Traditional copper pot style stills

[HungryMan1776]

I would like to have a traditional style pot still, 20-50 gallon. I have also found the cacoppercreations site while searching on google and seen their same stills on ebay with positive and negative reviews. Some of them look very well made and then some look like they goofed up several times on them. I would rather much build my own still but i cant really find any plans and cant seem to understand the only one i have found. I found one for a 6 gal, but it seems to be very complicated, with all kinds of advanced algebra and some alien looking technology and too small anyway.

cacoppercreations is the only site that i have found with all copper stills, except for the few with the onion stills,which look nice by the way, and coppermoonshinestills which look very nice.
All of them seem beautiful, but are asking for $1,000.00 USD for anything 20 gal and over, while cacoppercreations has a 50 gallon for $1000. Even the stills online coming from guys who built with stockpots and kegs seem to be a lot of money. Cacoppercreations seems to be cheapest, but i would much rather build one if I can.

Any advice or an easier way of building an all copper pot.? Not looking for it to be easy, just understanding.

[jholmz]

here are some templates for a 6 and 12 gallon posted by pintoshine these can be blown up to any size you want and printed off http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&t=27074 then just put the template on your copper and cut and assemble

[blind drunk]

From utube comments section -

Gabe I ordered the still at 21 secs and what I received was something entirely different. I expect you to make good on my order or I will contest this with the credit card company and post pictures online of what you sent me which is sub par work. I could do better than that.

Maybe it's the same old guys with a brand new marketing angle

[HungryMan1776]

Alright, that template seems good for the still and flakestand . The worm probably wont be any trouble trying to get it in there . the 6 gal it said that I can get everything out of one sheet of copper. So ill try that first, If all goes according to plans you will be able to see the build in a post in a month or so. I have 2 pipefitter/steamfitters in the family so we should be able to make it all work.

Thanks for the link Holmz

[Young_Blood]

I know someone that could build you a nice copper pot still with thumper . 25 gal would be around 700 and that's with shipping . Very well packaged and he does amazing work

[T-Pee]

But with nowhere near the satisfaction of DIY.

tp

[copper sweat]

20-50 gallon? God save this hobby

[goose eye]

Copper alone is 250 figure 30 for solder cherry juice or flux
another 15. Fitins is another 40. Condencer or worm 75. If he don't cut corner an
rolls it crimps it an braces it 7 is a fair price.
But then your name is out

So I'm tole

[moosemilk]

20-50 gallon? God save this hobby

I was thinking the same thing! I have a 12 gallon boiler and it keeps me with more than enough! And that's with giving away more than I drink!

[copper sweat]

Few weeks ago I met an old man that had a big old copper still, it was beautiful all I could do was drool. I wanted to take a picture but I didn't wanna get shot for asking. You should build it yourself and keep it to yourself, stay safe.

[Young_Blood]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 50&t=51548 should be the link for mine . He will also send you pre cut pieces so you can put it together yourself ; which is what I ended up doing.
I'm in a small town and couldent find anywhere within 40mi. that had sheet copper for sale.

[guyinmariposa]

Order some 16 oz copper and make one. It was a fun to make my own. Not hard at all. Lots of good help here on the website. My 25 gal pot and 50 ft. worm only cost me about 200.00 . I had stuff around the shop that I didnt have to pay for but the copper wasnt bad at all. Buying a still seems to go against the whole thing we strive for. Hillbilly skills bring independence to your life,and look real cool in the back yard

[moosemilk]

Nice looking build you did there guyinmarposa! I did my own 12 gallon with 16oz as well. The patina it gets really makes it look old school, doesn't it? Ah, the satisfaction of building yourself...and possibly creating a family heirloom to hand down one day.

[Young_Blood]

Guy. I completely agree with you on the building yourself, but some of us live in very rural areas and don't have that luxury.
I wanted 24oz copper so it would last for a while to come and couldent find the dimensions/ weight I wanted in local hardware stores/ metal shops / roofing supply shops or even online . Best I could find was 3x 4 ft, 24oz copper . so the route I went was easiest for my situation and I still got the experience of crimping an soldering it all together . Your build does look very Purdue though! Ever think about adding a thumper ?

[guyinmariposa]

Yes a thumper is in order. I wanted to learn to drive it like this first. I built this to look 100 years old. No fancy tools just a hammer snips, and a torch. I was getting over a knee replacement and couldnt go to my shop to use a roller or or the tig, but I love it. Best of all my wife loves it and said she would bail me out if the revanewers show up. Im looking for a wood thumper keg, but I havent wanted to buck up 130.00 for one. May just make one out of copper. I have cows to work before winter shows up, then I can think about thumpers. For now I have rum to make----Good luck----Mike

[Young_Blood]

Hey, nothing wrong with that guy; my first ss rig had a thump so I'm used to running it that way. Always a plus when the old lady likes the hobby as well! Mines been wanting to learn more about it, but I'm keeping that a secret for now . I do enjoy my copper thump, but have deff thought about purchasing an oak barrel to make my rig more traditional .
+2 on the cows I just finished repairing sections of barbed wire fences earlier thismorning

[ShineRunnah]

I built my 23gallon copper pot myself, and it was far more rewarding than swiping the old visa card. Not to mention the matter of pride you get when you look at the end result.
I didn't use any plans, but I've worked in metal fab for a bunch of years now. That said, its not all that hard if you take your time, do the math and make accurate measurements and cuts.

Even if you use plans/templates, building it yourself is the way to go. You simply cannot buy the kind of satisfaction you get from completing and using something you made yourself.

Good luck with it, whatever you choose to do.

[Tal]

I took the plunge and built myself an 18 gallon copper still with 2inch shotgun condenser coming off a copper thumper. While it was a challenge as I had NO copper soldering experience, the reward is huge! To complete the build then ferment your wash and create your own product is very satisfying....gives you feeling of achievement and confidence which has you looking forward to your next project.....you really must give it a crack....you wont fail believe me cos your self belief wont let you. cheers.