Would this stainless steel pot work?

[FluffyMyNameIs]

http://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Stainless- ... roduct_top" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow I'm on a tight budget right now and just need something to get my liquor started.

[WERAT]

Yes it will work but before using it you need to read up at the New Distiller Reading Lounge for the required reading here. After reading you may change your mind on what you really want for your boiler.

Good Luck,

[Truckinbutch]

+1 on Werat . Deja vue all over again . This seems to be happening quite a lot .

[pfshine]

If i were you i would spend the extra 20 and get a keg.

[redmud]

That one is really similar to what I have now. I even mounted my column to the lid. The depression under the handle forms a small dome, so I turned it upside down drilled it out, made and soldered a flange on the bottom of my column, drilled 8 small holes around my flange and through the lid made a PTFE gasket by twisting it into a 1/4 inch thick rope and bolted it down. I use spring clamps and flour paste to seal the lid to the pot.

The flange took some work to pound out to match the curve of the lid. I drilled the flange and pot lid slightly smaller than the inside diameter of my column for better support and gasket seal also. Since the handle and rivets are sstainless I left them in place and use the handle to carry around the column, pain for installing packing though.

It was a cheap easy way to build a column but i am going to get a keg real soon the volume is just a bit snall.

[FluffyMyNameIs]

I hear everyone talking about kegs, could someone suggest one to me?

[WERAT]

FluffyMyNameIs,
Do a Google search for Sanke Keg.

[FluffyMyNameIs]

FluffyMyNameIs,
Do a Google search for Sanke Keg.

Thanks!

[S-Cackalacky]

When the description of the stock pot says, 5 gallons, that means it's 5 gallons when filled all the way to the rim. To have enough head space, you would only be able to run about 3.5 to 4 gallons. If you use a stainless steel mixing bowl for a lid, you might be able to run 4.5 gallons.

I have the same size stock pot with a mixing bowl lid. I also run with a thumper. I charge the boiler with about 4.5 gallons and the thumper with another 1/2 gallon. With decent cuts, I'm getting about a quart of drinkable alcohol before diluting.

If you plan to use a stock pot with a flat lid, I would suggest something like 32 quarts, but not less than 24 quarts. I'm not trying to be discouraging, but think you will not be happy if you plan to run that pot with a flat lid. If you spend a few extra dollars, you'll have a much better outcome.

Just sayin',
S-C

[armstrong]

Get a keg. you will thank your self later

[striker85]

I don't know about you fellas, but I can't find a keg for less than $100 around here. I spent about $45 on my 20Q stock pot. It has an encapsulated bottom and is a sturdy gauge as well. Don't skimp on the build quality.

[armstrong]

look in the scrap yards you will find kegs there sometimes

[maheel]

I don't know about you fellas, but I can't find a keg for less than $100 around here. I spent about $45 on my 20Q stock pot. It has an encapsulated bottom and is a sturdy gauge as well. Don't skimp on the build quality.

but a keg is going to save you in build costs and time...

+ they are so easy to use

[rager]

look in the scrap yards you will find kegs there sometimes

that's BS in the north east . local scrap yards wont except keg and will not sell anything either. ive tried to buy copper piping back from them and they say no!

they also take pictures of your license plate, photo copy your driver license . nothing easy here about getting anything from scrap yards

[Richard7]

they also take pictures of your license plate, photo copy your driver license . nothing easy here about getting anything from scrap yards

It's a shame they are so anal. I understand, when I was "Doing time in the service" I tried to get a radiator from a junk yard up in New Jersey. But I was informed that it was not a radiator (pronounced Ray dee a tor) but it was a Radiator (pronounced Rad eee a tore) and if I touched the fins it would leak. Fortunately the one that they had to offer was good but they would not give any warranty as I touched the fins.
Pricks, should have had a better breakfast IMO. Grits should be a requirement to get your day started. I am not saying all yanks are that way, but I could tell I was given hell for being Southern. I went there thing they would be good ole boys. Oh well I ain't holding no grudge, that was an isolated incident and I was in their world.

Sorry for the rant. Surely you can find a source for a keg. If not maybe some one can help.

[S-Cackalacky]

I don't understand this love connection a lot of people here have with beer kegs. I have one sitting in a corner down in the basement. Maybe one day I'll get all the dings and dents banged out of it, but I can't say I'm really looking forward to it. Building a still around it will require a whole new set of skills that I may have to learn. In hind sight, my stock pot build was much simpler than what I anticipate with the keg. I didn't need any kind of welding skills. With the exception of the copper soldering, everything else screwed together and there was easy access to the inside of the pot to get it all done. Working with a keg will be a whole new paradigm.

Other than being a little small, I like using my stock pot still - easy to fill, easy to set up, easy to take down and easy to empty. If I could afford a good quality 50 quart stock pot and a big assed mixing bowl, I would take that over a keg in a heart beat.

Just sayin',
S-C

[Prairiepiss]

I don't understand this love connection a lot of people here have with beer kegs. I have one sitting in a corner down in the basement. Maybe one day I'll get all the dings and dents banged out of it, but I can't say I'm really looking forward to it. Building a still around it will require a whole new set of skills that I may have to learn. In hind sight, my stock pot build was much simpler than what I anticipate with the keg. I didn't need any kind of welding skills. With the exception of the copper soldering, everything else screwed together and there was easy access to the inside of the pot to get it all done. Working with a keg will be a whole new paradigm.

Other than being a little small, I like using my stock pot still - easy to fill, easy to set up, easy to take down and easy to empty. If I could afford a good quality 50 quart stock pot and a big assed mixing bowl, I would take that over a keg in a heart beat.

Just sayin',
S-C

I didn't find removing the sanky valve all that difficult. And that all you have to do to a keg to turn it into a boiler.

A 5 gal pot is good. If you use a 5 gallon bucket for a fermenter. By the time you leave headroom for the ferment. And remove the trub. You end up with a good amount to run in a 5 gallon pot.

[Uncle Jemima]

My keg build was much simpler than my stock pot. Keg build only required building a flange from a 2"-1" reducer by soldering a ground wire to the rim with the instructions I found here. No welding, cutting or drilling. You can also buy an easy flange from several spots online. It's also a lot easier to seal a 2" diameter connection with flour paste than to seal a 18"-24" stock pot. I've done both and preferred the keg.

[bobrock99]

My only problem with doing a keg setup is that I would rather do this indoors. Its more discreet for me and much more comfortable, which is why at least at this point I am leaning toward a ss pot build. I can't use a propane burner inside or heat up my keg on my electric stove. But I'm still thinking about it and investigating.

[planethax]

Many use electric element for their kegs

[bobrock99]

So a regular 4 burner indoor electric stove, its not high powered just average stove, the keg bottom would be way too big, plus to heat all those gallons would take a loooong time.

[NB01]

Bob what planet was referring to was installing an element inside your keg, usually controlled by a controller allowing you to adjust the heat. The problem with indoor 4 burner stoves is they cycle on and off, you really need a constant flow of heat to do a good run!

[T-Pee]

Right. An electric water heater element. It's THE way to go for an electric setup.

tp

[BoomTown]

a SS solution running on a 1500wt hot plate.

[thecroweater]

I don't get "work" involved with a keg. You take the valve out (5min) done, buy a two inch triclamp and sesl and its concected end of story. No cutting no welding no stupid clips leaks no epoxy flour paste each run no lids collapsing from the weight. What makes an idea very popular is generally because its the easiest and cheapest way.

[bobrock99]

I don't get "work" involved with a keg. You take the valve out (5min) done, buy a two inch triclamp and sesl and its concected end of story. No cutting no welding no stupid clips leaks no epoxy flour paste each run no lids collapsing from the weight. What makes an idea very popular is generally because its the easiest and cheapest way.

Ok thanks, that sounds like a nice solution, I'll read up on that.