Home Distiller

Can you give us a better description of the smell?, lots of things smell bad. What did you the for the sac run?.

A stomach wrenching chemically nastiness. All together very unpleasant and im unwilling to put a sipping wash trough in case it picks up bad flavours. Ill give a better description if needed when im home and able to sniff it
i used a fruit cider that i didn’t fancy drinking.

Throw a cheap wash together high gravity against most advice for cleaning, let the alcohol clean it out for ya. Heads and fores should clean it up. My .02$

plug the holes and fill it with 7% pickling vinegar. wait 12 hours. it will clean the copper off of the copper. wipe down what you can with a rag and flush with *lots* of water. season with the high abv wash recommended ^^^
that would give me the confidence to run a sippin' wash.

Can you be more specific as to your extensive cleaning runs?

I started off with a water run for about 30 mins to check to make sure every thing way safe (checking with a mirror).
ran a mix of 5l of vinegar and 10l of water steaming for 30 mins and then pulled through a few pints.
ran a mix of old strong cider and water through.
at this point I was unimpressed by the smell.
soaked in a mixture of 4l of vinegar water amount unknown. out side sure looks shiny . inside still unplesent, better but unplesent.

haven't had anymore runs as of yet as im planning to have another soak before.

eck

after many runs of quality likker...i would not describe the scent of the boiler or column as "pleasant"

HDNB wrote:after many runs of quality likker...i would not describe the scent of the boiler or column as "pleasant"

That patina'd copper *twang*.

tp (and a bent nose)

T-Pee wrote:

HDNB wrote:after many runs of quality likker...i would not describe the scent of the boiler or column as "pleasant"

That patina'd copper *twang*.

tp (and a bent nose)

TP's probably right here, but I like the smell of steamy copper and backset! Your results may vary.

thanks for all the advice guys. think ill give it one more soak and batch of runs then just go with it till i make something tasty.

eck

so im thinking of rebuilding the still reasons for this are

• A. to save space. the condenser is 1m long so it sticks out a fair bit.
• B. the circled part has started to bend. see bellow.
• C. i want to add the digital parrot

im trying to decide on a design these are some mock ups ive come up with. i will remain using the 15mm condenser but will change the fittings its a bit off a pain to set up/break down. i have some left over 54mm, 35mm copper pipe. i cant decide where to put the step downs. going from 54mm-35mm-15mm i quite like the idea of having as much as i can 54mm.

Cool drawings !!! Can't wait to see witch one you build

Woo Tech I recommend you using these components these are what I plan on using with 240 vac 5500 W element.
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=332" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Woo, consider putting a brace from your column to condenser (on a diagonal). Something that either clamps or is permanent. This will help keep it from bending from the weight of your leibig, especially filled with water. Kinda like the brace you see on the bigger caps on pot stills from the lyne to the cap.

ericrichards420 wrote:Woo Tech I recommend you using these components these are what I plan on using with 240 vac 5500 W element.
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=332" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

already have a controller. just looking to rebuild the column.

moosemilk wrote:Woo, consider putting a brace from your column to condenser (on a diagonal). Something that either clamps or is permanent. This will help keep it from bending from the weight of your leibig, especially filled with water. Kinda like the brace you see on the bigger caps on pot stills from the lyne to the cap.

i thought about that but i figger 54/35 copper pipe should be strong enough to hold the leibig. the 15mm was a little to thin. on the new build the condenser will be vertical/parallel to the column instead of at the angle. my thoughts are it should be able to hold its shape better.

Build yourself a nice shotty! Then you'll be part way there for a really nice flute set-up . . . because you KNOW one day it's going to happen lol. That's my project once i get my electric running . . . need cable and ran out of money over holidays. DOH! Just over a week . . . and FINALLY be running electric (fingers crossed).

moosemilk wrote:Build yourself a nice shotty! Then you'll be part way there for a really nice flute set-up . . . because you KNOW one day it's going to happen lol. That's my project once i get my electric running . . . need cable and ran out of money over holidays. DOH! Just over a week . . . and FINALLY be running electric (fingers crossed).

i did think about a shotty build and i do want to flute. only thing holing me back is the cost and i dont think i have the ability or access to the tools i need for a complex build. ill jump on something simple to get me back up and running and the liebeg would just be sitting there gathering further dust .

quick and easy fix for the bent issue would be just to go up to 3/4 inch from the riser and then back to 1/2 just before the liebig, that should be plenty strong.

How is it a pain to set up, to me it looks very simple, just two parts right, riser and condenser?

Swedish Pride wrote:quick and easy fix for the bent issue would be just to go up to 3/4 inch from the riser and then back to 1/2 just before the liebig, that should be plenty strong.

How is it a pain to set up, to me it looks very simple, just two parts right, riser and condenser?

i dont have any 3/4" id need to buy a 1m for a small fix. on the other hand ive got .5m of 53mm and 1m of 35mm.

i have a bad habit of missplacing my tools makes for a pain when im trying to set up, that and when i tighten it the leibig changes angle.
since i will soon have a dedicated room the tool issue will be sorted as ill have somewhere to put them but as the room is small i will need the leibig vertical.

same as that myself mate, tools all over the place , bar the toolboxes that is... :/

nothing worse than being set up ready to run then discover you can only hand tighn the liebeg

The drum has a lining I'd not use that as a fermenter no telling what was it and if it leached into the lining buy a food grade plastic barrel for fermenting I can get them here for around 60$ new

DirtDirt wrote:The drum has a lining I'd not use that as a fermenter no telling what was it and if it leached into the lining buy a food grade plastic barrel for fermenting I can get them here for around 60$ new

the drum is for storing 95% drinking alcohol. i think its a food grade epoxy. i cant see any potentual issues as the alcohol content will be max 15%