Hello everyone. I'm new here, been reading these forums for a little bit and decided it was time to go ahead and become a member.
I'm very new to distilling and I think I have read everything I could get my hands on. My buddy made a still out of a beer keg and its working pretty good for him but he has no way of checking temps on anything so he just kinda runs it until it starts producing then pays close attention to the flow and his way of proofing was lighthing it on fire. Nothing wrong with this way but it got me thinking that I may be able to do this too if I get the correct equipment. So I did some digging and ended up coming across Mile Hi Distilling. So....I have purchased a 13 gallon milk can still with a 2 inch reflux column. I have been able to run it 1 time after cleaning and I ended up with 170 proof in my first quart and ended up with about 2 and a half gallons. I made a few errors and I learned from them. Hope to do another run tomorrow night.
I'm glad to be here, and I look forward to learning a lot more from you folks. This seems to be the only active forum on distilling and I really like what I see. I have already learned a lot of information.
Hello there.
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Re: Hello there.
Welcome Taaser. Sounds like you buddy has a pot still. If it is a pot still you don't use thermometer. Your buddy need a way of measuring your mash/wash and proofing that's better than a lighter. Have you learned about cuts yet?
Re: Hello there.
I have read the forum post about cuts, Im starting to understand them. I know I tossed out the first pint or so, and collected a quart and a half near the end of the run that was under 80 proof to rerun next time I run a batch. I am thinking I may just rerun the last few quarts I have in the next batch just to make they are good.
Re: Hello there.
I guess I should say im from Idaho, I like fishing and hunting play some video games. Pretty much all the dude stuff.
Re: Hello there.
Lots of people collect in small jars for the spirit runs to makes cuts easier. When I started I collected my stripper runs in same small jars to learn about cuts.