A good way to approach this hobby?

[de`Canthas]

Dear all,

Thank you for the immense amount of information I've been able to read these past few weeks on the forum. I am a brewer by trade and am very familiar with the fermentation part of things, but have no experience with distilling. I am finally purchasing the first pieces of copper and materials to begin!

I currently have several half-barrel (15.5 gal / 58 L) kegs and glass carboys that will be used for fermenting, storing low wines, etc. I will be fashioning a pot still from one of these kegs using a 2" copper pipe and tri-clamps in a modular fashion.

I have read several threads regarding the height of the column, and from what I've read, height is purely a function of convenience for your condenser and collection vessel height--Is this correct? I will be fermenting fruit wines, meads, and barley mashes mostly, and am looking to make brandies and bourbons assuming I begin collecting enough for wood aging.

One question I haven't been able to answer is how quickly should I be making my first stripping runs when making brandies and bourbons? I have two burners--one is 120,000 btu and the other is 250,000 btu. I have no idea how to equate the amount of flame under the keg to Watts. Do these types of washes require second runs, and how quickly should I be doing my second runs.

I will be accumulating my feints and storing in the beginning while I become better at cuts with my first pot still. Once I have 40L (or even 80 or 120 depending on copper prices then) of feints, I would like to build a taller 2" VM reflux for all-feints runs.

I expect to spend about $200 on my initial pot still and another $200 when I add the column and VM head. Is this accurate? Any and all suggestions on how to best allocate my initial investment would be greatly appreciated!

[WalkingWolf]

I am finally purchasing the first pieces of copper and materials to begin!

This is the on ramp to the slippery slope

I currently have several half-barrel (15.5 gal / 58 L) kegs and glass carboys that will be used for fermenting, storing low wines, etc. I will be fashioning a pot still from one of these kegs using a 2" copper pipe and tri-clamps in a modular fashion.

A pot still is a good starting point.

I have read several threads regarding the height of the column, and from what I've read, height is purely a function of convenience for your condenser and collection vessel height--Is this correct? I will be fermenting fruit wines, meads, and barley mashes mostly, and am looking to make brandies and bourbons assuming I begin collecting enough for wood aging.

purely a function of convenience . . . to a point. There are various designs out there. The design/performance is usually settled upon based on how you end up running your liquor. When collecting for flavor (non-neutral) most folks would like to shoot for ageing strength straight out the still -- that way no dilution required = maximum flavor. I run a pot still that will give ~63% hearts from a 12% wash on a first run. I have gone to doing single runs as opposed to stripping/spirit runs. You have several logistical issues that will work their way out over time, based on your preferences. Suffice to say that not all questions can be adequately answered before diving in.

One question I haven't been able to answer is how quickly should I be making my first stripping runs when making brandies and bourbons? I have two burners--one is 120,000 btu and the other is 250,000 btu. I have no idea how to equate the amount of flame under the keg to Watts. Do these types of washes require second runs, and how quickly should I be doing my second runs.

Them numbers look like burners you could use for wok cooking. That kind of power will not be required. I'm not using this type of cooking arrangments so I'll leave this one alone and let someone else chime in.

good stillin
ww

[Austin Nichols]

Old Dog told me the ideal height for a pot still column was 500mm to 600mm, hopefully he will let you know why.

I just took his advise and it works a treat.

Cheers.

[ScottishBoy]

Its just enough to make some mild reflux action inside the tube, but not enough to actually strip out the flavors. I use an uninsulated riser tube when I pot still thats about 10 inches long with no fill and I get 65% coming out on a smooth run. I also prefer to do single runs as slow as I can do them.

Copper prices can fluctuate but they nearly always go upward. Settle on your design thats suits your needs best, then look at copper ( cry a little) and then commit.

The best way to approach this hobby is the same way you approach a skittish horse...you have to kinda wander up to it and convince it your are ok. If you grab too soon, then you end up doing a lot of the work over again.

[de`Canthas]

Am I the horse?

Heh.

[ScottishBoy]

Am I the horse?

Heh.

What does your wife say?

The horse is the hobby...

[scotty]

have lots of extra cash for crazy improvements. im a great one for putting myself in shock with the cost of what seems like a simple mod. lol

[de`Canthas]

I don't think the cost is going to be a shock. I've called every plumbing supply shop in the metro area, and found the one with the best prices. I've decided to commit myself. The cost will hurt some, but I'll get over it. It's an investment in my sanity, right?

It's teaching myself to deal with molten nickel and bond large pieces of copper that sounds daunting. I look at some of these pieces you guys are putting together and can't fathom the amount of practice you guys have had.

I'm also excited to soon be handling a MAPP torch.

And sorry about the PUI'ing this thread

[ScottishBoy]

It's an investment in my sanity, right?

You may want to pre-purchase a straight jacket before you start...