First try

[aladem]

I am embarking on building my own still. I may have been given some not-quite-as-good-as-I-have-found-here advice when first starting, but not too terrible anyway. Regardless, I am largely set up to make a trial mash this weekend, but have not build my still yet. Right now I am planning on doing a 5-gallon mash and was looking at using a stainless steel pressure cooker for my pot. I have read about the gasket changes, but is there any other reason a pressure cooker like the one below would not work?

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Another question I have is, that Home Depot and Lowe's have 1/3" and 3/4" copper pipe that is precut in 10-ft lengths. I am skeptical if that will be long enough. They also sell 20-ft coiled refrigerator pipe but it is considerably more expensive. I will buy the fridge pipe if I have to, but if 10-ft would be enough for such a small operation I would like to avoid the increased cost.

Finally, I am planning on taking the gauges off the cooker and putting a thermometer in one hole and pipe in the other. I am aware of some people's position on temp gauges, but if I am going to do so how should I seal around the gauge? Also,what would be the best way to construct a mechanism to attach the copper pipe to the lid? Is there a method that is effective and removable?

Thanks so much for your help and happy to be here.

[SoTaShine]

Yes that pressure cooker would work but its pretty damn expensive compared to just a stock pot with a little flour putty sealing the lid. As far as the 10-ft lengths I assume your talking about straight pipe for a worm this would be very difficult to bend compared to the fridge pipe which comes in a coil already. Thermometer really isn't needed but this to can simply be sealed with again flour putty(magical stuff). As far as connection to the lid on pressure cookers are threaded on top. But you say your trying to keep it inexpensive then a pressure cooker would not be my first choice. look into a stock pot or half a keg. These can easily be used as a boiler and there multiple threads on HD covering ways to attach columns, condenser's etc. just need to read read than read than execute fail read execute and so on you will never know everything but you can always learn. Hope this helps . Goodluck

[Hearts_On_Fire]

I noticed that the cooker has "lockdown" type lever to keep the lid on. You might want to install a pressure relief valve, for safety, if you plan to leave the locking levers in place. Don't want to get blowed up in case the copper gets plugged up. Just a suggestion.

[aladem]

Yes that pressure cooker would work but its pretty damn expensive compared to just a stock pot with a little flour putty sealing the lid. As far as the 10-ft lengths I assume your talking about straight pipe for a worm this would be very difficult to bend compared to the fridge pipe which comes in a coil already. Thermometer really isn't needed but this to can simply be sealed with again flour putty(magical stuff). As far as connection to the lid on pressure cookers are threaded on top. But you say your trying to keep it inexpensive then a pressure cooker would not be my first choice. look into a stock pot or half a keg. These can easily be used as a boiler and there multiple threads on HD covering ways to attach columns, condenser's etc. just need to read read than read than execute fail read execute and so on you will never know everything but you can always learn. Hope this helps . Goodluck

Thanks for your insight. So, just mix flour and water around the rim of a stainless steel pot and it will seal the lid good enough to cook with? Just want to make sure I get that right. I saved a previous thread with the measurements. Thanks again.

[SoTaShine]

Yes mix flour and water to a pizza dough consistency as the boiler heats up it will harden and seal great keep a little extra mixed up just in case you find any small leaks

[Stainless]

Hi, most people who go with a stockpot use binder clips around the rim, when i made my first boiler i did this with a 16litre pot and it was fine, no trouble at all, as mentioned, keep some flour paste handy
Cheers
Stainless
Forgot to say, I used 24 3/4" binder clips, they worked fine

[SoTaShine]

totally forgot about the binder clips i too used them 1 inch if i remember right only like 12 though on a 16qt stock pot. You can pick them up just about anywhere make sure there all metal.

[farmguycitygirl]

I got the 10 ft 1/2" and 10 ft 3/4" lengths, plus two 3/4 1/2 1/2 three way couplers to make a straight one. It works really well, and can handle anything up to around a 20 gallon still. Also, it uses surprisingly little water, which I then feed into 55 gallon rainwater collection barrels. I just control the flow so the water coming out the top is around 75-80C. I shoved some pure copper wire wool into the tube at the top end which made it work a little better and stopped it huffing a little.

I use a large stainless steel stock pot, based on what others have said here, but I used to use an aluminum stock pot with no problems, and couldn't find any dissolved aluminum in the distillate - I tested for it. Where does the opposition to using aluminum cookware come from?