Polish Browin 30L pot still

[rakijamaker]

Before I get started: I'm living in Europe, in a country where I can't legally obtain a still.I have 2 options: Building my own or buying one from abroad. The first option doesn't really make sense for me, as buying the parts for a still here would cost me more than buying one from a foreign country. I have a lot of ties to Eastern Europe, where you can find lots of different stills that are fairly cheap. I mainly want to distill whiskey and fruit mashes (apples, plums, etc.).

I got interested in this particular still from Poland (link only shows pictures): https://imgur.com/a/LsT7T1Q





1. Do you think it has adequate cooling? The little pipe that leads to the condenser is 8mm, which is almost the 3/8'' that's advised here.

2. What I've actually been asking myself: What would be the easiest way to add a gin basket/slobber box to this (I want to add fruits)? I thought about adding another pipe spool, mounted with tri-clamps, and a small, round metal mesh to prevent the fruits from escaping. I was concerned though, that this could block the column.

[Chauncey]

Personally I think you could construct a better still from triclover parts. That thing is boo boo.

[Stilljoy McFlavour]

I would not recommend; the steel of the pot is very thin and the lid barely holds a culumn (I have the same pot and degraded it to a fermenter). On the plus side, you can heat it with induction, gas, ceramic or whatever tickles your pickle. All gaskets must be replaced (silicon, not PTFE). As for the column itself; I am too unexperienced to warrant an opinion, others may be more qualified. Considering that you wish to add a gin-basket using tri-clamps, for which you would require additional adapters, you're probably better off increasing your budget slightly and looking somewhere else.

[Saltbush Bill]

Pretty much pieces of rubbish from what I have seen and read.

[Yummyrum]

Personally I think you could construct a better still from triclover parts. That thing is boo boo.

Agree
Check this topic out .
viewtopic.php?p=7417604#p7417604

A much more flexible solution that you can add too .
Kimbodius can can configure it as a Pot still for stripping or making flavoured spirit like Rum , whisky or Schapps Brandy etc , as a reflux still to make Vodka or Nuetral as a base for Gin and also can add a Gin basket for infusions .

[rakijamaker]

Thank you very much guys! My plan B was actually a setup like the one from Kimbodius - would cost me around 235€ all together. I found another polish manufacturer who sells the exact setup that I'd like (50L) - even with copper pipes and a copper cooler - for 260€.

Only downside is that it's less modular as the pipe size is not one of the standard steel pipe spool's on Aliexpress. Inner diameter is 54mm, I'll find out the extension flange's diameter.

[cob]

Thank you very much guys! My plan B was actually a setup like the one from Kimbodius - would cost me around 235€ all together. I found another polish manufacturer who sells the exact setup that I'd like (50L) - even with copper pipes and a copper cooler - for 260€.

Only downside is that it's less modular as the pipe size is not one of the standard steel pipe spool's on Aliexpress. Inner diameter is 54mm, I'll find out the extension flange's diameter.

You can tell that seller is CLUELESS because the exit on the condenser points straight up. Run like hell.

Keep looking there must be decent sellers somewhere. Modular tri-clamp is easiest to work with.

[The Baker]

You can tell that seller is CLUELESS because the exit on the condenser points straight up. Run like hell.

You don't really need to run.
Modify it.
Say, cut it fairly short and solder on a copper bend, 22.5 degrees or even 45 degrees.
A female fitting so it will slide on.
Facing downward so the hose you attach does not bend and cut off the water flow.

Geoff

[rakijamaker]

You can tell that seller is CLUELESS because the exit on the condenser points straight up. Run like hell.

You don't really need to run.
Modify it.
Say, cut it fairly short and solder on a copper bend, 22.5 degrees or even 45 degrees.
A female fitting so it will slide on.
Facing downward so the hose you attach does not bend and cut off the water flow.

Geoff

Thank you very much again! This has been very helpful. I have thought a lot about the whole subject and finally decided to upgrade my current still. I have a 20L Vevor, changed the gaskets already, bought it quite some time ago before researching the topic here on the forum.

I think that's what makes the most sense for me although I didn't want to build my own still at first. I'd like to use copper though and tri-clamp pipes, although they're commonly used in HD, are mostly made out of stainless.

My plan is to build a big copper worm (15mm x 5m copper tube) which I can also use later, after I replaced the current stockpot-boiler by a better and bigger one (50L). I wanna connect it with a screw fitting (so that I can always disassemble it), seal it with PTFE and/or paste. Maybe I could use the current one (20L) as a thumper.

What do y'all think?

[The Baker]

I had my plumber make a copper worm.
Needed it because there was no reticulated water supply on the farm.
I had used a tiny petrol ('gasoline') pump with a liebig condenser but the engine died...

I was not satisfied it ran downward all the way so tried to improve it.
It was not easy and I am not really happy about it.

So I guess it depends if you (or your friends) are good metalworkers.

Not very handy Geoff

[rakijamaker]

Thanks Geoff!

Personally I think you could construct a better still from triclover parts. That thing is boo boo.

Agree
Check this topic out .
viewtopic.php?p=7417604#p7417604

A much more flexible solution that you can add too .
Kimbodius can can configure it as a Pot still for stripping or making flavoured spirit like Rum , whisky or Schapps Brandy etc , as a reflux still to make Vodka or Nuetral as a base for Gin and also can add a Gin basket for infusions .

The only "issue" I see here is that only the cooler is made from copper. My question is, how important is copper according to you? Many different opinions here on the forums.

I still found this (on Aliexpress):

Option no. 1: Basic CM setup, all stainless, copper packing. Can also be used in pot still mode. Total cost: 260€ (including 50L ss stockpot)

Option no. 2: Basic copper pot still setup with same 50l stainless stockpot. Total cost: 400€ - but at least the shotgun condenser and the riser would be made from copper.
Option no.2 - alternative: I could also take a copper Liebig condenser from that polish manufacturer. It's already attached to two spool pipes so that I could directly connect it to a copper riser.

I mainly wanna make whisky & brandy. Maybe sometimes a little neutral - but that's definetely less of a priority. Nevertheless I think it's good to keep your options open.

So is there really a big difference between a stainless setup packed with copper and a copper setup (given that the pot would be from ss anyway)?

[Saltbush Bill]

The one option of all of them that I would avoid, is the Polish one at the top.
Those things dangling between the stills column and the condenser are marketed as "Purifiers" from what I I have read and seen.
Ive yet to see any experienced distiller who can come up with reason for them being there , or an good explanation of what they really do.
Personally I think they are just added marketing bling, that serve no purpose but to catch unwary buyers.
If you were happy with a pot still I would go for the copper still on the beer keg boiler.......as I see things , it only has one minor fault , that is the water outlet on the condenser pointing upwards.
Two way, to fix that problem are a simple modification to make it point at the ground, or to have any hose that connects to that outlet supported in a way that stops it kinking once the hose gets warm/hot.