My Rum Still!
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:54 pm
Hi All! After seeing all the awesome and truly professional looking builds, I almost didn't want to post 
However, I'm proudly wearing the newbie badge, and welcome to comments and improvements. The first attempt on this still had a vertical section with a coil in it, almost like a Boka, but with an offset top. I have changed that to the shotgun condenser seen here. The reflux "coil" just visible at the top is basically a double coldfinger, no coil, as I don't have the skill to wind that small yet. I haven't actually used it yet, so I have no idea how effective it is. I'm mostly interested in rum anyways 
With 2 pot scrubbies in the main body, I'm starting off at about 75% with a starting wash of about 14%. I'm collecting at about 3 liters an hour, and I quit at about 35% I have a recirculating rig with a pond pump and a heater core as a radiator. I need to increase the amount of heat I can dump, but it's working alright now. The main improvement I want to make is a centrifuge to clear the wash. I have a lathe and was going to machine an aluminum bowl for the centrifuge, I know it's not good to cook in but I figure running a wash through cold shouldn't be a problem? I will of course post pics if I can get it to work 
(the discoloration at the top of my condenser is a result of my attempting to braze the whole thing with my little mapp torch, and I eventually opted to solder. Not as pretty as some, but it's working good)
However, I'm proudly wearing the newbie badge, and welcome to comments and improvements. The first attempt on this still had a vertical section with a coil in it, almost like a Boka, but with an offset top. I have changed that to the shotgun condenser seen here. The reflux "coil" just visible at the top is basically a double coldfinger, no coil, as I don't have the skill to wind that small yet. I haven't actually used it yet, so I have no idea how effective it is. I'm mostly interested in rum anyways With 2 pot scrubbies in the main body, I'm starting off at about 75% with a starting wash of about 14%. I'm collecting at about 3 liters an hour, and I quit at about 35% I have a recirculating rig with a pond pump and a heater core as a radiator. I need to increase the amount of heat I can dump, but it's working alright now. The main improvement I want to make is a centrifuge to clear the wash. I have a lathe and was going to machine an aluminum bowl for the centrifuge, I know it's not good to cook in but I figure running a wash through cold shouldn't be a problem? I will of course post pics if I can get it to work (the discoloration at the top of my condenser is a result of my attempting to braze the whole thing with my little mapp torch, and I eventually opted to solder. Not as pretty as some, but it's working good)