Why so difficult to buy a good, proven, handmade still?

[GabrielKnight]

With so many people here saying it's easy to make a still with moderate know-how, how come I can't find anyone in the world that makes these "much better than the mass produced ones" by starting a small business in their backyard and selling them on, taking advantage of the "huge savings you'd make if you made your own"?

My understanding is that it's legal to own (and therefore import) a still in the UK (but not use one without a licence). I have little time, no skills and lots of money. It seems that there is a gap in the market where the more skilled people that frequent these threads could make 20 stills from a proven design quicker than it would take me to learn to build one. Any ideas why no-one seems willing to take advantage of this, apart from the established companies and products that people seem little keen on?

After a lot of searching, the options for me in the UK seem to be:
Still Spirits Air Still - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Too small for my use
Turbo / Easy Still 500 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - More bad reviews than good about build quality
Artisan copper stills from eBay - - - - - - - - - - - -Don't want full copper boiler for health reasons, sorry.
Import Pure Distilling Still from Australia - - - - - -Few if any reviews, AU$ 600 after import, does it even work?

One would assume there are thousands of people in the world into still making, even here in this forum, that could perfect and build a brilliant pot still design, show photos of good manufacture, and build threads around positive comments of previous buyers. But no, nada!!

[bellybuster]

there are many such stills being sold, try a google search of copper stills or distilling equipment or moonshine stills or, or or
right off the top of my head
StillDragon
Hillbilly stills
PDA-1 and 2

[rad14701]

There are, in fact, a lot of people selling stills on the internet... The problem is that very few are reputable and/or know what they are doing... This leads to inefficient or downright dangerous stills in the hands of novices... Don't buy anything without passing your selection(s) by the membership here first...

Our very own member, myles, might be able to hook you up with what you need as he is in the UK...

[GabrielKnight]

there are many such stills being sold, try a google search of copper stills or distilling equipment or moonshine stills or, or or
right off the top of my head
StillDragon
Hillbilly stills
PDA-1 and 2

Ah, some of those links show just what I might be looking for.

I've searched Google for hours and found nothing like this. I think Google determines my geographical location through I.P. address and concludes that none of those links would be useful to me. But they are invaluable, thanks!

[bellybuster]

no problemmo, personally I really dig the stilldragon stuff but I think its more about the shiny than anything else

[GabrielKnight]

no problemmo, personally I really dig the stilldragon stuff but I think its more about the shiny than anything else

The hillbillystills equipment stood out for me, but theres no mention of them being willing to ship to the UK.

[CopperCornCook]

SHeee.... i've been reading around the trouble people have been having finding/getting a still.

just go ahead and search out parts to make it. you might spend more money and time, but its worth it, cause you'll end up having a passion for distilling instead of just a still you bought and used once or twice that now collects dust. You will end up with a hand crafted masterpiece worthy of an age old tradition. It will also motivate you to use something that you made, and if it breaks you can fix it.

Also It seems theres a lot of less than reputable people out there selling stills on the internet, as far as legal issues go do you have to work around some grey area like a drinking water still?

[jholmz]

if your building it should be cheaper copper if not your doing something wrong somewhere even buying all new copper my pot still was about half what a bought one was sellin for

[HolyBear]

Myles is handy, very near.
Consider pm mash rookie, I think he's legit now, papers and everything, top quality...

[Prairiepiss]

It's cheaper for you to build one. But if someone is to build them and sell them. They need to make some kind of profit. Otherwise they are wasting their time. Time ain't cheap. And many don't want to put themselves out there as selling a still. When it is illegal to use them for this hobby. In most countries including yours.

[noobsauce]

IMO...if you dont have the patience and time to build your own then you dont have the time and patience to do this hobby! if im making a rye run then i am taking a weekend to make a mash alone....i could build a still in less time then it takes me to make 1 good rye mash.
you dont save money on booze with this hobby....not when including your time...its a hobby and you try to make something that rivals, if not exceeds, the quality of store bought

[salientlucidity]

I had great problems finding cheap copper parts in NZ and ended up getting stainless
I bought some parts from stilldragon and other stainless fitting from Steel and Tube in NZ - (they have a range called Kleanflow), it all clamps together, no welding required.
if you phone around you should find a local supplier selling stainless. They often sell pipe by the metre as well.
I use a keg as a boiler and once i had all the fittings it took 5 minutes to put together.

[Odin]

IMO...if you dont have the patience and time to build your own then you dont have the time and patience to do this hobby! if im making a rye run then i am taking a weekend to make a mash alone....i could build a still in less time then it takes me to make 1 good rye mash.
you dont save money on booze with this hobby....not when including your time...its a hobby and you try to make something that rivals, if not exceeds, the quality of store bought

I don't agree. Some are more "handy" than others.

Odin.

[bellybuster]

I'm sure there are lots of folks that just don't care to build their own, not an issue in my book. To each their own.
I build my own fishing rods but most folks just buy off the shelf.
I built my own still as well but still I drool over the SD stills and if money were no object I'd have one.

Don't think it has much to do with patience and time but more to do with will and ability. Can't knock someone for buying a proven design prebuilt if he/she doesn't have the tools or ability to build his own.

[noobsauce]

the question though is about buying a good handmade still. let me answer it a different way...

http://www.brewersdirect.com/uncategori ... equipment/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

if GE put out a "water distiller", it would be a plastic cheap piece of crap...much like i linked. i believe they get around laws by calling them (and rightly so) water distillers. a GOOD HANDMADE still will never be mistaken for a water distiller. not by anyone who watches for these things at borders.....

better answer?