Copper stills for making Rakija

Simple pot still distillation and construction with or without a thumper.

Moderator: Site Moderator

User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Harvest and ferment your plums and take it to the local distiller.

zach
Swill Maker
Posts: 387
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:42 am

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by zach »

Nice video! I see Romanian license plates and hear Hungarian language. So it's likely in Transylvanian region of Romania.

From what I understand, the large stripping still uses steam injection from the outer jacket into the inner chamber.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

zach wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:53 pm
From what I understand, the large stripping still uses steam injection from the outer jacket into the inner chamber.

That's similar to a still I made a while ago.

viewtopic.php?t=59138
User avatar
jonnys_spirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3629
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
Location: The Milky Way

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by jonnys_spirit »

Red onions, bacon, and plum brandy for breakfast! Moderation of course ;)
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:20 pm Red onions, bacon, and plum brandy for breakfast! Moderation of course ;)
If you stay up all night, it's Ok to drink during breakfast. :lol:
User avatar
EricTheRed
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1108
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:49 pm
Location: South Africa

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by EricTheRed »

shadylane wrote: Wed Feb 22, 2023 1:32 am
jonnys_spirit wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:20 pm Red onions, bacon, and plum brandy for breakfast! Moderation of course ;)
If you stay up all night, it's Ok to drink during breakfast. :lol:
if it is added to coffee, then it is just juice! :D
My fekking eyes are bleeding! Installed BS Filters - better! :D
Life has gotten interesting!
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Here's a pair of stills, both on carts.

User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

The good part ends around 6:30 nothing but talking after that.

User avatar
jonnys_spirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3629
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
Location: The Milky Way

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by jonnys_spirit »

Wow! They’ve got a couple ferments going :) if the bucket he’s using to fill the stripping still is about five gallons then it looks like theyre using somewhere in the range of 35-40g boiler to process all of those ferments.

Cheers,
-j
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Gotta love those water sealed lids and other fittings.
Interesting that there is no scorching even with all that chunky fruit wash.......bottom of the still boiler looks as clean as a whistle when he tips it.
Also interesting to see how many thermometers , PIDs and Parrots these people need to use.
User avatar
jonnys_spirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3629
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
Location: The Milky Way

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by jonnys_spirit »

I was going to comment on the thermometer too (his hand).

Cheers!
-j
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Saltbush Bill »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 5:05 am I was going to comment on the thermometer too (his hand).
Cheers!
-j
Lol.. yeah the only one you should need on a pot.
User avatar
LWTCS
Site Mod
Posts: 12836
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: North Palm Beach

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by LWTCS »

I'd be really interested to hear what goose has to say about how they are tending the heat.
Seems to me they have zero control by not using a starter fire to get their fuel nice cherry red first before they shovel into the fire box.
Though I do understand that maybe that's the only fuel available to them?

Edit: that's why I like ole Popcorn's cooker set up with an offset heat source. Big knarly flames never touch the bottom of the kettle.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Seems they might be just stripping Larry....no need for very precise heat control at that stage of the game..shoveling hot coals in would make for better heat control on a spirit run......same as cooking in cast iron over fire.
User avatar
LWTCS
Site Mod
Posts: 12836
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: North Palm Beach

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by LWTCS »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 5:22 am Might be just stripping Larry....no need for very precise heat control at that stage of the game..
Good point.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
User avatar
LWTCS
Site Mod
Posts: 12836
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: North Palm Beach

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by LWTCS »

LWTCS wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 5:19 am Edit: that's why I like ole Popcorn's cooker set up with an offset heat source. Big knarly flames never touch the bottom of the kettle.
Though not a mobile outfit, kinda the way this is engineered
Attachments
view 3.png
view 2.png
View 4.png
view 1.png
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 4:58 am Gotta love those water sealed lids and other fittings.
Interesting that there is no scorching even with all that chunky fruit wash.......bottom of the still boiler looks as clean as a whistle when he tips it.
Plus one on the water seals.
I also noticed all the pots are short and fat.
Here's another one with a witches tit to basically steam distill.

The anoying music ends @ 1:00 :lol:
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Short and fat = more bottom surface area= faster/ more fuel efficient heating = less wood chopping.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Here's more of a start to finish video. :ewink:
I wished I knew what their saying. :oops:

Bradster68
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2196
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:57 am
Location: Canada

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Bradster68 »

Not sure what it is. But I really am hooked watching these vids. 👍
I drink so much now,on the back of my license it's a list of organs I need.
Setsumi
Distiller
Posts: 1371
Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:23 pm
Location: Central South Africa

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Setsumi »

@Shady. Keep lookiing and posting.
Drinking and posting.....

I get thy are dinking prunes BUT what are they eating?
My first flute
My press
My twins
My controller
My wife tells me I fell from heaven covered in white. Why did they let me fall?
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Here's one in English.

User avatar
Chauncey
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:30 am
Location: NOLA

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Chauncey »

This is by far one of my favorite threads.
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
User avatar
Chauncey
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:30 am
Location: NOLA

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Chauncey »

"barbecue with brandy roasting is an optimal thing, but is good combination!"
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Wildcats
Distiller
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:12 pm
Location: Kentucky

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by Wildcats »

Thanks for the new videos. Love watching them. A bit different then the way we do it to say the least. Very enjoyable to watch. Thank you Shadys!!
zach
Swill Maker
Posts: 387
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:42 am

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by zach »

I always wondered how these copper stills are made.

I found this video of copper fabrication.



I purchased a roll of 16 oz copper at a price I couldn't refuse ($20) , so I've been studying fabrication techniques. I think I have enough copper to build a 10 or 15 gallon bain marie this winter.
zach
Swill Maker
Posts: 387
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:42 am

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by zach »

Here is a similar copper still from Germany

User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Copper stills for making Rakija

Post by shadylane »

Thanks zach
Post Reply