Building my first ever distiller

[distillingwisdom]

Hello
I am fermenting batches for almost 2 years. But i am brand new to distilling. After few successful batches of all grain beer i wanna take it to the next level. I want to make a whisky now. I ve read a lot of threads here and videos on YouTube about the so called pressure cooker setup for beginners. I realise thats not a safe setup overall. SO i am sharing my upcoming project here. End goal is to build a system thats safe,effective and good for a beginner like me to learn. Last but not the least it should deliver a good product at the end. So i stay motivated and distilling stays with me lol.
Correct me where i am wrong and kindly so answer the few questions i have.
Project details
It will be a 1 large 11 liter stainless steel cooking pot with two holes on top of it using a drill machine. 1 hole for a copper tube and the other will be for fixing a thermometer for observing a temperature control. I am avoiding a aluminium and plastics overall. Instead of stainless steel should cast iron also work? And should i go to a welder to weld the copper unions into the lid or i should use a cold weld or epoxy? The condenser will be another cooking pot and two holes below. One for receiving the distillate and the other will be a water outlet. I will pour icy water from the top of the condenser. The water outlet will be controlled by a valve and some heat resistant good quality pipe. What should be the diameter and length of my copper coil? The heat source is gas stove. I will seal the heat pot with flour paste and will avoid any kind of rubber and teflon. Your valuable advice is welcomed..

[Wildcats]

Under no circumstances should a boiler for distillation be made out of cast iron. Copper or stainless steel are what you need. Teflon is acceptable for sealing. Using Ice water for your condenser is not recommended either.
Before you build a still. I suggest you do more research. The fact that you're even asking if it's ok to use cast iron for a boiler..... tells me you've done absolutely no research. Good luck. STAY SAFE

[Yummyrum]

No to the epoxy . It is as bad as plastics and rubbers .

The condenser coil should be a minimum of 1/2” and around 1meter long should be able to cope with most stove tops .
You should be able to find 1/2” compression fittings to attach to your lid . Stainless fittings are best but Lead free brass should be OK .

Best to avoid ice . Best to run cool water into bottom of flake and overflow out another pipe at the top .adjust coolant flow so distillate is cool to warm . Water at top of flake will be very hot .

[Swedish Pride]

11l still gets old quick, speaking from experience.

If you can get a hold of a keg that should serve you really well, should be able to keep up with most house holds needs

[Salt Must Flow]

1 hole for a copper tube and the other will be for fixing a thermometer for observing a temperature control.

You can use it to 'observe' temperature, but you will not be controlling the temp at all.

There are bulkhead fittings (weldless fittings) that can be used, but pay close attention to what the gasket or o-ring is made of.

[distillingwisdom]

Using Ice water for your condenser is not recommended either.

Why not to use icy water?

[distillingwisdom]

Best to avoid ice . Best to run cool water into bottom of flake and overflow out another pipe at the top .adjust coolant flow so distillate is cool to warm . Water at top of flake will be very hot .

Like this?

[Wildcats]

Using Ice water for your condenser is not recommended either.

Why not to use icy water?

Ice water in a flake stand (worm condenser) will shock the vapor. You want a temperature graduation. Not ice cold water. Most use tap water that is normally about 70f, letting the water gradually heat up as the run progresses. If the water in my 30gal barrel gets too hot during a run. I let the output from my condenser drain outside the barrel and add fresh cooler water.
When I first started distilling and didn't know any better ( before I found this site) I'd put Ice in my flake stand. It would make my condenser "Huff" and vapor would pass by without getting condensed. I don't know how to explain it any better than that. Maybe some of the more experienced members will add to what I'm saying. There is definitely science behind it. I just know that it's not recommended using Ice water. So I don't.

[distillingwisdom]

Using Ice water for your condenser is not recommended either.

Why not to use icy water?

Ice water in a flake stand (worm condenser) will shock the vapor. You want a temperature graduation. Not ice cold water. Most use tap water that is normally about 70f, letting the water gradually heat up as the run progresses. If the water in my 30gal barrel gets too hot during a run. I let the output from my condenser drain outside the barrel and add fresh cooler water.
When I first started distilling and didn't know any better ( before I found this site) I'd put Ice in my flake stand. It would make my condenser "Huff" and vapor would pass by without getting condensed. I don't know how to explain it any better than that. Maybe some of the more experienced members will add to what I'm saying. There is definitely science behind it. I just know that it's not recommended using Ice water. So I don't.

Well with coming winter months.Tap water should work like a charm where i live.

[jonnys_spirit]

I'd recommend building a liebig condenser - 3/4" water jacket over 1/2" . You can get the parts @ your local HD or similar and they work well.

You'll also want a power controller of some sort to drive your boiler. You can't use a thermostat controlled hotplate to good effect. You could use gas.

11l boiler is going to produce about 1/2 gallon @ approximately 60%abv after cuts on a spirit run. You'd want to ferment about a 30liter batch to do three strips and a spirit run on that size boiler.

Recommend spending some time researching around here and diving down the rabbit hole until your eyes bleed rather than elsewhere on the web until you get your stillin' wits about you

Cheers!
-jonny

[Yummyrum]

Best to avoid ice . Best to run cool water into bottom of flake and overflow out another pipe at the top .adjust coolant flow so distillate is cool to warm . Water at top of flake will be very hot .

Like this?

YesSir

But … i agree with Jonny .
Iff’n you are a
Capable fella , making yourself a Liebig is a better option . Worm in flake work , but Liebig takes up way less space and uses …..overall…. Less water .

1 metre copper coiled up as worm or with a jacket over it as in Liebig will ultimately do the same job at the end of the day .

Booze at spout tastes the same .

[distillingwisdom]

I'd recommend building a liebig condenser - 3/4" water jacket over 1/2" . You can get the parts @ your local HD or similar and they work well.

You'll also want a power controller of some sort to drive your boiler. You can't use a thermostat controlled hotplate to good effect. You could use gas.

11l boiler is going to produce about 1/2 gallon @ approximately 60%abv after cuts on a spirit run. You'd want to ferment about a 30liter batch to do three strips and a spirit run on that size boiler.

Recommend spending some time researching around here and diving down the rabbit hole until your eyes bleed rather than elsewhere on the web until you get your stillin' wits about you

Cheers!
-jonny

Well for a noob like me liebig condenser is a bit complicated stuff specially finding that size of copper here and running a constant cold water flow through the condenser. Finding copper tubes to make a worm condenser is way easier and manageable for me.
If i aim for a 46% abv spirit at the end then how much 11 litres boiler will give me?

[Yummyrum]

If i aim for a 46% abv spirit at the end then how much 11 litres boiler will give me?

There is no simple answer to that question .

Are you intending to simply do a single distillation on your fermentation ( called a one and done) or the preferred multiple stripping runs and combine for a spirit run ?

What is the ABV of the fermentation ?
How many stripping runs will you do ? How full willnyiu fill the boiler ?
What cuts will you make ?
Will you dilute the final cut down to 46% or are you hoping to magically end up with that as a desired target?

Not being an arse , just explaining why a simple answer can’t be supplied , however , you may get several scenarios that you can scale to your size setup

[Bee]

If i aim for a 46% abv spirit at the end then how much 11 litres boiler will give me?

It will give you ~ 1 3/4L @ ~ 46% run average. That will be spread out from heads to tails and you might get 1/2L of drinkable hearts.

I don't think you understand this well enough. Your average %ABV isn't just determined by what comes off the spout, it's determined by your input ABV, how deep you go into the tails, if you do a strip & a spirit run, how you blend the product, the equipment you use to distill, and how you run that equipment. I wouldn't so much target an ABV, I'd try to get the best product using what I have, whatever that ABV turns out to be.

11 L to me wouldn't be worth the hassle.

[jonnys_spirit]

If i aim for a 46% abv spirit at the end then how much 11 litres boiler will give me?

It will give you ~ 1 3/4L @ ~ 46% run average. That will be spread out from heads to tails and you might get 1/2L of drinkable hearts.

I don't think you understand this well enough. Your average %ABV isn't just determined by what comes off the spout, it's determined by your input ABV, how deep you go into the tails, if you do a strip & a spirit run, how you blend the product, the equipment you use to distill, and how you run that equipment. I wouldn't so much target an ABV, I'd try to get the best product using what I have, whatever that ABV turns out to be.

11 L to me wouldn't be worth the hassle.

I have a 10l still for small batches with limited ingredients and maceration/infusion style runs. I consistently yield about 1/2 gallon of hearts @ about 60%abv if I charge it with low wines around 30%abv.

Cheers,
jonny

[distillingwisdom]

1 hole for a copper tube and the other will be for fixing a thermometer for observing a temperature control.

You can use it to 'observe' temperature, but you will not be controlling the temp at all.

There are bulkhead fittings (weldless fittings) that can be used, but pay close attention to what the gasket or o-ring is made of.

how do you guys solder it?

[Wildcats]

viewtopic.php?t=4052 here is just one of many threads on soldering. I was able to find this by the search function.

Get you a mapp torch and some flux and silver solder, and practice on a few fittings. It's not that hard. Good luck.

[Saltbush Bill]

two holes on top of it using a drill machine. 1 hole for a copper tube and the other will be for fixing a thermometer for observing a temperature control.

Save your self some soldering, hole drilling ,money, time and energy , you don't need a thermometer hole because you don't need a thermometer.
Simple fact is that you cant control your boiler contents temperature.
That is one of those facts that newbs have trouble understanding at times. You control energy input not temp when distilling.
Sorting what you want to keep from what you don't is done by taste and smell , not by temp.
Reading the following may help http://www.kelleybarts.com/PhotoXfer/Re ... gMyth.html

[Yummyrum]

I agree with Salty .
All the Pot stills you see for sale all have a thermometer on them because it makes them look cool . But they are of no actual use when running your still .
Watching how fast the distillate comes out is what is important .

[Bee]

11 L to me wouldn't be worth the hassle.

I have a 10l still for small batches with limited ingredients and maceration/infusion style runs. I consistently yield about 1/2 gallon of hearts @ about 60%abv if I charge it with low wines around 30%abv.

Cheers,
jonny

Yes, if you started with a lot more than 11l of wash.

[jonnys_spirit]

11 L to me wouldn't be worth the hassle.

I have a 10l still for small batches with limited ingredients and maceration/infusion style runs. I consistently yield about 1/2 gallon of hearts @ about 60%abv if I charge it with low wines around 30%abv.

Cheers,
jonny

Yes, if you started with a lot more than 11l of wash.

It would take approximately 30l of wash to get about 10l of low wines.

Cheers,
j