Hello all!

[moonlightbrewer6]

Hello folks, as with a few that I have seen on here I am an established home brewer that does all grain batches and have been looking in the the distilling world for a bit of time. I have a friend that has done 2 runs that I have been talking to, read the parent site, and a ton of posts on the forum for information. I think I have a good idea on the process but do have a few questions that I can't find the answers to. For those that distill 5gallon washes about how long does the process take? Also I am looking to turn a 15.5 gallon sanke keg into a pot still by taking out the spear, plugging it with a stopper that has a 3/4 copper pipe incerted then bent with an elbow and long copper pipe into a coil that sits within a 5 gallon bucket ice bath. Around the stopper I plan on placing the flower mixture to help seal it. For my heating source I am planning on using heat from a campfire (or maybe my turkey propane burner). Does anyone have and suggestions on how to regulate the temperature within the still (I am not using a thermometer). I understand that I must have a fire extinguisher present, and the reason for long the long pipe is to get it away from the flame. Any suggestions or thoughts? I hope to be talking with you folks for years to home, and thanks for taking the time to lead us new guys in the right direction.

[NcHooch]

Hello folks, as with a few that I have seen on here I am an established home brewer that does all grain batches and have been looking in the the distilling world for a bit of time. I have a friend that has done 2 runs that I have been talking to, read the parent site, and a ton of posts on the forum for information. I think I have a good idea on the process but do have a few questions that I can't find the answers to. For those that distill 5gallon washes about how long does the process take? Also I am looking to turn a 15.5 gallon sanke keg into a pot still by taking out the spear, plugging it with a stopper that has a 3/4 copper pipe incerted then bent with an elbow and long copper pipe into a coil that sits within a 5 gallon bucket ice bath. Around the stopper I plan on placing the flower mixture to help seal it. For my heating source I am planning on using heat from a campfire (or maybe my turkey propane burner). Does anyone have and suggestions on how to regulate the temperature within the still (I am not using a thermometer). I understand that I must have a fire extinguisher present, and the reason for long the long pipe is to get it away from the flame. Any suggestions or thoughts? I hope to be talking with you folks for years to home, and thanks for taking the time to lead us new guys in the right direction.

Welcome Brewer
I depends what kinda still you're running, but distilling a 5 gal batch with a pot still would be a 2-4 hour deal depending on how you were running it .

what kinda stopper are you thinking about ? .....honestly, if you're planning on a keg, I'd recomment you get a 2"tri-clover clamp, and a 2" ferrule and mate that up to your copper, it's painless, and will last for years.

[pfshine]

Welcome to hd. no ice do a search on shock cooling. http://homedistiller.org/forum/search.p ... ck+cooling

and as for a stopper unless you got the biggest cork i have ever seen, read the rules we live by specifically number 8 pertaining to this http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5090

For regulating temp you can not regulate the temp more heat faster boil less heat slower boil the temp will stay around 200 to 212 more alcohol lower bp less alcohol higher bp. The advanced search is on the top right of the page, it is a very handy tool. Learn it, live it, love it. also 3/4 sounds kinda small that would take a very long time to finish. Good luck have fun and above all else be safe.

[moonlightbrewer6]

Thanks guys. I looked into those 2" ferrule and that looks great. I will go that route but the top opening looks real big. I'm sure I can figure something out.

[2495robert]

Welcome to HD