modifying my still

charles · Post by **charles** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 1:23 pm

My current still is a 2 liter Erlenmeyer flask with a stopper and a 1/4 inch copper pipe running vertically for about six inches, then at a 45 degree angle upwards for about four inches and then down and into the coil which runs through a clear hose tubing of a slightly thicker dimension that i flow water through. i've used it twice for distilling absinthe but this will be my first time using it for distilling a fermented mash. i am considering adding a thumper and lengthening the vertical column and perhaps insulating it to get a bit more reflux. i'm going to be running five gallons of a hopefully 18% mash through it for the purpose of making a clean pure vodka and would rather not have to distil each run four times. also, it's going to be running for so long that i don't want to have water flowing the whole time so i'm going to modify my coil so it runs through a bucket of water rather than being sheathed in a hose.

can i coil the copper pipe down to the bottom of the water bucket and then back to the top so i don't have to deal with making a water tight seal in the bottom of the bucket? or will that build up too much back pressure?

how much should i lengthen the vertical part of my column(i think i already get a little reflux just due to the shape of my flask) and do i have any chance of getting at least close to 90% alcohol out of this set up?

Yttrium · Post by **Yttrium** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 1:52 pm

You can achieve 90% ethanol from this setup, however, you will have to do multiple distillations(probably 3-4).

knuklehead · Post by **knuklehead** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:56 pm

From a single run just as Yttrium said you will not get 90%, maybe 75% if you run slowly. You would have to add some means of controlling the reflux to get it up to 90% in one run. Your question about the coil in the bucket is a bad idea. The whole coil would have to fill with product and then overflow to get anything out. When it is all full you will be relying on pressure to push it out which is never a good idea. Just make the hole in the bottom of the bucket and use a grommet to seal it. You should be able to pick up the right size grommet at an auto parts store.

charles · Post by **charles** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:20 pm

thanks for the replies. i thought it would be a bad idea, i was just hoping because it would make things simpler. however, i realized that because the whole thing would fill up and before anything started coming out the methanol and other foreshots would start mixing with the heads. so, i'll be getting a gromet and doing it that way.

LeftLaneCruiser · Post by **LeftLaneCruiser** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:30 pm

Just wondering:

If you're already using some kind of Liebig, the tube inside a hose, can't you make a closed system out of it ? With a bucket or tub or whatever full of water and an aquariumpump to circulate it around.

KJH

charles · Post by **charles** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:36 pm

i could but i don't have pump and the volume of water needed flowing through the hose to cover the surface area of the copper pipe is pretty large. so i think i'm going to just run it through a bucket.

however, does anyone have any suggestions regarding minor alterations to this setup to get a higher amount of reflux?

if this has been addressed i apologize and will find it. i didn't notice that there was a seperate section for stills.

knuklehead · Post by **knuklehead** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 8:47 pm

Add a tall column and put another condenser coil at the top of the column. Then you can control your reflux by the amount of cooling water you send to this coil. If you turn off the cooling water in this cool you will have no forced reflux and if you have it running wide open with cooling water you should be able to run your column under full reflux. Then its just a matter of what diameter of column and how high. Even a 2" x 24" packed column should get you well above the 90% you are hoping for.

Pieterpost · Post by **Pieterpost** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:58 am

ouch, you have a 2 liter erlenmeyer and would like to distill 19 liters of wash ? (= 5 gallon) . If we assume you would fill your erlenmeyer with 2 liters, it would take you at least 10 runs ...........

I also used to do this with a 2 liter roundbottom flask and I can tell you that even if you preheat the batches before you distill, it's tedious and very labour intensive. I decided to go bigger because after a couple of washes I had enough.

Personally I would advice you to search for a bigger container, an old boiler for instance.

I know this doesn't answer your question but I couldn't resist because I also started out like this ........ I have just run my second wash through my reflux still and I can tell you, it's heaven not to have to change the wash constantly.

Professor Duck · Post by **Professor Duck** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:59 pm

Yeah, you really need a bigger boiler. My one is about 9 litres and even that is a pain in the neck. I'd love a 30 litre boiler.