My first semi homemade still

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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Bsjapost
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My first semi homemade still

Post by Bsjapost »

16518.jpeg
Well, my crack at it. Actually found a site to sell me a 2.5 gallon keg with sankey. Ran 1 run through, after cleaning, and it worked.
Flavor is a little hotter, feels like sugar burn, then when ran without the thumper.
Maybe an 8 gallon pot the cuts are harder with a thumper.

But knowing I built this and it works just reinforces the hobby.
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still_stirrin
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Re: My first semi homemade still

Post by still_stirrin »

Your product condenser looks too short, especially when using a thumper, when you’ll be pushing the boiler harder than without. Double, or triple the water jacket length for safety’s sake and operational flexibility. It shouldn’t be a problem for you as you obviously knowhow to work with (solder) copper.
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My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
Bsjapost
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Re: My first semi homemade still

Post by Bsjapost »

Good point, I went with a 1 inch jacket over a half inch pipe hoping the added volume of cold water would make up for the shorter length.
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still_stirrin
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Re: My first semi homemade still

Post by still_stirrin »

Bsjapost wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 5:45 am Good point, I went with a 1 inch jacket over a half inch pipe hoping the added volume of cold water would make up for the shorter length.
But the heat capacity of water is sufficiently high that you won’t need a large volume of water...rather you’ll need a greater surface area between the vapor and water jacket to conduct the heat through. Also, dwell time...the time the vapor contacts the conducting surface...matters too for a condenser. So, a longer vapor tube in the water jacket is beneficial for efficient heat transfer.
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
Bsjapost
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Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:33 pm

Re: My first semi homemade still

Post by Bsjapost »

Advice taken. Reply was trying to justify my design. I see the error in it.
But a question, is that why the distillate taste, or rather feels, hotter than when ran minus the thumper?
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still_stirrin
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Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:01 am
Location: where the buffalo roam, and the deer & antelope play

Re: My first semi homemade still

Post by still_stirrin »

Smearing. The “hot mouth” sensation is heads in your product. You’re running the still too fast to get adequate separation of the fractions. And, your recipe and ferment can contribute to increased volatiles in the product as well.
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
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