Advice on why this is not working at all?

[mmmmmm]

Pic included.

I have about 2.5 gallons in the pot, got it to 175, nothing. Not one drip. I have increased temp gradually to 195 and nothing. I have nice cold water in the condensation bucket - water is condensing on the outside of the thing and I had to put down towels on the counter.

Copper line is 1/2" outer diameter, and everything is sealed up tight. I actually put my mouth on the end of the copper and tried sucking/blowing and I know that it's sealed up tight. I took out the thermometer and tried sucking/blowing again, and I was getting air to easily pass through the setup through that hole, so I know there are no dips in my worm that are getting blocked up.

Is the copper arch too high? Could it all be condensing in the initial up-part of the copper and running back down into the pot? I can't think of anything else it could be.

Not. One. Drip. And it's been hours.

[mmmmmm]

Sorry people, I found what I *think* is the info I was looking for after I posted this. It was a temp issue, I'm assuming?

I should have just boiled the whole deal, right? Like a full-on hard rolling boil?

[rad14701]

Add more heat until you get a broken to twisted stream and bust the thermometer because you don't need it...

[WERAT]

When running a pot still, get rid of the thermometer. Crank up the heat until you start to get product out then adjust the heat to a small broken stream. If you heat it up enough, you will get product out.
Good luck,

EDIT: Looks like I posted the same time as Rad.

[mmmmmm]

Thanks guys. I'm assuming by "broken stream" you guys mean that sometimes it's coming out and sometimes it isn't.

I spent so much time reading up on what could have been wrong with my build I overlooked the obvious answer. Once I finally read the thing about boiling the mixture, not just the one part of it and being unable to raise the temp of a liquid above its boiling point, I finally understand the slow temperature rise I've read about.

I got screwed up by a video tutorial where the dude started getting drips right at 175 or so. He must have been getting readings of the vapor maybe? And not the fluid?

[Dnderhead]

"175 or so. He must have been getting readings of the vapor maybe? And not the fluid?"
maybe but either will be some place between the boiling point of water and that of alcohol.depending how much of witch is in it.

[Pesty]

I see the problem..

Diet Dr Pepper..

Had you been drinking Pepper 10.. the man inside would have called for more fire!!

[F6Hawk]

And don't forget, if you DO choose to use a thermometer (most will tell you to ditch it for a pot still), each thermometer reads differently. I have 5, and none are exactly the same at all temps. His 175° might be your 173 or 176...

[Dnderhead]

175f if that is the wash temp then the wash will be 85% alcohol to boil at that temp...
if its the vapor temp. then the vapor is about 90%..so if yours is not close to that then the temperature wont be..

[Cutt]

Oh how I remember those anxious hours when I first began learning to distill.
I went through the same anxiety. Why the heck am I not getting any thing?
I don't get any thing below 195.
People are correct. Pot stills don't care about a thermometer.
I do just like they say. I put the spurs to the pot till I get my foreshot coming out.
Then I back way off and keep her to a fast drip. Unless you like it mean and nasty.

By the way, your rig is a spot on ringer for mine.
Cept I used a Tidy Cats square bucket for a worm bucket.

Good luck!

[googe]

Broken stream means, a constant drip just before they join into a constant stream. Good luck.

[mmmmmm]

I see the problem..

Diet Dr Pepper..

Had you been drinking Pepper 10.. the man inside would have called for more fire!!

Ha! Just like my home board (completely unrelated to my mad scientist projects). When I took the picture my first thought were the comments that the Diet Dr. Pepper would pull from the crowd if I'd posted it over there.

And don't forget, if you DO choose to use a thermometer (most will tell you to ditch it for a pot still), each thermometer reads differently. I have 5, and none are exactly the same at all temps. His 175° might be your 173 or 176...

This has to have been one of the more shocking things this project made me realize. I actually had an assortment of thermometers that I tested before I put this together, put them all in one cup of hot water, and I couldn't believe how much of a variance there was. From now on it's going to be.. "Honey you'd better give that pork roast an extra ten minutes, that meat thermometer is probably off by half a dozen degrees."

I'm getting rid of it though. I finally see the light. I'm considering taking it to work with me today to smash it on a giant press or something. Take out my frustrations a little bit.

[Pesty]

Depending on your thermo, it may or may not have an adjustment screw on the back.

I was able to calibrate the two that I use for reflux runs to read exaclty the same using my floating thermo as a base.

[Dnderhead]

also if your adjusting a thermometer ,do so at/ near the temperature your going to use it at.