Home Distiller

I have found remodelling my basement and already owning a 2" VM that getting around to finishing my new still always seems to get put on the back burner. So far I have cut a hole in the top of the keg and welded a 4" ferrule to the top, cut two holes in the side toward the bottom one for a 1" drain and the other for a 240 v heating element. Welded the fittings for both the drain and heating element. I purchased a 4" x 50" stainless steel pipe with ferrules on both ends that I think was used in the dairy industry.

Yesterday I went up to my old school that I retired from 5 years ago to use the CNC machine to cut the parts for the dephlagmater but the problem was they changed software so I spent most of the morning going through tutuorials to learn how to run the machine. I cut parts for both my dephlagmater and Mash Rookies that he is building for his father. This weekend he is having a Saint Patricks party that I am attending and taking parts down to him. He is going to build my shotgun for me out of acrylic and add the twists like his still has.

The following is one picture of the CNC process, I will post more of the parts as I get them cleaned up.

Sounds like a G8 build! I would like to make one myself, but have not been able to find that size pipe anywhere. Where did you get it from and how much!

Can't wait to see what you two come up with. This ought to be good.

moonshine guy wrote:Sounds like a G8 build! I would like to make one myself, but have not been able to find that size pipe anywhere. Where did you get it from and how much!

Hard to answer your question, as a member got the pipe for his build and ended up buying more than he needed, I am guessing he had to buy all the person had so he sold me the other section at his cost plus shipping. It is very industrial strength heavy gauge and the ferrules are welded on both sides.

I also bought some 4" copper that was about $2.00 less than most by the inch on ebay for my dephlagmater, my plan is to cut it and pull it together so the dephlagmater drops into the column. The following is a sketch of the plan but I changed the whole size. I am hoping with enough pressure I can get total reflux if that is my goal depending on the run.

Here is the plans for the completed dephlagmater.

Here are the parts for the dephlagmater, you can see with plans above the changes I made going with a 3/4" pipe rather than 1/2". Also the 3rd and larger part is what I will hang the dephlagmater to with the water in/out lines as it is suspended inside the column. If you look close on the 3rd part it has an outer ring that matches the 4" ferrules to hold the gasket. This is what I thought I could make and modify in various sizes to solder onto copper couplings to save having to buy the full keg to column kit that MileHi sells,these would fit different ferrule openings without having to buy a ferrule as well.

I am planning on using a 4 inch triclamp spool as well. I was wondering how long you making your deflag.. I was thinking to have built into a spool so I can remove it and use it in other applications.

Fjard wrote:I am planning on using a 4 inch triclamp spool as well. I was wondering how long you making your deflag.. I was thinking to have built into a spool so I can remove it and use it in other applications.

Dephlag will be 6", when it slides in I figure some of the vapors will go up the outside of the column but will also be cooled by the dephlagmater, my shotgun condenser will be larger. Not sure if I will get but hoping to be able to achieve 100% reflux if I choose to make neutrals. The math I calculated works out that I will be very close.

Looking good BM...

• Subscribed...check.
• Glass full... check.
• Snacks.... check.

Cant wait to see what you come up with...
I'm about ready to put the finishing touches to my flute.
Just trying to catch up with everything else... Keep it coming man...

Samohon wrote:Looking good BM...

• Subscribed...check.
• Glass full... check.
• Snacks.... check.

Cant wait to see what you come up with...
I'm about ready to put the finishing touches to my flute.
Just trying to catch up with everything else... Keep it coming man...

Thanks Samohon, I am doing part of the build but also working with Mash Rookie, he is a very creative individual but with this build it will be mostly what has been done and not experimenting with new concepts. MR has some ideas for new copper mash material that will probably be one of the most innovative idea, that and a repeat of his twisted shotgun condenser.

Yea I was thinking 6 inch myself. I want to put it in it's own spool just wondering which has more cooling compacity your first design or the new one.

Quick update, as most of you know I have been working with mash rookie on my next build as he has the best equipment and we want to test some semi new ideas. Mash Rookie had back surgery and is just now recovering so things have been on hold for a while. Yesterday I went down and while he was twisting another set of pipes for a new shortgun condenser he is making, I cleaned mine up (had some fitting issues so did a bit of grinding) and squared the drop in dephlagemater to the column. Also polished the column pipe and decided how to set up the cooling system. I took MR to lunch and then we went to the local hardware store to buy the final pieces to complete my still. I will be going down next weekend to assemble and come close to finishing the still.

If my wife wouldn't plan so many trips I would of had this thing done months ago!

Subcribed. I love stuff like this

I am going to cut a few more plates for another build MR is doing. On mine I used a cnc milling machine which took several hours to cut. I have been talking to another builder on another forum that used a cnc plasma cutter. I used the plasma cutter on my keg for the 4" ferrule but was hesitant to use it on the plates because of the burrs and I wanted everything to be perfect. He gave me some tips on using the cnc plasma cutter to eliminate the burrs if it works that same cut job can be done in around 5 minutes. Going to run some tests tomorrow and if all goes well I will cut the plates for MR.

You boys sure know how to build suspense, and a flute or two. Consider me in for the ride, I'm subscribed.

Update: Spent a nice 1/2 day with Mash Rookie in his shop working on my still. We finished the shotgun condenser (32" long with 4-1/2" tubes bending down) similar but larger than his. We also squared the dephlagmater top fitting to the ferrule at the top of the column. Basically all that is left is the cooling system and packing. Unfortunately I will be on the east coast for a month so won't get back to it until mid June.

Biggest concern right now is if the 5500 watt heating element will be enough for this beast. With a 4" x 50" column and that large of product condenser not sure I will have enough heat. I am thinking if it doesn't work I will take the heating element out for testing purpose with propane and then consider a second heating element.

As soon as it is done I will post pictures (promise).

Side notes: I am sure learning a lot of tricks on building these stills from MR. Not only is he a good builder but a patient person that explains why he does what he does during the construction. I love the jigs he has developed for creating some of his designs. Unfortunately he had back surgery and is really limited on what he can do in a day. The good news is he is getting stronger each day.

I head out next week for halibut and lingcod fishing along with shrimping for 4 days then I have 2 days to get ready to head back east. I will be driving from Virginia to New York so if anyone has ideas of places to see drop me a note. I aready have a private tour of the pentagon planned and a broadway show in New York.

What he is not telling you guys is that I am making him work his butt off because I want every part perfect and polished before we put anything together. He is earning his keep.

I will want to do the first test run here BM. I have a burner and propane if the electrical wont cut it. Remember to bring a plug for the element hole with your boiler. My power concerns can be possibly offset by insulating the boiler and or the column. (I don’t like that idea aesthetically) I had to wrap an auto blanket around my keg last week to pick up vapour speed. I was wide open with 5500 watts.

I was very impressed with the decorative wood box a member built for his boiler. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 50&t=29169
You might consider something like that to help mobility with wheels and insulation. You are a water guy. If the column needs to be insulated I suggest wrapping it with hemp rope winding like you would see on a piling.

Your still should run at smoking speeds if we can provide vapour volume. Your product condenser can handle commercial speeds. No fooling around when I built that baby. It is the same that I will use on six inch builds and larger by increasing the exterior tube diameter and number of coils.

I should have sent your valves and handles with you to work on. I think you will have one more trip down to work on it and then the test run trip before you take her home. I have my Vegas show coming up and I should be healed up better by the time you return from your road trip.

Too bad you're not coming a little farther east. You can do a little island hopping to visit me. Stripers are starting to hit.

Washashore wrote:Too bad you're not coming a little farther east. You can do a little island hopping to visit me. Stripers are starting to hit.

Now were talking! I might make it out to the cape but we are meeting my wifes cousins from Norway so I am only 1 of 4 votes and the only avid fisherman!

Agh fishing and stilling is there any thing else? Build is looking great man. Show us your column

Dang Bushman, I bet it's going to look great! I'm glad you and MashRookie get a chance to work together and talk "shop" while working on the new equipment! Collaboration rocks.

Spent yesterday with MR in his shop, finished the shotgun condenser (you can see his design in this one). Pressure tested the dephlagmater and MR fixed pin leaks. Then built the waterline and worked on assembly and alignment. Next weekend when I go back south I should have it finished and ready for a wash.
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Edit: OK Frostee I think I followed what you said about using the iPad but it created a link rather than loading the pic.

My flute build stands 9 ft tall ontop of the beer keg, I have run it both ways with electric, 5500 with MK5500 controller and 2000 with my controller. After it gets to temp, I shut down the 2000 unit and finish it off with the 5500. I have also run it on propane with Bayou PAB4 burner and it works good also, so your 50" tower will work great with either way you go! Enjoy!

moonshine guy wrote:My flute build stands 9 ft tall ontop of the beer keg, I have run it both ways with electric, 5500 with MK5500 controller and 2000 with my controller. After it gets to temp, I shut down the 2000 unit and finish it off with the 5500. I have also run it on propane with Bayou PAB4 burner and it works good also, so your 50" tower will work great with either way you go! Enjoy!

I have just the one set up with the 5500 and the MK5500 controller, if that doesn't knock it down I can easily cap and use the burner or will consider adding another element similar to PP's set-up.

I am going to require a perfect mirror polish on every inch of that baby before you post up completed pictures. I have a reputation to maintain!

We still need to test the other guys welds on your boiler for leaks before completing the wiring. I have a small sand blaster you can use to clean up the ferule weld. Bring your respirator next trip.

There is still plenty of work to be done before a cleaning run. Its getting there. It will give you great service for many years.

I know, I know just seems like I've made a career out of this project

Considering that you live 100 miles from me and spend a lot of time traveling you are doing pretty good on it. I could have just built it all for you but where would be the fun in that? With my busy schedule I would have had to charge you two arms and one leg. Besides, the design is evolving as I have time to work on it. The packing tests with the glass column will tell us much that we need to know about density, vapor speed and reflux ratios. Or you could just finish it and go play with it.
That would be fun too.

Tomorrow I will be making the 80 mile trip south to Mash Rookies to work on my still. During the week I made my packing for the still and re-did the plug to match MR's so hopefully we will get to a point of doing some testing and maybe even get to a cleaning run.

In the meantime I have a bird watchers wash that is ready to run for my son so will do that over the weekend on my other still.

Just finished the cleaning run and after some steam cleaning we checked out collection speed with the vinegar water at 1/2 gallon in 16 minutes.

A big thank you to Mash Rookie, my only complaint is he is such a perfectionist if I want to hear "you should have shined it up better than that" I can just stay home and listen to my wife . All kidding aside MR is a great guy to work with and learn from!

Here are two pictures the first is the dephagmater as it drops into the column and the second picture shows us doing the cleaning run.

Very impressive, Bushman.

Congrats on a great build!

Odin.

Thanks Odin, on the otherside not seen in the picture I put a 1 inch Stainless steel ball valve for a drain. I picked it up at a garage sale never used for $1.00. Am really suprised how quickly it drained the water out of the keg with only a small portion left in the keg that I had to slightly tip to get out.

My next project will be to design a fancy parrot that will hang and have a valve on the bottom to drain the heads and tails before collecting the hearts.