Teetering on a purchase

[Sean_Jeremy]

I've been wanting to get into distilling for a long time, waffled on piecemealing something together, but am finally ready to step up to the plate.

Background: professional beer brewer for 10+ years with lots of interest and knowledge in spirits. Pipedream would be to find some commercial applications for the distillate, either as a flavor additive or maybe straight up bottled.
In that scenario there'd be a focus on fruit brandies, but I have some ideas for more esoteric spirits.

I feel like I wasted a lot of of time not getting a still years back.

Excited about this all, but also tend to have a hard time making purchases without feeling like I'm fully informed. Which is why I'm here after poking my head in and lurking for many years.

Got a 50L 3" potstill loaded in my cart over at OakStills....we will see.

[harold01]

Do it, you wont look back

[Salt Must Flow]

Excited about this all, but also tend to have a hard time making purchases without feeling like I'm fully informed.

If that's true, then ask questions here!

[MooseMan]

Got a 50L 3" potstill loaded in my cart over at OakStills....we will see.

Well, my opinion differs.

If all you want to buy is a 50l potty, get a keg and build your own.
That's the simplest thing to build.

You'll save a large chunk of money and gain the satisfaction that you built the still you are running.

[Swedish Pride]

If you want to buy one go for it, however a 2" will do what a 3" can, especially on a keg.
Might save some money towards a single malt.

I'd however share moosemans opinion, build one, you'll learn a new skill and have fun while you're at it.
Most of us never soldered anything before starting this hobby, I find it's arguably the most fun part of the hobby

[NormandieStill]

If you dont mind a bit of heavy lifting or can rig up some pulleys you can start with a 50l keg and a gas burner and modify nothing. Fill through the hole, fit your still head (a liebig is an easy build). Light the burner. Collect distillate.

Afterwards you can flip the keg upside down and solder or weld your 3" port on what was the bottom giving you a drain port. And eventually a fill port. (My 30l keg has a 2" output and a 4" fill /cleaning port). As and when you decide to go electric you can add a port to the side for a heating element.

Doing all this in one go might make more sense if you know exactly what you're after but working you way up to it lets you work out what's useful for you.

I run a 2" column on a 30l keg. I can see how 3" would be useful on 50l for speeding up run times but I've read lots of times that a 2" to 3" adaptor doesn't act as a choke point for running a packed column. All of which will leave you a lot of free cash for buying malt!

[Wildcats]

Welcome aboard man. Have a look at the construction site here. It'll give you some ideas on what other members are running. You'll save some money building your own still. But if you want to buy something to start with. Then by all means do so. Personally I'd build my own still if it were me. Whatever direction you take. I look forward to seeing what you do. Good luck. Have fun and stay safe.

[Sean_Jeremy]

Excited about this all, but also tend to have a hard time making purchases without feeling like I'm fully informed.

If that's true, then ask questions here!

I thought no questions in the welcome forums

[zach]

Welcome to the forum!

Fruit brandies are also a focus for me. Having a boiler that can run pomace is a requirement for good eau de vie. You need a jacketed boiler, or a steamer to effectively handle pomace. I have a keg for steam generator and a 88 liter milk can that I use for steam distillation.

I would make sure that your purchase can accommodate your future needs. I modified my milk can purchased on amazon for much less than half of what the oak stills wants for a 50l boiler.

[Sean_Jeremy]

I really would like to build one myself, but my worry is I'm a bit of an incompetent perfectionist. It's likely it'll take me a long time to actually build something functional, and I'll probably beat myself up over the end product.
I do enjoy forcing myself to learn new skills to save money, but the process isn't actually relaxing. I'll poke around the construction site. I don't have a welder so that'd be a significant purchase if I can't just solder everything. Keg market is also pretty dry in my area with half barrels going for around $100.

Excited to keep learning, but also itching to make something happen.

[zach]

With tri clamps and bulkhead fittings, you can do a lot with just a drill



There are some pre built kegs with the connections you need

https://www.gwkent.com/15-gallon-semi-k ... 0nEALw_wcB

[Sean_Jeremy]

Welcome to the forum!

Fruit brandies are also a focus for me. Having a boiler that can run pomace is a requirement for good eau de vie. You need a jacketed boiler, or a steamer to effectively handle pomace. I have a keg for steam generator and a 88 liter milk can that I use for steam distillation.

I would make sure that your purchase can accommodate your future needs. I modified my milk can purchased on amazon for much less than half of what the oak stills wants for a 50l boiler.

Could you share a little more detail about your boiler? The folks over on Reddit were saying similar things regarding pomace. Sounds like something I should definitely be considering.

[Sean_Jeremy]

With tri clamps and bulkhead fittings, you can do a lot with just a drill



There are some pre built kegs with the connections you need

https://www.gwkent.com/15-gallon-semi-k ... 0nEALw_wcB

That keg does look like a good option. I think I'm also a little spoiled from brewing for so long that I'd like everything to have nice welded TC fitting. We had some issues in the past using the pressure fit adapters, but I do understand in theory they could work.

[zach]

I'll make a post in the steam forum later today or tomorrow. I've already gone too far for the Welcome Center.

[zach]

Like learning to drive, a steam distiller is more advanced operation. I'd get a few pot still runs with beer in the boiler before I ventured into steaming.

[Sean_Jeremy]

I'll make a post in the steam forum later today or tomorrow. I've already gone too far for the Welcome Center.

[Yummyrum]

Welcome Sean
Looks like everyones forgotten the Rules .

If you have further questions , start a topic