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Hey, I am a college student in Texas. I am hoping that you guys can help me with the construction of my first still. I currently have a keg and am planning on building a valved reflux still. I am sure that all of you who are more experienced at building stills know how expensive copper is. I was wondering if other materials can be used in place of some or all of the copper parts needed to build the top end. Also, it is important to me that the final product isn't sacrificed by not using copper. Any advice would be great.

o' My

Here we go again.

Now Wolf. Be be a good pup and no biting.

Stainless or copper. Thats it.
You choose based on your research and budget.

Copper somewhere in the vapor path is best.
A (true) copper pot scubber in your forthcoming column will get the job done if you choose to go the stainless route.

LWTCS wrote:Now Wolf. Be be a good pup and no biting.

Stainless or copper. Thats it.
You choose based on your research and budget.

Copper somewhere in the vapor path is best.
A (true) copper pot scubber in your forthcoming column will get the job done if you choose to go the stainless route.

Ya'rite L-dubya

We gonna start off with the assumption that you are 21 years of age. (right ??)
+1 on what LWTCS said
Not sure what kind of cash ya lookin to put out but a rig suitable for a keg can run you a few hundred bucks time you get your connections and the like. I can give you some info on a design for a small pot still that will run you less than $100. I run this unit on a 7.5 gallon "low-profile" pot on the stove-top. If you're interested, PM me.

Now L-dub'ya -- is this a lil more mannerly??

Class dismissed.

Thank you Professor WalkingWolf

Cheers Wolf

I have decided to use all copper, I just have to finish finding all the parts I need online. I have already tried a simple pressure cooker still, but that didn't work well.

What type of copper pipe should be used? Type L or Type M (the less thick one).

Thick would be my first choice.Especially if your gonna be hanging a buch of weight (see my builds). Can tolerate the build heat of the torch better too.
But the thin will be better for the budget and in most cases be just fine.

Thanks guys, it looks like im gonna get all the parts ordered today and hopefully have the still built next week.