Long time lurker but decided to register as I've started to actually build my still. Watched a fair bit of StillIt so probably not very surprising that I am shooting for a modular CCVM. Jessie makes some convincing arguments and I have strong interests in rums, whiskeys, and gins so it seemed efficient to be able to switch between pot and reflux. And despite it being completely legal here, I'm not wealthy enough to kit myself out with the premade kits. Building this comes in well under the cost of a t500 setup and I like to learn new things.
Have most of the bits prepped to go but a few still on the way. Thinking 500mm + 700mm of 80mm diameter copper column (~1.8mm thick), 50L Keg w electric element (currently have a 3KW rescue from a hot water cylinder), and going to give building a shotgun condenser a go (probably baffled, more because it is interesting to me to build rather than because it is necessary). Access to a well supplied workshop and Tig is balanced out by me not having a clue about welding, brazing or really any metalwork more advanced than grinding or drilling holes. We. shall. see.
Issues I've encountered so far are the column copper I have purchased has a ding in it
(no idea if this is actually a problem? Maybe more surface area for sulfy culling?) and the copper for the condenser, while free (woo!), was 2.5 inch for the casing and 0.5 inch for the tubing - so the 500mm SGun is going to be even more of a complete overkill than it would have been at 2inches. Can't complain with free though, particularly given the cost of living miles away from any decent bulk shipping spots.Anyway cheers for all the (unwitting?) advice and info so far from my lurking and happy distilling all!
