My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Many like to post about a first successful ferment (or first all grain mash), or first still built/bought or first good run of the still. Tell us about all of these great times here.
Pics are VERY welcome, we drool over pretty copper 8)

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Kugeo
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My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by Kugeo »

Hello, and thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience. I'm bringing this over from the introductions forum to get some input on my first build. Currently, I have the material for a 2" angled lyne arm then down into the thump. Coming out of the thump via 1" to the worm. I have the material, and will probably build a nice Liebig to replace the worm. Here's what I'm thinking:
Attachments
Nothing soldered up, just sitting in place for now...
Nothing soldered up, just sitting in place for now...
2" to the thump keg, then 1" to the 1/2" worm.
2" to the thump keg, then 1" to the 1/2" worm.
Kugeo
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by Kugeo »

Initially I'll be using a propane burner, but when time (read: $$) allow, I'd like to add an electric element to the boiler.
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GrassHopper
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by GrassHopper »

If it were me, I would just go nearly straight over to the thumper from your keg boiler with your 2". In my opinion, you don't need that rise you are showing. Then you would have that unused 2" copper for a future reflux build straight out of your boiler. I think the liebig is pretty easy to build and operate too. But, lots here still use the worm. Other than that, looks good to me.
Kugeo
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by Kugeo »

OK. Thanks for the input. That was my initial design, just up-90-over-90-down. But I figured I could get a little "cleaner" by introducing the angle that I could pack with copper. I'd like to make a good, clean, flavored whiskey, and not yet worrying about neutral spirits.
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raketemensch
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by raketemensch »

This is just my sick, air-cooled mind churning, but I'm wondering what kind of passive reflux you would get with a fan aimed at that angled riser...
Kugeo
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by Kugeo »

So is there any benefit to having longer connecting pipes? Either on the verticals or the horizontal? Or is it pretty much irrelevant on this small of a setup? I could save around two feet of the 2" if there's not. And would OK to leave any of the fillings unsoldered and just paste them up when setting up for a run? I was thinking it would act as a pressure relief in the event of a blockage anywhere down the line. The 1" exiting the thumper will have a male threaded copper connector so that I can change over to the Liebig when the time comes. I plan on having the fitting on the worm unsoldered as well. This should allow for pressure release in the event the worm gets blocked up.
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Brutal
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by Brutal »

If you build it like that, the boiler and thumper will have to sit at the same height while running. The 2" from the boiler to thump could be replaced with 3/4" or 1" and with some fittings be made to work at differing heights.
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Kugeo
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Re: My First Pot Still - Advice Welcome

Post by Kugeo »

The plan is to have the boiler and thumper at the same height. I already have a length of 2", so I'm just wanting to make sure I'm not wasting materials.
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