Still

[Randell]

I am wanting to buy pot still can someone tell me the best one to buy and why, I kinda like that GA still that's complete but it's a little pricey, new to all this and been reading stuff for 4 months and still not sure what to get thanks for any help

[8Ball]

My pot still was a 5 gallon kit that came to the door in a flat box. Good instruction videos online and a trip to the hardware store for some copper fittings and silver solder was all I needed. Spent an enjoyable day building it. It does the job very well and the size is perfect for my hobby. Be sure to do more reading up on safety and what not to do. Resist the temptation to tell everybody what you are up to, and for damn sure don’t sell. Have fun and good luck.

More reading here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=14972

[Corsaire]

8ball, the last post in that thread is Randell stating he read the while thing but still didn't know what to buy.

I wouldn't go for a copper alembic if I had to buy one again. I think the modular systems are less messy. Liebig condensers also seem a better option than the undersized worm in bucket you get with the copper alembic.
MileHi is a name I see popping up here a lot so that might be an option. I have no experience with those. Just saying.

[SAS777]

I started with a 2.5 gallon copper Alembic. I enjoyed it every much. But after the newness disappeared, I didn’t use it as much. I would ferment 5 gallons at a time, and spend all day running it since the boiler would only hold ~2 gallons per run.

The enjoyment turned into the dreaded word, “WORK.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love this hobby. But when you spend all day running 5 gallons, when you can run it in half the time using a large still, it takes some of the enjoyment out of it. Since it is a hobby, it should be enjoyable.

As for answering your question, I upgraded to a 13 gallon MileHi stainless steel boiler with 2” reflux column. Later I added thumper and pot Still head, now I can Make pretty much anything I want.

The people at MileHi are great, and very helpful.

Their stills are built very well, using a heavy gauge stainless.

Since I got my MileHi 13 gallon with upgrades, it no longer feels like work; I again enjoy it very much.

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a MileHi rig.

[6 Row Joe]

8ball, the last post in that thread is Randell stating he read the while thing but still didn't know what to buy.

I wouldn't go for a copper alembic if I had to buy one again. I think the modular systems are less messy. Liebig condensers also seem a better option than the undersized worm in bucket you get with the copper alembic.
MileHi is a name I see popping up here a lot so that might be an option. I have no experience with those. Just saying.

The 3 gallon Mighty Mini from Mile High is a good one. A 5 gallon would be better. 5 gallon batches in 6 gallon pails work well and are well matched size wise. Mile High's quality and service is very good.

[NJen]

I would highly recommend looking at keg boilers. They are a common option, easy to modulate (change in an out different parts to try different setups), and are fairly cheap to set up with. It's a little more work putting your own setup together, but in the end it's worth it because you chose every piece. Besides, there are dozens of threads on here of people with keg boilers, so lots of information to look at as far as what those who have gone before you have chosen. It's a great way to set up as a newbie, and the route that many of us on this forum have chosen to go.

[navan4]

I am wanting to buy pot still can someone tell me the best one to buy and why, I kinda like that GA still that's complete but it's a little pricey, new to all this and been reading stuff for 4 months and still not sure what to get thanks for any help

I would go modular for sure, as I'm doing now, this will give you flexibility if you choose to experiment. A liebig condenser as a minimum, but a shotgun is better for speed. For the boiler try to get one that's at least 8 gallon (30 liter) under this it can get tedious to make multiple runs, most people seem to upgrade faster when they use smaller sized boilers.

[Tummydoc]

Started with a claw hammer 5 gallon pot still. Enjoyed the build, but 5 gallons is too small to get sufficient volumes of unsmeared hearts cuts. Will tempt you to keep marginal cut jars and your product will suffer. Built a keg boiler, much cheaper and a much better tool. The 5 gallon just collects dust now. And it's really too big for a gin boiler, but all it ever sees now is odins easy gin.

[Yonder]

You’ll look for 10 gal minimum boiler. Plenty of guidance on what NOT to buy here in these pages. Best look at the advice of them (us) what made the mistakes.

[cayars]

Enjoyed the build, but 5 gallons is too small to get sufficient volumes of unsmeared hearts cuts. Will tempt you to keep marginal cut jars and your product will suffer.

THIS! Been trying to explain this in a recent Airstill thread. Even tried to explain how running 10 gallons of low wines could take 1 run (2 cuts) on a 13+ gallon still, 3 runs (6 cuts) on a 5 gallon still and roughly 15 runs (30 cuts) on a 1 gallon Airstill to process the same 10 gallons of low wines.

The bigger the boiler, the more it contains and the longer (more volume) each run is with smaller change over (percent) from jar to jar. That makes getting a hearts cut easy (with more of it) and allows easier selection of heads or tails jars to include (if wanted).

13 to 16 gallon boiler is about perfect size IMHO for home use.

[Tummydoc]

I understood your pictures immediately in that thread because I've done that with a small still. Just didnt wanna join the pissin match that seemed to be brewing! But I've come to accept that size does matter !!

[navan4]

13 to 16 gallon boiler is about perfect size IMHO for home use.

This is true if combined with a 3"column and if no other variable dictates your choice.
IE if you choose to go with 13+ gallons instead of 8 gallons, then you require more power, more voltage, more height, larger column, larger fermenter and more time.
If those variables are not an issue, then yes 13+ gallons is a better and wiser choice!

[cayars]

2" column works fine on keg size boilers and lots of people here run that size.
Yes of course your heat source needs to match the boiler but it's pretty easy to use propane or electric for this size still without much effort.

The reason I like this size is that it works out to be almost perfect when doing ferments in 44 gallon brutes. 3 Strips and a spirit run.

It would likely be a poor choice for people doing 5 gallon ferments.
Pretty much everything does need to be sized to work together!

[Tummydoc]

This is true if combined with a 3"column and if no other variable dictates your choice.
IE if you choose to go with 13+ gallons instead of 8 gallons, then you require more power, more voltage, more height, larger column, larger fermenter and more time.
If those variables are not an issue, then yes 13+ gallons is a better and wiser choice!

Well, most of this is inaccurate. In general a larger boiler results in less time to produce a finished product (ie a few large runs instead of multiple small runs with inferior separation). And column height is independent of boiler size. Its dependent on packing and the desired number of theoretical plate equivalents. With a larger boiler your heatup times and distillation times are longer, but I save time distilling a 20 gallon ferment with a 15 g keg (2 strip fills and one spirit run) than you will with an 8g boiler (3 strip runs and 2 spirit runs) assuming you fill the boiler 2/3 full to avoid puking. I run a 2 inch column which is the most common keg column.

[navan4]

Well, most of this is inaccurate. In general a larger boiler results in less time to produce a finished product (ie a few large runs instead of multiple small runs with inferior separation).

Maybe if you have a larger ferment, if not then it's longer to do a 12 gallon run than a 7 gallon run.

And column height is independent of boiler size.

I never said the column needs to be taller, the boiler itself will add height.

With a larger boiler your heatup times and distillation times are longer, but I save time distilling a 20 gallon ferment with a 15 g keg (2 strip fills and one spirit run) than you will with an 8g boiler (3 strip runs and 2 spirit runs) assuming you fill the boiler 2/3 full to avoid puking.

I have 8 gallon and 9 gallon ferments.

[Tummydoc]

So your comment that a larger boiler required a larger column????

[cayars]

Well, most of this is inaccurate. In general a larger boiler results in less time to produce a finished product (ie a few large runs instead of multiple small runs with inferior separation).

Maybe if you have a larger ferment, if not then it's longer to do a 12 gallon run than a 7 gallon run.

That's what he's saying with a larger ferment. Roughly speaking if you have 30 gallons fermented you'll end up with roughly 10 gallons or low wines and after doing the spirit run will end up with 2.5 to 3 gallons which you'll make cuts from leaving you 1 to 1.5 gallons to age. So to get "useful" amounts it does take decent size ferments and if you are going to do that the ideal is 3x your boiler fill size.

Sort of work the problem backwards and ask how much do I want to end up with and calculate back to ferment size and ideal boiler size to process that ferment the best way possible.

With a larger boiler your heatup times and distillation times are longer, but I save time distilling a 20 gallon ferment with a 15 g keg (2 strip fills and one spirit run) than you will with an 8g boiler (3 strip runs and 2 spirit runs) assuming you fill the boiler 2/3 full to avoid puking.

I have 8 gallon and 9 gallon ferments.

Realistically the 8 gallon still would need 4 strip runs to process 20 gallons of ferment unless you like to live on the edge of puking and having to run slower to avoid it.

To me it's all about how much finished product you want to get from each total batch. I'd want to end up with 5 to 6 liters (ie 1.5 gallons) to make it worthwhile and that to me works out to 13 to 16 gallon boiler and 40ish gallon ferments. That size still will run just fine on a 20 gallon propane tank with turkey fryer or on a single amp electrical circuit and single controller making it kind of the sweet spot for efficiency IMHO. With a bigger boiler you have the option of how much to fill it from 5 gallon or so up to 13 giving you a lot of freedom in what size batches you can use.

[Tummydoc]

Carlo, not everyone has figured out that the size of your equipment really does matter !

[cayars]

Carlo, not everyone has figured out that the size of your equipment really does matter !

+1 It really does make a difference. One larger run vs many small runs give you a better product with less smearing and much easier cuts as well.
So yea, size does matter! LOL

[NZChris]

Carlo, not everyone has figured out that the size of your equipment really does matter !

+1 It really does make a difference. Many small runs vs one larger run give you a better product with less smearing and much easier cuts as well.
So yea, size does matter! LOL

Is that what you are saying here? viewtopic.php?f=33&t=76600#p7584758

[cayars]

It's what I was trying to say.

[NZChris]

It sounds like a 180 to me.

[cayars]

Not sure where the 180 is. Just went back and read from the link and it's consistent with what's said here, at least the way I read it.

[navan4]

So your comment that a larger boiler required a larger column????

Yes if I would buy a 13+ gallon boiler I would combine it with a 3" column.

[navan4]

Carlo, not everyone has figured out that the size of your equipment really does matter !

I never diagreed about this fact, I just pointed out the negative points, in my case.

[navan4]

Well, most of this is inaccurate. In general a larger boiler results in less time to produce a finished product (ie a few large runs instead of multiple small runs with inferior separation).

Maybe if you have a larger ferment, if not then it's longer to do a 12 gallon run than a 7 gallon run.

That's what he's saying with a larger ferment. Roughly speaking if you have 30 gallons fermented you'll end up with roughly 10 gallons or low wines and after doing the spirit run will end up with 2.5 to 3 gallons which you'll make cuts from leaving you 1 to 1.5 gallons to age. So to get "useful" amounts it does take decent size ferments and if you are going to do that the ideal is 3x your boiler fill size.

Sort of work the problem backwards and ask how much do I want to end up with and calculate back to ferment size and ideal boiler size to process that ferment the best way possible.

With a larger boiler your heatup times and distillation times are longer, but I save time distilling a 20 gallon ferment with a 15 g keg (2 strip fills and one spirit run) than you will with an 8g boiler (3 strip runs and 2 spirit runs) assuming you fill the boiler 2/3 full to avoid puking.

I have 8 gallon and 9 gallon ferments.

Realistically the 8 gallon still would need 4 strip runs to process 20 gallons of ferment unless you like to live on the edge of puking and having to run slower to avoid it.

To me it's all about how much finished product you want to get from each total batch. I'd want to end up with 5 to 6 liters (ie 1.5 gallons) to make it worthwhile and that to me works out to 13 to 16 gallon boiler and 40ish gallon ferments. That size still will run just fine on a 20 gallon propane tank with turkey fryer or on a single amp electrical circuit and single controller making it kind of the sweet spot for efficiency IMHO. With a bigger boiler you have the option of how much to fill it from 5 gallon or so up to 13 giving you a lot of freedom in what size batches you can use.

I never do stripping runs, I only do spirit runs.
I do my own sugar wash recipe and the taste is quit fine with my reflux column and the pot still I put a stick of cinnamon per 26 oz. (750ml) when I want to drink it straigt with no ice.
My taste buds seem not as refined as yours, I guess, but they're refined enough to taste the difference from the cheap commercial stuff.
I don't have loads of free time, since I must commute to work, so time is of the essence in my case.

[Corsaire]

Not sure where the 180 is. Just went back and read from the link and it's consistent with what's said here, at least the way I read it.

To me your post here reads as if many smaller runs give a better result than one big one, which is the opposite of what you say in the other thread.
However, I know you mean a big run is preferable. I havent got experience with it. My 30l still takes the 20l ferments I make in my 25l buckets. Save all the low wines up in a 25l glass demijohn.
When I want to experiment with gin I use my 2l gin still. Never tried that one for making spirits, as that would be tedious.

Back on topic, get yourself the biggest pot you can comfortably manage. Most here would recommend a keg if you've got the space. Go modular. Most here use triclamps for good reason. It's the way I'd go if I had to start again.
Then make sure you've got enough fermenters to fill your boiler three times. Otherwise you'll strip, wait for the next ferment to strip again, repeat and only then can you make a spirit run.
Saves you 2/3 of the waiting.
After that comes the hardest part. At least in the beginning. Waiting for your product to age.

[Tummydoc]

Well, most of this is inaccurate. In general a larger boiler results in less time to produce a finished product (ie a few large runs instead of multiple small runs with inferior separation).

Maybe if you have a larger ferment, if not then it's longer to do a 12 gallon run than a 7 gallon run.

That's what he's saying with a larger ferment. Roughly speaking if you have 30 gallons fermented you'll end up with roughly 10 gallons or low wines and after doing the spirit run will end up with 2.5 to 3 gallons which you'll make cuts from leaving you 1 to 1.5 gallons to age. So to get "useful" amounts it does take decent size ferments and if you are going to do that the ideal is 3x your boiler fill size.

Sort of work the problem backwards and ask how much do I want to end up with and calculate back to ferment size and ideal boiler size to process that ferment the best way possible.

With a larger boiler your heatup times and distillation times are longer, but I save time distilling a 20 gallon ferment with a 15 g keg (2 strip fills and one spirit run) than you will with an 8g boiler (3 strip runs and 2 spirit runs) assuming you fill the boiler 2/3 full to avoid puking.

I have 8 gallon and 9 gallon ferments.

Realistically the 8 gallon still would need 4 strip runs to process 20 gallons of ferment unless you like to live on the edge of puking and having to run slower to avoid it.

To me it's all about how much finished product you want to get from each total batch. I'd want to end up with 5 to 6 liters (ie 1.5 gallons) to make it worthwhile and that to me works out to 13 to 16 gallon boiler and 40ish gallon ferments. That size still will run just fine on a 20 gallon propane tank with turkey fryer or on a single amp electrical circuit and single controller making it kind of the sweet spot for efficiency IMHO. With a bigger boiler you have the option of how much to fill it from 5 gallon or so up to 13 giving you a lot of freedom in what size batches you can use.

I never do stripping runs, I only do spirit runs.
I do my own sugar wash recipe and the taste is quit fine with my reflux column and the pot still I put a stick of cinnamon per 26 oz. (750ml) when I want to drink it straigt with no ice.
My taste buds seem not as refined as yours, I guess, but they're refined enough to taste the difference from the cheap commercial stuff.
I don't have loads of free time, since I must commute to work, so time is of the essence in my case.

Navan, you continue to confuse me. You say you never strip. Then you say you use both a reflux column and a pot still. A "pot still" is a boiler and a riser. If you have a reflux column on a boiler, you are not using a pot still. Your muddy use of terminology will confuse and mislead readers who are new to distillation.

[cayars]

Not sure where the 180 is. Just went back and read from the link and it's consistent with what's said here, at least the way I read it.

To me your post here reads as if many smaller runs give a better result than one big one, which is the opposite of what you say in the other thread.
However, I know you mean a big run is preferable. I havent got experience with it. My 30l still takes the 20l ferments I make in my 25l buckets. Save all

Love to know which post comes off that way as I'll edit it to make it less confusing. I'm definitely trying to say in my opinion that a larger boiler run is better (in both threads).

[navan4]

Maybe if you have a larger ferment, if not then it's longer to do a 12 gallon run than a 7 gallon run.

That's what he's saying with a larger ferment. Roughly speaking if you have 30 gallons fermented you'll end up with roughly 10 gallons or low wines and after doing the spirit run will end up with 2.5 to 3 gallons which you'll make cuts from leaving you 1 to 1.5 gallons to age. So to get "useful" amounts it does take decent size ferments and if you are going to do that the ideal is 3x your boiler fill size.

Sort of work the problem backwards and ask how much do I want to end up with and calculate back to ferment size and ideal boiler size to process that ferment the best way possible.

With a larger boiler your heatup times and distillation times are longer, but I save time distilling a 20 gallon ferment with a 15 g keg (2 strip fills and one spirit run) than you will with an 8g boiler (3 strip runs and 2 spirit runs) assuming you fill the boiler 2/3 full to avoid puking.

I have 8 gallon and 9 gallon ferments.

Realistically the 8 gallon still would need 4 strip runs to process 20 gallons of ferment unless you like to live on the edge of puking and having to run slower to avoid it.

To me it's all about how much finished product you want to get from each total batch. I'd want to end up with 5 to 6 liters (ie 1.5 gallons) to make it worthwhile and that to me works out to 13 to 16 gallon boiler and 40ish gallon ferments. That size still will run just fine on a 20 gallon propane tank with turkey fryer or on a single amp electrical circuit and single controller making it kind of the sweet spot for efficiency IMHO. With a bigger boiler you have the option of how much to fill it from 5 gallon or so up to 13 giving you a lot of freedom in what size batches you can use.

I never do stripping runs, I only do spirit runs.
I do my own sugar wash recipe and the taste is quit fine with my reflux column and the pot still I put a stick of cinnamon per 26 oz. (750ml) when I want to drink it straigt with no ice.
My taste buds seem not as refined as yours, I guess, but they're refined enough to taste the difference from the cheap commercial stuff.
I don't have loads of free time, since I must commute to work, so time is of the essence in my case.

Navan, you continue to confuse me. You say you never strip. Then you say you use both a reflux column and a pot still. A "pot still" is a boiler and a riser. If you have a reflux column on a boiler, you are not using a pot still. Your muddy use of terminology will confuse and mislead readers who are new to distillation.

Right now I have a dedicated reflux column for doing my neutrals.
Right now I have a dedicated pot still to do my spirits. (rum style)
I have bought some copper and components to built modular columns (CCVM, CM and pot still)
Once I receive the components, I will purchase a boiler to go with these columns.

Does this clear this up, for you?