Northeast to put it outside or in the garage. Maybe I'll light some candles

Great first post! LMAO!! Good luck with the new hobby and the wife!

[dswks]

Still pretty stanky. The wife has been a trooper so far, I must admit. You don't smell it after a while, but every time you leave home and come back, you have to start the acclimation process all over again. I put one of those draft stopper things under the door, but it's like trying to keep out the Blob. An exhaust fan in the window is the next step, although it's too cool for the next couple of days for that. Maybe Wednesday. To add to the aroma, later in the week I plan on testing/cleaning the still by running some vinegar vapor thru it. That'll go over like a fart in....wait a minute, already living that reality

[texashine]

About 40 years ago I watched a Native American from the Navajo tribe on the sidewalk in downtown Flagstaff. I couldn't hear him but watched him hold up one hand every time a beautiful lady walked by. He was saying something to them, and they would do the Texas two-step and proceed at a much faster pace. Curious, I moved a bit closer to hear what he is saying to them that makes them so anxious to leave. All he was saying to them is "chance". I pulled him to the side and asked him what the hell is he doing to all these pretty girls. He returned a big smile and said "Me knowum how, me wantum chance".

Sorry, but anytime I see the word sitting there all by itself, I am compelled to share this story.

[kickingb]

Welcome bud and good luck (with the wife too) Just tell her "your Worm is so big, you have to coil it up and carry it around in a bucket"

[NC Dayzz]

Welcome bud and good luck (with the wife too) Just tell her "your Worm is so big, you have to coil it up and carry it around in a bucket"

He can't do that, she knows the truth!!

[dswks]

Good story, texashine. I figgered that HOW was better than the other stereotype word UGH. There's a good slogan for a tee shirt in there somewhere, kickingb. Anyway, I thought I'd post a short update. The sulfur smell only lasted for a couple of days, and then it morphed into a fresh latex paint smell, and finally disappeared altogether. It looks like it's finally about ready to distill. The foamy head is nearly gone, I've got about 2 inches of light colored sediment on the bottom, the color and opacity is about like that of lemonade, and the vapor lock bubbling has slowed down quite a bit. The other day, I did a test run of hot vinegar/water vapor. The system worked great, with no leaks even at 212 degrees. I'm hoping to make my first run this weekend. After all, nothing says Happy Mother's Day like fresh 'shine I've come across the term "sacrificial run" a few times. Should I assume that this first run will be garbage, and if so, why? Taste, possible contamination, deadly poison?

[Rivver]

I would get some old nasty cheap alc for your sacrificial run, and maybe do two runs before running your mash. There's a lot of nasties that will come out with alchohol and not with the vinegar. Run her till she's clean, then run your wash.

[Truckinbutch]

I would get some old nasty cheap alc for your sacrificial run, and maybe do two runs before running your mash. There's a lot of nasties that will come out with alchohol and not with the vinegar. Run her till she's clean, then run your wash.

+ 1 on that .