Home Distiller

Hey yall!

I have been trying to come up with an idea for a still to build. I have thought about the stove top still but I am not to comfortable with that considering I live in tight quarters with a child. I have also thought about free standing units with heat plates and immersion heaters but neither feels right. I will eventually purchase a proper pot still but right now I am thinking of trying to build a basic pot still using a 11 qt. soup warmer as the heating element. The soup warmer I am looking at tops off it's heating at about 170-175F, takes an 11 qt SS soup pot and uses a hot water bath to heat the mash. Does anyone have any feedback on using this type of still? What are the possible benefits and drawbacks?

It doesn't get hot enough. Barely makes it to a range that would boil 96% ethanol.
A 10 to 14% wash needs to get to around 190*F before it will start releasing alcohol in any useful quantity.

I have been trying to come up with an idea for a still to build. I have thought about the stove top still but I am not to comfortable with that considering I live in tight quarters with a child.

It's possible....there are no designs that would fit your situation.

What are your specific concerns?

I also have a small child. I can put up a gate to keep her out of the kitchen or I try to run when her and the wife are out. But I would strongly advise against running when you are alone with your child. I never do as my attention is on her at all times.

So I decided to go with a simple pressure cooker retrofit. I did see some neat advice on suspending the cooker in a boiling water bath. I think I will try that. I want to know that my max cooking temperature cannot get to high.

Thanks for all the help!

I doubt you will git the pot to hot with a water bath.

You have a fundamental problem. It does not matter which design still you chose. They all operate at temperatures that will cause significant harm to a child. There is only one option.
A physical barrier to prevent access. Pick any design that you like. That is not the issue. A properly designed child gate/ stair gate will solve your problem. Hot liquid and children in any combination are not acceptable. WE break the rules all the time BUT this is based on years of risk evaluation and experience. This does not apply to children. Children and hot liquid do not mix.
From a biased point of view - if you go down the double boiler route. And it does have its advantages, forget about water, propylene glycol, is the thermal transfer fluid to pick.

There is no way I would ever work this process with my child around. No way. I have a garage. That is where it will happen when he is OUT of the house! Thanks for the concern.

From a biased point of view - if you go down the double boiler route. And it does have its advantages, forget about water, propylene glycol, is the thermal transfer fluid to pick.

Why do you say that?

I think water is the way to go, but I would like to understand why you think antifreeze is better...

I do understand the concept of glycol chillers, but the properties of water make it perfect for a double boiler rig.

DGiovanni wrote:I have been trying to come up with an idea for a still to build. I have thought about the stove top still but I am not to comfortable with that considering I live in tight quarters with a child.

DGiovanni wrote:There is no way I would ever work this process with my child around. No way. I have a garage. That is where it will happen when he is OUT of the house! Thanks for the concern.

You post a question raising concerns about living in tight quarters with a child and then when people give you advice not do this with a child present, you tell us all that you would never do it with your child around and that you'll be using your garage???

My point was that the stove top setup would not work for me. I was not looking for advice on how to make a stove top work. I was just stating that it was out of the question.

DGiovanni wrote:My point was that the stove top setup would not work for me. I was not looking for advice on how to make a stove top work. I was just stating that it was out of the question.

Hey, if you can go an alternate route other than stove top, that's great as it presents a lot more options...