Total Newb

jjp53 · Post by **jjp53** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 5:50 pm

Joined to learn how to distill for personal stash.

MitchyBourbon · Post by **MitchyBourbon** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 6:52 pm

Welcome to HD jp53,

You must have more to say than that. What do you want to make? What rig you got/want?
What's your program?

jjp53 · Post by **jjp53** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 7:35 pm

I'm looking to make some smooth corn whiskey I once tasted some tequila in Mexico that was so smooth there was no burning feeling until it got to my stomach. I want to make stuff that smooth. I am still undecided on what rig I want to buy I am between an alembic or a column still any recommendations?

Post by **pfshine** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 7:41 pm

I would recommend building your own. For a novice like yourself a simple pot still would be good. There are tons of great designs around here just look around and read till your eyes bleed

jjp53 · Post by **jjp53** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 7:50 pm

I was looking at a still from clawhammer

Post by **Truckinbutch** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 7:57 pm

You will understand the whole deal better if you take the time to build your own and understand why you are doing it and how to do it right . Instant gratification is not part of our creed .

jjp53 · Post by **jjp53** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:23 pm

Well you have to put the clawhammer stills together so it's like building your own.

MitchyBourbon · Post by **MitchyBourbon** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:10 pm

I tend to agree, which one were you interested in? I don't recall Clawhammers situation specifically but all still manufacturers in the US are required to hand over the records of everyone who buys stills from them.

aussie_redneck · Post by **aussie_redneck** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:11 pm

jjp53 wrote:Well you have to put the clawhammer stills together so it's like building your own.

Honestly if that's going to be your attitude whole way through the process you may aswell find another hobby building you own still is not just an "cheap or tight ar$e" way its so you understand the way the still works and to gain knowledge and skills for yourself. Just buying a still and making likker for your "stash" isn't what being a 'stiller is about.

evilpea · Post by **evilpea** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:37 pm

jjp53 wrote:Joined to learn how to distill for personal stash.

Pay no mind to the ...haters. Although being handed over to the pigs on a list with others is not surprising to me and should in itself make you want to build your own even if a factory has already done the metal forming for you(turkey boiler,keg) either way I am sure you know a distillation device distills, not much to understand or get wrong there!!!

MitchyBourbon · Post by **MitchyBourbon** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:59 pm

I hope my meaning was not mistaken, I agree that there is nothing wrong in building a still from a kit. I just wanted you to be aware that you may end up on a guberment list.

Post by **corene1** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 10:36 pm

Just for starters , if you buy a kit or build from scratch read a lot before you make a decision. I myself didn't read as much as I should have and had to do a rebuild. I would start with no less than a 5 gallon still if room permits I would go 10 gallon. Remember when you charge the boiler with wash you have to leave a bit of head space so a 5 gallon still will only run 3 1/2 to 4 gallons tops. a 10 gallon will easily run a 6 gallon wash. The bigger the volume you run the easier it will be to make accurate cuts. If Smooth is what you want tight cuts are essential. Think about it like this. If you have a 6 gallon wash that is 8% ABV that means there is only 1/2 gallon of 100% pure alcohol in that wash, After you throw away the foreshots and separate the heads , hearts, and tails you will only get maybe 2 quarts but probably l less of good drinking 100 proof. So if you have a tiny little still that can only run 3 gallons cut that in half. Good smooth whiskey only comes from the good hearts of the run, not the heads and not the tails.
Also when you buy or build , think copper and stainless steel. If you are patient and a good hunter you can find materials to build from in many places and copper is pretty easy to work with. I got my copper from the remnant pile at the metal supply business here in town. also go to a scrap yard and see what they have in the copper pile. I pay the guy there 60 cents a pound for copper.
Do you want your still to look like the old fashioned types or like the newer types , will you run a thumper on your pot still. So many things to look at. So slow down do some reading and figure out what you really want to make and how you want to go about it. For me good corn whiskey comes from a good pot still with a thumper properly ran. Good luck, in your coming adventure into distilling

evilpea · Post by **evilpea** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 12:40 am

MitchyBourbon wrote:I hope my meaning was not mistaken, I agree that there is nothing wrong in building a still from a kit. I just wanted you to be aware that you may end up on a guberment list.

That's a very valid point and one I hadn't thought of but still doesn't surprise me that they(a company who sold it to you) would turn you over to the feds after doing so. When and where did you come about that information that it was required of them to do so? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that anyone who has bought a sheet of copper is on a list somewhere as well, hell you can't even buy cold medicine without being on a list anymore.

MitchyBourbon · Post by **MitchyBourbon** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:05 pm

evilpea wrote:
That's a very valid point and one I hadn't thought of but still doesn't surprise me that they(a company who sold it to you) would turn you over to the feds after doing so. When and where did you come about that information that it was required of them to do so? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that anyone who has bought a sheet of copper is on a list somewhere as well, hell you can't even buy cold medicine without being on a list anymore.

Don't go panicking

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 8#p7083548

evilpea · Post by **evilpea** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:09 pm

MitchyBourbon wrote:
evilpea wrote:
That's a very valid point and one I hadn't thought of but still doesn't surprise me that they(a company who sold it to you) would turn you over to the feds after doing so. When and where did you come about that information that it was required of them to do so? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that anyone who has bought a sheet of copper is on a list somewhere as well, hell you can't even buy cold medicine without being on a list anymore.
Don't go panicking

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 8#p7083548

No panicking here I got mine in a yard sale

cisco_rider · Post by **cisco_rider** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:51 am

i just want to say something about the clawhammer kit the very first thing i did was trace out the pattern on cardboard and file it away so i can just buy a sheet of copper and make another new one or one of another size when i was ready and for that it was worth all the money in the world to ME it works good the 5 gallon is really about 6.5 gallons to the top and i run a 5 gallon wash every time works good and the fact that it is copper it is so easy to fix and or make changes as you see fit and as you grow in this hobby after use i just rinse it and before i use it i wash it and then distill a bit of water for 30 min to sanitize done.................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i must admit though i did make some changes to it.

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