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FNG lurking

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 1:31 pm
by rbl2
Image

I found this place a few weeks back and have been lurking ever since. Figure it's about time I introduce myself and let y'all know I'm here.

It's my plan to build a pot still and as it turns out it may not be as simple as I thought so I'll have a lot of stupid questions to ask. For openers, I have a 2 1/2 gallon copper pot with a lid but it has what I think is a tin liner. Would it still be safe to use it or do I need to find a pot w/o a liner?

Ironically I don't drink so I'll probably only make a little every year and give it away at Christmas. With that in mind I won't need a large still or a fancy one but I'd still like to make something halfway decent and not like the nasty potato mash I had as a teenager.

Part of the inspiration for building a still is clean water. I live between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and there's a period of time after hurricanes that drinking water is in short supply so I figure I can kill two birds with one stone here.

I did note that there are a few old car owners here and I'll be one more. I have a 1926 Chevy roadster that's original and running but not restored. I'm still tinkering with the mechanics of it before I go on to body work and the interior.

That's enough for now, if there's anything else y'all want to know feel free toask away.

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 2:57 pm
by Tater
Welcome to forum .Id recommend using a small ss keg 7 gallons to use as a starter still. They are cheep and reliable and fairly easy to make.They are also the right size to distill 5 gallon buckets of wash/mash for around a gallon of product per single run.

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 3:39 pm
by rbl2
Perhaps I should have added that I'd like for the finished still to resemble an ol timey copper one. I have a thing for old things even if all they are is a reproduction. That and a gallon would be more than I'd need in a years time.

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 4:37 pm
by Tater
yep

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 4:46 pm
by junkyard dawg
Colonel Wilson makes copper stills. Try searching for copper alembics. A few here run copper rigs and a few have made their own too. welcome.

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 4:53 pm
by rbl2
I was thinking of something that would look similar to this, only make the tubing longer.

Image

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 5:39 pm
by junkyard dawg
Thats a good project. There's firsthand experience here... I'm sure you can make it happen.

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 8:24 pm
by rbl2
I can make the still, it's making the still work that'll take me a little longer.

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 10:51 pm
by hornedrhodent
rbl2 wrote:I can make the still, it's making the still work that'll take me a little longer.

A bit of wash, a bit of heat and a bit of cooling - go for it!

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 11:14 pm
by MrWrong
As one app to another nice pic

good luck on the brewing

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:41 am
by rbl2
I'll figure it all out eventually.

When I get mine made I'll post a few pics. Be patient betrween now and then.

Thanks everyone.

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 1:38 pm
by TownDrunk
This is the still I use. It would be a good size for what you want to do. I got it from the same guy that makes the still in the picture you posted.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o161 ... /Still.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow