Home Distiller

Hey everyone.

So I'm pretty new to this. I'm looking at building another bigger still. I am looking at buying a boiler and building the rest. I know companies ship to Canada, but I haven't found out what happens at the border. Do I need paper work or a good story. Everything I find on line about this doesn't give me a definite answer. And I am in Ontario if this helps.

Can you get your hands on a keg ? I'm in the collection process for my build. Keg, 2" copper pipe, easy flange, 3/4 to 1/2" copper for a worm or Liebig condencer and a clamp. People make grills out of them kegs all the time, last forever.

DieLaughing wrote:Hey everyone.

So I'm pretty new to this. I'm looking at building another bigger still. I am looking at buying a boiler and building the rest. I know companies ship to Canada, but I haven't found out what happens at the border. Do I need paper work or a good story. Everything I find on line about this doesn't give me a definite answer. And I am in Ontario if this helps.

I got one in B.C after looking every week for 8 months for 60$.... As I bet you noticed ordering online is way over 200$... Look local kijiji, craigslist and contact brewerys and ask for de commissioned SS kegs.

Usually lots of kegs on kijiji in ontario

I'll be having a whole still setup shipped to me from US soon as I nail down which design I need... Not sure if they can do anything really as a still can technically be used for more than distilling spirits. (also in ontario)

Yeah I might do the keg thing if I have too. I really like the thought of the milk can design ,easy to clean and modular . For what I want to build it's almost cheaper to buy what I want.
Mad max Let me know how that goes.

There are actually a bunch of people in Scarborough selling Chinese stills as well.... Clearly importation and selling stills isn't a big deal to those guys

Dont buy a still online, when the gov asks they have to turn in your info. Do you really want anyone knowing your violating the excise act and could face 12 months in jail? Just build ur own, its funner and you have something to be proud off. So far my new keg build is at 260$ and its going to be all cooper except the boiler and soldered with food grade flux and silver solder.

You guys might have talked me into building my own. Except the Chinese thing kind of peaked my interest. But I Would be nervous about the material it's made from.

You would want to make sure its lead free solder if you order off line, i made sure i asked for lead free and food grade solder and flux. Belive it or not i has to order it in cause no plumbing store carried it. If you do some reserch there are other things too beside lead that could harm you, thats why i whent for somthing considerd food grade. Harris stay brite kit # 8 was one recomended to me.

CanadianBacon wrote:Dont buy a still online, when the gov asks they have to turn in your info. Do you really want anyone knowing your violating the excise act and could face 12 months in jail? Just build ur own, its funner and you have something to be proud off. So far my new keg build is at 260$ and its going to be all cooper except the boiler and soldered with food grade flux and silver solder.

This is not the case in Canada at all. Doubtful it ever will be

Im sure your right, From what i know there haven't been any successful convictions on home distillers But I don't plan to be the first lol.

Yes, the TTB requirement of record keeping does NOT apply to Canada. It is illegal to own a still in Canada. The CBSA has no need/want/juristiction to record still import information. That is for the CRA enforcing the Excise Act to figure out.

Ordering a boiler and parts is not illegal. Just ask the kind shipper not to put "Moonshine components" on the customs declaration.

I have imported a big SS pot and a coil without issue ... and I live in Canada.

That's good to know it makes me feel better about ordering the boiler I want. And I can just tell me girlfriend it's way safer... Yeah that's how I can talk her into this.

DieLaughing wrote:That's good to know it makes me feel better about ordering the boiler I want. And I can just tell me girlfriend it's way safer... Yeah that's how I can talk her into this.

How much you looking to spend on a boiler and what type you want? I found living in Canada made it hard to be thrifty and shop lol.

I bought..
5 SS gall stock pot -60$ (canadian tire)
50 feet refrigeration Coiled copper 3/8 inch- 65$ ( home depo )
60 gall garbage can for under -20$ (wallmart)

And built my first pot still with condenser worm, If you consider the the cost of the materials its a pretty cheap pot still build. It would have been cheaper if I didn't fuck up so much

Doogie wrote:Yes, the TTB requirement of record keeping does NOT apply to Canada. It is illegal to own a still in Canada. The CBSA has no need/want/juristiction to record still import information. That is for the CRA enforcing the Excise Act to figure out.

Ordering a boiler and parts is not illegal. Just ask the kind shipper not to put "Moonshine components" on the customs declaration.

I have imported a big SS pot and a coil without issue ... and I live in Canada.

I'm still waiting on my 2 inch tube, flange and triclamp, copper mesh and 90 degree elbow so hopefully all goes well at the border.

Call me paranoid but I rather not have my name on a package containing condensers or towers if its opened at the border lol.

Plus I started to enjoy building stills. Nothing better then seeing something like this come together and in action. Not to mention what comes out of our stills costs 2x the amount that anyone pays in the USA.

CanadianBacon wrote: 5 SS gall stock pot -60$ (canadian tire)
50 feet refrigeration Coiled copper 3/8 inch- 65$ ( home depo )
60 gall garbage can for under -20$ (wallmart)

And built my first pot still with condenser worm, If you consider the the cost of the materials its a pretty cheap pot still build. It would have been cheaper if I didn't fuck up so much

OK, woah betsy here a second. I think I know the SS pot you talk of - maybe I am totally wrong, but the one I have seen in that size (~20L) is aluminum - if so, it wont last long.

Careful on the garbage cans - check for the food safety rating - I got a Brute at homie despot for around $60 for a 40 gal - there are a lot of cheap trashcans out there, but some may not be food safe - Go with the Grey Brutes for the safety.

Question though - kind of off topic - a 60 gal fermenter for a 5 gal still??? that is 12 cycles - and since you should only fill the fermenter around 75%, I would say you are looking at 15 cycles, minus one since no sense distilling the lees ... lot of wash to push

CanadianBacon wrote:

Doogie wrote:Yes, the TTB requirement of record keeping does NOT apply to Canada. It is illegal to own a still in Canada. The CBSA has no need/want/juristiction to record still import information. That is for the CRA enforcing the Excise Act to figure out.

Ordering a boiler and parts is not illegal. Just ask the kind shipper not to put "Moonshine components" on the customs declaration.

I have imported a big SS pot and a coil without issue ... and I live in Canada.

I'm still waiting on my 2 inch tube, flange and triclamp, copper mesh and 90 degree elbow so hopefully all goes well at the border.

Call me paranoid but I rather not have my name on a package containing condensers or towers if its opened at the border lol.

Plus I started to enjoy building stills. Nothing better then seeing something like this come together and in action. Not to mention what comes out of our stills costs 2x the amount that anyone pays in the USA.

Yes, you should be fine - they are basic components - a 2" tube is nothing, a flange is really nothing, a tri clamp is common enough. even bigger things ... but you are right - no sense shipping a "20 gallon alcohol still with reflux plates, condensor, parrot, turbo yeast" etc, etc, etc ...

Doogie wrote:

CanadianBacon wrote: 5 SS gall stock pot -60$ (canadian tire)
50 feet refrigeration Coiled copper 3/8 inch- 65$ ( home depo )
60 gall garbage can for under -20$ (wallmart)

And built my first pot still with condenser worm, If you consider the the cost of the materials its a pretty cheap pot still build. It would have been cheaper if I didn't fuck up so much

OK, woah betsy here a second. I think I know the SS pot you talk of - maybe I am totally wrong, but the one I have seen in that size (~20L) is aluminum - if so, it wont last long.

Careful on the garbage cans - check for the food safety rating - I got a Brute at homie despot for around $60 for a 40 gal - there are a lot of cheap trashcans out there, but some may not be food safe - Go with the Grey Brutes for the safety.

Question though - kind of off topic - a 60 gal fermenter for a 5 gal still??? that is 12 cycles - and since you should only fill the fermenter around 75%, I would say you are looking at 15 cycles, minus one since no sense distilling the lees ... lot of wash to push

Im pretty sure is not aluminum, where i live they do sell aluminum pots but there for canning. Ill post a pic of the pot i have. Its definatly ss tho. Maybe its 19l? It was bought like a year ago so i cant recall everything, i know it was a black label. Labled in quarts.

Go with the build. Talking privately we know we are in same city. If you want tips on ordering and shipping cross border, shoot me another PM. I found with our location that shipping to the border is cheap, but depending on the size of the box, it costs almost another $200 shipping from the greedy local buggers.

Where I am in BC I'm getting 15gal ss kegs for $40 from scrapyards. That also where I got most of my copper.

Janitor47 wrote:Where I am in BC I'm getting 15gal ss kegs for $40 from scrapyards. That also where I got most of my copper.

What part of BC can i find these scrapyards with kegs and copper haha, I'm from Prince George and can't find to much here on kijiji or anything.

Wow thank you all that information. I'm keeping my eye open for a keg and have access to a TIG welder now. But I'm still looking at one of those milk can jobs. I like how sleek looking and modular they are. Sorry about the slow response this is my 31 consecutive day worked and I'm sleeping a lot. But thanks again for all the info.

I did some looking around our area, found out from a local brewer that the ss kegs they use are also used by soda vendors as well. Only 5 gallon ones around here, but just a thought.