Hi there from South Africa

[waldob]

Hi there all.... All new and well a ''Noob'' at the tricks of the trade... im sure i need to learn a hell of a lot but while Building i can start learning as i go.... we all must make some mistakes on our own to teach others for the ''Done Do that Part'' LOL

I hope you can help me out a bit. Im all new to the ''Home Pot Still life'' of doing things and have a few questions.

I have recently got my hands on a perfect old copper geyser inner form my dads place....We all thought that the geyser burst but after replacement and me taking it fully apart noticed there was nothing wrong with it but for a broken seal ...hie hie....

I think the geyser is a 200lt unit and im converting it into a pot still.... I have already started building the cooling unit where a use copper fittings used in plumbing to make a unit, that splits the main pipe into two and from there i split it again into four and at at the bottom it all comes back into one, I will not be using a coil system as this will be cooled down with a cooling unit from a water machine....The ones that you put the 20th refill container downwards into the unit. I will take out the compressor and the cooling coils and use this to cool the copper tubing.... I will load some pix as soon as a can to make it a bit clearer.

1) As the geyser is still in a working condition I want to use the element and thermostat as it is.... Will this work ? ( its positioned at the bottom of the tank) I know that most fruits have large amounts of acids in them I was thinking on neutralizing the Ph. before the distilling process. And with a build in thermostat I can control the heat in a easy way.

2) What is the average ratio for air volume to the fill level of a thank...I do not want to over fill or under fill the tank.

3) what is a good medium to use for your first round of distillation ?

5) Is there a specific rule of thumb or method for your first use of a newly build still?

[Bushman]

Let me be the first to welcome you to HD! Could you post a few pictures of what you have, I know a lot of us are visual people and will be better able to help and give suggestions if we can see what your working with. I will however answer a few of your questions.

Hi there all.... All new and well a ''Noob'' at the tricks of the trade... im sure i need to learn a hell of a lot but while Building i can start learning as i go.... we all must make some mistakes on our own to teach others for the ''Done Do that Part'' LOL

I hope you can help me out a bit. Im all new to the ''Home Pot Still life'' of doing things and have a few questions.

I have recently got my hands on a perfect old copper geyser inner form my dads place....We all thought that the geyser burst but after replacement and me taking it fully apart noticed there was nothing wrong with it but for a broken seal ...hie hie....

I think the geyser is a 200lt unit and im converting it into a pot still.... I have already started building the cooling unit where a use copper fittings used in plumbing to make a unit, that splits the main pipe into two and from there i split it again into four and at at the bottom it all comes back into one, I will not be using a coil system as this will be cooled down with a cooling unit from a water machine....The ones that you put the 20th refill container downwards into the unit. I will take out the compressor and the cooling coils and use this to cool the copper tubing.... I will load some pix as soon as a can to make it a bit clearer.

1) As the geyser is still in a working condition I want to use the element and thermostat as it is.... Will this work ? ( its positioned at the bottom of the tank) I know that most fruits have large amounts of acids in them I was thinking on neutralizing the Ph. before the distilling process. And with a build in thermostat I can control the heat in a easy way.

2) What is the average ratio for air volume to the fill level of a thank...I do not want to over fill or under fill the tank.
You usually charge the boiler 2/3 to 3/4 full to allow head room.

3) what is a good medium to use for your first round of distillation ?
After your cleaning runs (listed below) I would probably start with a recipe from our Tried & True section. There is a reason why it is called Tried & True.

5) Is there a specific rule of thumb or method for your first use of a newly build still?
You need to do several cleaning runs. The first run is a 50/50 vinegar wash, the next is a low wines. More info can be found here:
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 63&t=15489

[Prairiepiss]

Welcome aboard.

1) As the geyser is still in a working condition I want to use the element and thermostat as it is.... Will this work ? ( its positioned at the bottom of the tank) I know that most fruits have large amounts of acids in them I was thinking on neutralizing the Ph. before the distilling process. And with a build in thermostat I can control the heat in a easy way.

I'm guessing your talking about a hot water heater? The element can be used. More then likely. But the thermostat can't. You can't control the still with temps. You need a way to control how much heat is applied. So you will need a good controller. One that will give you good adjustable control over the heat input. There are many threads about different controllers around here. I suggest a phase angle controller.

Have a good read through the must read new distiller reading lounge.

[waldob]

Welcome aboard.

1) As the geyser is still in a working condition I want to use the element and thermostat as it is.... Will this work ? ( its positioned at the bottom of the tank) I know that most fruits have large amounts of acids in them I was thinking on neutralizing the Ph. before the distilling process. And with a build in thermostat I can control the heat in a easy way.

I'm guessing your talking about a hot water heater? The element can be used. More then likely. But the thermostat can't. You can't control the still with temps. You need a way to control how much heat is applied. So you will need a good controller. One that will give you good adjustable control over the heat input. There are many threads about different controllers around here. I suggest a phase angle controller.

Have a good read through the must read new distiller reading lounge.

Thank you for the feedback....
With the controller im assuming you are talking about a power input controlling direct voltage to the element will get itself ?

I was hoping that I could use the thermostat to control the maximum (Average) allowed temperature the still can ever get.... like a failsafe. This way I can set it for a max of 78-80...Then one at the top of the Still... A accurate digital thermostat that will allow me to see the actual temperature plus will act as the master to the power input ...so if the bottom thermostat is a bit out of spec it will overwrite the whole power input. allowing me more controllable average temperature .

[jase1977]

HI
Theres a heap of kiwis on here, and few aussies, so its good to have a south African on board too (plus a few poms). Were in SA are you from?

[rad14701]

Thank you for the feedback....
With the controller im assuming you are talking about a power input controlling direct voltage to the element will get itself ?

I was hoping that I could use the thermostat to control the maximum (Average) allowed temperature the still can ever get.... like a failsafe. This way I can set it for a max of 78-80...Then one at the top of the Still... A accurate digital thermostat that will allow me to see the actual temperature plus will act as the master to the power input ...so if the bottom thermostat is a bit out of spec it will overwrite the whole power input. allowing me more controllable average temperature .

You'd better do a bit more research because you can't control the temperature in a still... It's been covered countless times here in the forums and would have been made abundantly clear had you read and comprehended the New Distiller Reading Lounge and Parent Site, which we consider mandatory reading...

Go do the research and you'll understand the Why...

[waldob]

HI
Theres a heap of kiwis on here, and few aussies, so its good to have a south African on board too (plus a few poms). Were in SA are you from?

From Province of Gauteng . Town Pretoria.

[jase1977]

currently watching the motor cycle advantage's programme on sky TV. I didn't know SA was so beautiful

[waldob]

currently watching the motor cycle advantage's programme on sky TV. I didn't know SA was so beautiful

Well yes its a beautiful place indeed.!! our weather is very good especially in Pretoria where I live. Summers are long and hot ( Average 30-34 C) while winter short 16-19C)
Its not to dry and not to whet ,,,,Love this place;...
Nice part of it .....I have looked around and all the needed ingredients needed to Still most of the recopies in your ''Tried and tested'' page is all around me.
There is a lot of wholesale deports around, Most supplying to farmers so they are cheep very close to me. I have also phoned a big beer producer close to me (SAB) and they informed me if I need hops, Barley and I will be able to order from them at a fraction of the cost!....

Even lol my wife is getting used to the idea that where will be a copper potstill standing in the house lol ....As long as its clean and polished


I did some more reading in the thermostats and thermometers you have discussed in you New members area.... I now fully understand that the Norm is not to have them installed. With the information available I have decided that I will still install these as planned.... I will use this as a guideline only... This will help me control the heating rate and max heat temperature of the still. (as mentioned before) it will be a failsafe for the still now the over heat and boil over.... I understand the vapor temperature cannot be controlled ...and so on.

I will continue with the building proses this weekend and I will take some pic's for you that are interested....

[Samohon]

Welcome waldob...

All great advice, have fun...

[Rooinek]

Howzit Bru! I just joined myself!

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news and perhaps piss on your chips here but there could be some serious lead contamination in that geyser. There were no real regulations on lead solder back when I was doing odd jobs in SA in '91 and I fitted a few geysers, taps, sinks etc. So unless the house is relatively new there will be lead in the pipes. If there is limescale in that tank, lead is likely to have leached into the limescale. If the tank itself was sweated together with solder that too could contain lead. It could be something or nothing but I would check into it.

You are so lucky though, you can make mampoer!

[waldob]

Howzit Bru! I just joined myself!

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news and perhaps piss on your chips here but there could be some serious lead contamination in that geyser. There were no real regulations on lead solder back when I was doing odd jobs in SA in '91 and I fitted a few geysers, taps, sinks etc. So unless the house is relatively new there will be lead in the pipes. If there is limescale in that tank, lead is likely to have leached into the limescale. If the tank itself was sweated together with solder that too could contain lead. It could be something or nothing but I would check into it.

You are so lucky though, you can make mampoer!

I have looked at the way the pot was made and it looks like it was silver soldered together ! Nice ! I have removed almost 90% of the limescale using my pressure washer. I have also used some kettle cleaner and it worked very nicely!

Here is a full view if the still so far. I make a Jacket that I fitted to the lid so it will slide into the bottom part. Both ends I tapered to that they slide in tight. I will still need to ''clay-seal'' it before I use it, I will chat to the peeps at work today and see if they can make me a jacket ''belt like'' that I can use for a seal. I was thinking if I can make something that works similar to a industrial chemical drum clamp it will work perfectly I think.



With the lid fitted I also made a primary ''heat sink''.... this will be as a main heat reduction system followed by a cooling coil... Im still thinking of skipping the copper coils and fitting four evap tubes in.....This I will also make myself... I have previously played around with the concept of taking 6ft florescent tubes and converting them into a evaporation chamber or unit.... The glass is very thin, so the cooling of this will be almost instant.....Yes they break very easily....but dam if it works it will look super !!



The mail ''heatsink'' if I may call it so works in the concept of tanking the hot gas and splitting it up into four separate directions....the heat loss will be significant. After this the Cooling tubes or coiling will be fitted ....




OK bombard me with you opinions please !!! Good or bad ...Let me have it

[jase1977]

if you have family in NZ you could get them to send over a reflux still!

[goose eye]

Cook it horizontal. Put you a collar an make
you a cradle but ole boys is old school.

So I'm tole

[waldob]

I have received my Digital thermostat and Controller yesterday !!! I have already tested it and it work like a charm !!
This will not control my temperature ( as said ...it cant be done) but will control the heating time and max valued my potstill can get ant any time... This will prevent element burnout or over boil as I can set the values as a save guard...(alarm settings)
I can set the temperature gain input, time or cycle for the element heating intervals
!!



That do you think?