First still = FREE still!

[desmo_2]

I was about to buy a Clawhammer Supply still that required assembly and was discussing it with a friend of mine. He said, "Don't buy one. I have one you can have." I was expecting a stainless pot with a worm, but heck no! He gave me this (I hope I have edited the image correctly):


It looks to be an Alchemade still, but I suspect it is an older one. He never got around to learning to use it, and got it from someone he knows who used it to make rum. I have already started cleaning it up using citric acid (info I learned here!), and found quite a bit of patina in the goose neck and worm, and the bottom of the pot is charred. Still, with a bit more work it will clean up nicely.

However, there are a couple of other things I am concerned about.
1) the thermometer hole is in the pot. I am reading (and seeing on new Alchemade stills) that the thermometer would be much more beneficial mounted in the onion head. Any suggestions on the best way to plug the old hole? And, how do I mount the thermometer once I drill a new one? The old hole had a rubber grommet to seal things up.

2) the connection from the goose neck to the worm...once I get them matched up, is paste enough to seal the connection?

3) the worm isn't wound perfectly and holds a bit of water. Not much...just a bit. If I roll the condenser around on its base a bit more water will spill out of the worm. Is this a concern? It seems to me the hearts will push out the heads, and the tails will push out the hearts.

4) There is no water inlet or outlet for the condenser. Not a big deal, I suppose, as the box of goods this all came with contained a small fountain pump and tubing, which I can use to circulate cooling water.

I am a complete noob and am still completely in the learning phase. I have quite a while to go before I start a real run, but just happened to stumble upon a still already.
Any coaching is MUCH appreciated!