brewer wants to step up to still

[cwil327]

hello everyone,
my name is craig, and ive been brewing my own alcoholic beverages for about six months.
my main goal is to have a small still that i could use, i dont need 90% alcohol, 50% would be great for now. i was thinking of maybe using a crock pot or some other sort of stand alone device so that i dont have to use the stove top, all i would have to do is pour in the wash and plug it in, ya know?

if anyone has any ideas on what i should use or a link that might be helpful, please, let me know.

i tried doing a run about a week ago to see what i could do, i used a tea kettle with a pipe mounted at the spout, bent a few times and that was it. it didnt turn out too well, which i kinda figured would happen. i got maybe a 1/4 pint of clear 40-50 % but i was losing almost all of my steam and the whole thing heated up too much.

i dont need a very complicated still, the easiest still plans are what i need

thanx for your time

[cornwhiskey]

First off, do you have a good understanding of distilling? You have to dump the first 50-150mL of distillate because it is poisonous. Find the guide to cuts on this site and read it through a few times. I suggest doing your first runs on your stove top as using propane can pose a SERIOUS threat of explosion if you don't really know what you are doing or have leaks in your still. Feel free to use propane once you clearly understand stills, their limits and how to properly use them.

Here is an exact list of my still:

8 gallon polar ware brew pot
1" copper flange from mcmastercarr.com
(4) 3" X 5/8" stainless steel bolts from mcmastercarr.com
(4) 5/8" staniless steel nuts from mcmastercarr.com
1" 90deg copper
1" 45eg copper
1" X 1/2" copper reducer
1/2" copper tube
(2)1/2" to 3/4" copper tee
3/4" copper tube
(2) 1/2" X 3/8" copper reducers
some 1/2" rubber tubing for the liebig
some screw fastening tube holders for both ends of the liebig

Here are some pictures below, you can figure out the rest. I referenced mcmastercarr.com because this is the only place I could find these items. You will need to find someone to drill the holes in the boiler lid. If you don't know anything about drilling stainless you better get a professional to do it. Otherwise you will screw it up.

Don't pay attention to the soldering at the bottom of my still, it was just an extension of the column.

[rubber duck]

Welcome to the forum , good to have you aboard.

I'm happy to see you have a serious interest in distilling. Plenty of folks around hear distill on stove tops. I don't 1. because my wife would kill my and 2. I have other options. Can't help with a link just search around and read everything . Look into a beer keg boiler it's cheep, easy, and your going to want one some day anyhow.

Lots info around hear if you can't find what your looking for just ask.

[WalkingWolf]

Cornwhiskey,
I looked up the flange on McMaster and they list it as bronze. To the forum, is there an issue with bronze? I have read many posts regarding "pickling" of brass to remove the lead. I don't recall seeing anything on bronze.

The reason I ask is one of our own here has asked me where he can get a flange.


thanks
WW

[HookLine]

To the forum, is there an issue with bronze?

Bronze comes in many different version. So the answer is that it depends on the composition of the particular bronze.

[cornwhiskey]

Cornwhiskey,
I looked up the flange on McMaster and they list it as bronze. To the forum, is there an issue with bronze? I have read many posts regarding "pickling" of brass to remove the lead. I don't recall seeing anything on bronze.

The reason I ask is one of our own here has asked me where he can get a flange.


thanks
WW

The copper flange is cast bronze (cast copper). I called them and they said it is food grade and safe to use.

[HookLine]

I called them and they said it is food grade and safe to use.

Did you specifically ask if it was safe for sustained contact with high temp, high strength alcohols? Food grade does not automatically equal safe for use in stills.