Page 2 of 2
Re: Mini still build - copper & stainless
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 8:16 am
by Rusty Ole Bucket
That's a cool little set up, Booze Pipe.
Rusty
Re: Mini still build - copper & stainless
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 9:28 am
by OtisT
Agree with Mooseman, that more insulation is about all you can do to increase output, other than getting a more powerful element. Nothing wrong with the design other than a really high mass.
The high mass of your boiler will mean that output will be slower up front but will increase over the run as the metal heats up. Of course production slows slightly over the run, so you may not notice.
I personally don’t mind the slower run at 400-500w. I believe the power level for a run should be relative to the boiler charge volume to prevent excessive smearing, so smaller volume runs means a slower production rate. I know gin runs are made with a pre-cut spirit, but I can still pull a small fores shot, and I get a hint of tails toward the end if I let it run long enough. Yes, it can all be blended and you may not notice in a final product but if I have a chance to clean something up, I will.
Re: Mini still build - copper & stainless
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 3:17 pm
by The Booze Pipe
Great thanks for the input fellas! I have some pipe insulation on hand, I'll get to cutting and taping...
Re: Mini still build - copper & stainless
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 3:19 pm
by The Booze Pipe
Rusty Ole Bucket wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 8:16 am
That's a cool little set up, Booze Pipe.
Rusty
Thanks I appreciate that. It's what happens when you have nothing else going on... I went full-circle in my home distilling career. I started with a one-liter still, now I have an updated version of that!
I'm looking forward to doing some test batches of things like gin and other flavored spirits such as absinthe! It's hard to do it in my current spirit still because I'd have to make a minimum 8 gallon batch... that's too much absinthe...
Re: Mini still build - copper & stainless
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 4:22 pm
by Rusty Ole Bucket
The Booze Pipe wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 3:19 pm
Rusty Ole Bucket wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 8:16 am
That's a cool little set up, Booze Pipe.
Rusty
Thanks I appreciate that. It's what happens when you have nothing else going on... I went full-circle in my home distilling career. I started with a one-liter still, now I have an updated version of that!
I'm looking forward to doing some test batches of things like gin and other flavored spirits such as absinthe! It's hard to do it in my current spirit still because I'd have to make a minimum 8 gallon batch... that's too much absinthe...
That is a lot of absinthe! I can't wait to see what you come up with using it.
Rusty