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The snake-oil merchants don't need to be legal, just hard to catch once you find out you've been had. By then it's embarrasing and it's mostly your fault!

stilldrinkin realmccoymoonshinestills rkhelp.com and bluegrassmoonshine.com are all SCAM artists. Do not buy anything from them, nor send them ANY money at ANY time.

H.

When I first started doing research on stills, I looked at "stilldrinkin" website and noticed how they bashed a still by another manufacturer, Mile High, showed a picture and said it produced terrible alcohol that even your car wouldn't like. My gereral impression was not very positive. I came across Mile High and they had a picture of one of "stilldrinkin"s still showing shoddy workmanship. In general, Mile High looked more like a professional business. In the end, I ended up going to http://www.moonshine-still.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow (Building a World Class Home Distillation Apparatus) and built an internal reflux still. I haven't used it yet, as I'm waiting on a burner.
This site is GREAT! I stayed up last night and read every post from every topic.
myerfire

Welcome to the forums, myerfire... Yeah, there is a lot of information here to read... Hope yu have better luck with your internal reflux still (Cooling Management) than others have had... It's a good first still but has its limitations...

Good luck, and good reading...

Rad,
Thanks for the "welcome". The site that I used to build my internal reflux still also had plans for a valved reflux still. If I have problems with coolant management, what are your thoughts on a valved reflux still? I looked at what you have built, but I would like an actual drawing to follow if I was to attempt building one like it.
Thanks,
myerfire

welcome again myerfire, you'll find many diagrams on how to build a valved reflux still here on the forum. there are two main types to consider, vapour management (VM) or liquid management (LM). i won't go into any detail here as i don't want to go off topic, but if you do a search on these, you will find plenty of info, diagrams and plans on both. also there is much debate on which method works best so just look up on both as much as possible and make your decision from there. if you get stuck at any point, there's plenty of us here willing to help.

if you've built an internal reflux still, then you allready have most of the parts you'll need to build a good fractioning column.

good luck with your build.

As stated under novice/mistakes thread, I am embarrassed to say I am the unfortunate owner of a stilldrinkin still. My order delivery started from 1 to 2weeks, eventually recieving it 4 months later. Hey I can understand supply/back order parts issues, but what I received was not worth the wait or anywhere close to their self-hype. I've got cleaner welds on my beer kettles. Boiler lid was the cheapest bowl they could find and received dented, I wasn't impressed with the galvenized floor flange use to connect column and the column seal was crap (partially complete). I wound up replacing the seal with a new cork seal and hi-temp food grade sealant (due to bowl damage for complete seal). The worse part of that process was having to drill out two of the mounting bolts because the nuts wouldn't come off (couldn't get a cutter on them). Wound up replacing all 4 bolts and nuts (SS). Had a weld break on a column fitting, did a quick fix with speed tape and metal tape. Design flaws are obvious, boiler lid hardware is not stainless, bolts are already corroding, column is not wide enough to allow sufficient packing (although I did work/utilize a SS scrubber to make it work). I have access to a machine and welding shop and will be making modifications. In the near future I will build a new one from scratch, I have four 15 gal keg boilers on hand I'm sure one will be willing to make the sacrifice, plus a 220v outlet with nothing to do. My options are plentiful. Any input as to whether go with packings or rashig rings (thinking of making them out of copper and making a SS column).

Lagermand, I'm still relatively new at this, but my VM reflux column has a combination of 2/3 rashig rings and 1/3 copper mesh. As we speak, I'm enjoying a vodka martina that I would put up against a Grey Goose martini any time. I had considered one of the stilldrinkin still until I came across this forum. This forum is a great source of info.
myerfire.

is this the same bunch of crooks ? I think maybe it is.
http://stillplans.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Squint

yep sure is squint.... evil sons o bitches, so now they've moved onto just selling plans for the crappy attempts at stills... im sure they'll be just as high quality...hopefully they'll get their come upance one of these days

Yeah, sure sounds like the same old story... Information (read BS) overload... Wonder where the pictures of "Jeff" and "Susan" came from... Sure seems odd that they both included pictures and their "testimonials" sound like they were written by the same person... Kinda makes you say "Hmmm"...

One more name to add to the list: Ebay user nnarrin


http://cgi.ebay.com/5-Premium-Moonshine ... 911.c0.m14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Same turkeys.

Someone just posted of buy an anaconda still of an ebay person. I am 95% sure the 'anaconda' was one of these joker's models.

H.

hahahaha!

so glad to run across this topic

I bought my first still from the fine folks at stilldrinkin.com

granted I understand that if they're backed up with work it would take a while to receive a still, nevertheless I hated waiting, and only later after more research and what not did I realize I could've built a still at least as good as theirs for much cheaper

I waited patiently, tried to put it out of my mind, at one point thought maybe they were taking advantage, weren't ever gonna send it, but I always want to believe in the positive side of life, eventually I got it after 10 weeks of waiting, he never promised much to me, just gave an estimated time, definitely turned out to be a lot longer than he thought, but at least I got it

but I can agree with everyone here that it would be quite easy to build your own still, a better still, for much less money and hassle, it's really a poorly designed still, cheaply made etc.

they do a good job of convincing novices that it's the best thing money can buy-sheeeeeeeeeit!

Yet another one

I DIDNT READall of the posts in this thread but after much research and reading i would say that the claims made by those folks at still drinkin are mostly untrue.

Need a good laugh take a look at yet another web site from stilldrinkin. But go to http://www.google.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow and click on the sponsored one. Thy get charged for each click turbostomper.com

Love the little inspirational speech... And the claims of supernatural capabilities... Just placed my order...

Paul wrote:Get the cleanest, clearest hooch ever made! It will ball in a jar for over 20 seconds! No one has ever seen hooch this clean!

just been browsin over the new updated stilldrinkin.com site. it just gets funnier and funnier, check out the copper PLATED flanges on the supplies page, the TRUTH BE TOLD section saying the brewhaus stills produce foul spirits and All Hooch You Make will Taste Like Crap!. and my personal favourite, the testamonial from "randy from down south", might not be half as funny except that the picture shows us that randy is a COP.also the statement that "Randy Is Now Making PERFECT, WORD CLASS HOOCH" cracked me up.

gotta hand it to them, absolute pr**** they may be, but they know how to do comedy very well.

check out http://stillplans.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow, mr paul cavalloro even includes a written confession that he's been making spirits since the 70's. normally i'm against distillers getting busted, but wouldn't it be funny if they could use that against him.

scotty wrote:I DIDNT READall of the posts in this thread but after much research and reading i would say that the claims made by those folks at still drinkin are mostly untrue.

I think you may be correct there, scotty.

blanik

GOT ME ,,, I didnt do my homework on this company and just bought a monster still from them ,I was excited to get it and start , I got it in a weeks time and was shocked when I opened the paper to see the cheap workmanship on this thing ,I thought it was just me and I had a decent still ,I had ordered a combo kit with some yeast , fermenter and a carbon filter system . well I didnt get any of the combo and wasnt to worried I called them up and the guy treated me like I was full of sh*t ,well after he looked through the paper work he realized his "workers" gave out the wrong orders to the wrong people (so he claims) . I then got the fermenter in the mail and opened the wrapping to find a filthy blue barrel with grease finger prints all over it ,it had white labels on the side that were peeled off ,I opened the barrel and it still had some syrup in it ,I called about it and he said they dont have time to clean these things and I should ,I was getting pissed at this point and started to feel I was had . I then put together my still and only had one piece of copper packing so I called back ,now rocky was telling me his "workers" couldnt have forgot this and I was trying to get over on him ,I was heated and told him that it wasnt there and I would buy one if I had to ,I just wanted to use my xmas gft from my wife ,He said he would send it .I then went online and did a search and found this thread so I decided I had enough and called him and asked for a refund ,well he yelled at me for a second and I told him I would cover the shipping back and he could just go ripp off someone else and we would be done with each other ,well he hung up on me and wont pick up the phone anymore . I just called the cc company and stopped the payment and I am going to contact the BBB on monday when they open . I called and left him a message informing him of this and left my number ,lets see if he cls back .

Welcome catfish. Wish you woulda found this thread b4 sending any money to this (these) crooks.

H.

Now this is what you should be expecting from your hard earned money catfish.

And I recon it would be cheaper.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 94&start=0

Sorry you got hit but glad this will help you find your way.

Also forgot to mention previously that there surely would be a question mark as to weather or not that condenser could keep up with your boiler on full on strip run.

Sorry you got burned, catfish, hope you get your cash back. At least you found the hobby forums, plenty of good info and help here if you want to do it properly, and we don't charge a cent.

Gotta admit I am a little amazed that those thieving scum are still in business.

HookLine wrote:Gotta admit I am a little amazed that those thieving scum are still in business.

It is really about time that a couple good ole boys drive up and give these vermin a welcome thump(er)

H.

Well boys, I guess I should of found this website before I ordered from Paul at turbostomper.com The website is sure catchy and looks like such a great deal. I couldn't wait, but now I'm still waiting. Get nothing but excuses and a different excuse every time. Sure took the wind out of my sails when I read this thread. His ebay feedback is 100%, I did check that before I ordered. Then after I got empty promises, I found this site. He does answer his phone, I will give him that. Just about every time too. Maybe he is just real busy and behind, I don't know, but I could of at least got an email confirmation or some kind of contact after I purchaced it. All I want to do is relax and enjoy a still. I ordered on the 26th of Dec.

It really steams me to hear about people gettin burned by cons like that. I had to check his website and man, it struck me like a BAD used car salesman. (No offense to you used car salesmen. ) He seems to like blowin his own horn a lot, and whats up with the the half nekked model? Is that really necessary?

Yairrrrs Vic, I agree. If ya gonna use models, why go half way.

blanik

got me two, here is some post from pauls new support forum from his new website turbostomper.com he is still up to his same tricks!

Re: help from mobie
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2010, 03:10:47 AM » Quote

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well its been 1.5 mo. now, mobie [DICK] 3 to 5 dayes huh! I tell you what. ive been nothing but nice 2 u & ur sidekick brian. and u say im busting ur balls! you have 7 dayes to produce, buddy, something i.e. product, refund, tracking # phuck a phone call w honesty might work. or i will be forced to report u to the better bus. b., credit card co. e bay, etc. not to mention [busting ur balls ] on every site i can find! all i asked for was an address to pick up my parts and got a cussing and hung up on.... well!!!!!!!!!!!1 RUSTY IN ROSWELL. 2-21-10

Posts: 14


Re: I finally had communication with Paul about my still.....WoooHoooo
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2010, 07:16:44 PM » Quote

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I finally got it in the mail, everything is covered in dog hair and its all greasy...lol its all there though. The gasket mat. and clamps he gives for sealing the lid of the boiler is about a joke. The thing he uses to connect the copper pipe to the lid IS NOT COPPER OR STAINLESS, its painted a copper color and its rusting and all I did is run water through it, hes gonna get some one killed with this crap. There will be NO drinking this crap till I get a stainless preasure cooker and just mount it through the lid. To everyone that bought somthing from PAUL look it over real good and make sure its all copper or stainless....its your life..