Home Distiller

step one: get a keg

this kind of keg

step 2: take out the circular snapring with 2 screwdrivers. dont hurt it...and turn/pull out the valve assy:

step 3: using a piece of 1" id pipe, push in and turn the 3-tab lock on the base of the collar, and remove the ballseat/pickup tube


step 4: gently grind the little ears off your collar

heres what u got left. those little protruding tabs will be a snug fit on your 1 1/4" copper pipe column:



step 4: build your pot still with a 1 1/4" copper column. it doesnt have to be like mine, but your welcome to copy it. its 18" 1 1/4" column, 90*, 45*, 1" reducer, then 34" long 1" dia copper pipe inside a 24" 1 1/4" jacket. just 1 1/4"x1" reducers for ends that i reamed the stop-ridge out of so they would slide up the outside of the 1" pipe.

step 5: its a nice tight squeeze, and if you cut your column with a real tight pressure on the cutter, it will taper the end a bit, making it easier to get into the collar. make sure you put the circular snap ring onto the column before you install the collar. if you decide to weld it inside the collar, slide an extra snap ring on as well. if you bust one, then u will have another there waiting its turn


the column will seat nicely on the chamfer that the rubber ball seat used to seal against

step 6: put the viton seal back in the mouth of the keg where u got it

step 7: put your fancy new still head in the mouth of your keg so it seats down on the seal.


and install the snapring back into the groove with your pair of small screwdrivers. snaprings are tricky but with a little practice you will get the hang of it.

taa daa...you have a working still

step 8: make some shine!!!


step 9: drink some and beat the dogs for rippin up the couch cover!

theres no reason you couldnt use this to build a reflux still as well. you just need to use a piece of 1 1/4, then up it to whatever size you want. i didnt mic it, but im sure a 2" would be about right to fit the outside of the collar instead of using the 1 1/4 inside. you would need to leave a space for the snapring to do its thing, but im sure theres a way there. i havent built a reflux still, and probably never will, but if i do, ill try it this way before spending the $$$ on connectors and clamps

mine is made similar but I don't use the rubber ring .Just flour seal .

Very clear explanation, thanks lawdog

That is one of my favorite designs. It is simple, easy and can easily be used to make all manner of hootch.

lawdog, how does the 1 1/4" column seal against the keg? is it a just pressed against the viton seal and a "press fit" with the collar keeps it in place?
your pictures are great. and beautiful dogs.
Fester

lawdog wrote:

got a Chocolate lab myself, had a Black lab before, and yes they will chew anything if you don't give them enough attention.

Fester wrote:lawdog, how does the 1 1/4" column seal against the keg? is it a just pressed against the viton seal and a "press fit" with the collar keeps it in place?
your pictures are great. and beautiful dogs.
Fester

i use the viton seal back in there. it seals the same as it did with pressurized beer in it. the snapring is a "360*" or full-circle snapring that acts as a downward spring on the neck. it puts pressure on the seal. you could just put flour paste around the collar and put it in there without the seal or the snapring if you wanted. i did that on one stripping run and it worked just as well without needing the snapring. its just a little bit a cleanup, but it washes right off while you are rinsing the thing anyway

haha those dickheads get attention nonstop... they are actually very good dogs. but even good ones mess up everyonce in a while.

I just was curious if you break the snap rings were you get a replacement or it you need a new coupler from the valve if yours is damaged? Also this looks like it doesn't need any support once installed???

Well, I'm halfway to finishing this still and have one question:
What about a thermometer?
Seems like I could just drill a hole in the top of the keg and put in a cork with a thermometer stuck through it?
Or, can I just run this without a thermometer? I've never distilled before. Will be using a 1/2 keg as a pot on a turkey fryer propane cooker. Is it fairly obvious when it's at the right temp, ie. can I just shoot for however many drops a minute out of the condenser, or is the thermometer pretty key?
Also maybe someone could point me towards a good beginners corn mash recipe? I've been all-grain brewing for years so pretty familiar with fermentation processes but don't yet have down distilling terminology about backset, etc. Is there a beginners guide or something of the sort?
Thanks!

This is awesome. Very easy to follow instructions. Would you add a spigot to the bottom of the keg? Also, could you add a picture of your condenser? I would like to see your connectors that you used to connect the hose. Great job.

This was a EZ set up not sure if the pipe should be sodered to the coller or not i think im going to just to be on the safe side. Im going to add a scerw together set up at the top of the coller and never mess with the snap ring again. The screw together set up will allow for cleaning.

thank you for this post! really a time saver and a money saver!!
Beautiful dogs you have btw.
Thanks!

same goes for the A type kegs and 2" pipe (in Australia anyway)



see thread
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... heel+spear