Building Liebig

[nuncaquite]

I bought my first due to lack of time. But, at the moment I can probably make the time and want to build my own.

Living in a small town is nice, but @%#^$&*#*ker there is not enough copper here to make a handful of pennies.

Is Ebay the best option to find the materials? I really dont want to make a purchase that leads back to my bank. In my state there is no distilling allowed for anything other than fuel.

Ultimately Im wanting to build a 3'' Pelican. 1st step is the condenser.

[StillLearning1]

If there is a Lowes or home depot anywhere near you, you should be able to get everything you need right there. Otherwise I've used eBay and amazon for copper. Some guys here use company's like McMaster Carr.

[Danespirit]

Seems odd to me that there ain't a single piece of copperpipe around you...
Anyhow...what about stainless...?
You can make a real good Liebig out of this material...that would be unless stainless is also very rare in your neck of the woods...??

[Bushman]

When I built my first still I started with a liebig as I thought it would be the easiest part to build and hone my soldering skills. Also check Craigs List or a metal recycling place are also great places to find material.

[S-Cackalacky]

If you need to buy online, get one of those Visa/Master Cards that has a fixed amount associated with it. Lots of places sell them. Not likely to be able to trace it. You can even plug it into your Paypal account if you need to.

[nuncaquite]

Seems odd to me that there ain't a single piece of copperpipe around you...
Anyhow...what about stainless...?
You can make a real good Liebig out of this material...that would be unless stainless is also very rare in your neck of the woods...??

There is some. Just slim pickens. Even have a Lowes here. But not all Lowes are created equal. The fittings are were it really comes up short. And of course it has no 2'' or 3'' for a column.

I may try the stainless option. Thks

[GrassHopper]

If you have a Lowe's in your town you should be able to at least build some of your liebig. 3/4" over 1/2" is what most recommend. The reducer fittings 3/4 to 1/2 x 1/2 may be a problem at Lowes. But, there should be some plumbing shops in your area if you have a Lowe's. I would check with them first. Have them order the parts for you if you are concerned about a paper trail. I am fortunate to live in a small farming town and live across the street from a pump irrigation and sprinkler supply. They have everything. Also got my 2" copper for $10 a foot. But I am on a first name basis with them and known them for 30 years. Heating and air conditioning supply dealers may be a good source.
Stay with it. The rewards are worth it.

[Kegg_jam]

It is possible to build a Liebig without reducers. It just takes longer.

HD Google 'Reducerless' and follow some links

[Danespirit]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 87&t=54834

Piece of cake...and it can be scaled up to size..
Instead of reducers, you can use endcaps..it costs next to nothing..
3/4" endcaps are around 2 $ here...

[raketemensch]

...or just pick up a 5' length of finned baseboard radiator (slant/fin at home depot) and use a box fan instead.

Much easier, and no pumps/water/hoses/etc.

Do a search for "air cooled" here and you'll find a few threads on it.

[S-Cackalacky]

The traditional way to build a liebig would be to use Tees on each end - 3/4" X 1/2" X 1/2". File or grind out the stops on the 1/2" end so your 1/2" vapor pipe will pas through, put the 3/4" water jacket pipe in the 3/4" side of the Tee and solder it all up. Barbed elbows are good for the cooling hose fittings. Put a 1/2" union fitting on the end of the vapor pipe that attaches to the lyne arm. Do some cleaning runs and be done.

Or, do like raketemensch suggested and go air-cooled. Think I'll try that with my next build.

[nuncaquite]

The traditional way to build a liebig would be to use Tees on each end - 3/4" X 1/2" X 1/2". File or grind out the stops on the 1/2" end so your 1/2" vapor pipe will pas through, put the 3/4" water jacket pipe in the 3/4" side of the Tee and solder it all up. Barbed elbows are good for the cooling hose fittings. Put a 1/2" union fitting on the end of the vapor pipe that attaches to the lyne arm. Do some cleaning runs and be done.

Or, do like raketemensch suggested and go air-cooled. Think I'll try that with my next build.

I had to travel a couple hours away from home today for work. Stopped at a Lowes in a more prosperous area and got lucky.
All you listed was there, except for the union (but I know where one is). Going to make the purchases in the morning when we
go back to finish the job.

No doubt, the air cooled sounds like a dream.

[Hound Dog]

In my state there is no distilling allowed for anything other than fuel.

Actually since it is against federal law to distill anywhere in the US without a permit, your state isn't ant different. I could be wrong but Missouri doesn't have state laws against it or does not enforce them. Still a fed thing though.....

Tell that to Colorado though

[nuncaquite]

Found and purchased pretty much all of the materials for the liebig. Just needed to go to a hardware store in a more affluent area. Ill construct this weekend if all goes as planned.

[nuncaquite]

In my state there is no distilling allowed for anything other than fuel.

Actually since it is against federal law to distill anywhere in the US without a permit, your state isn't ant different. I could be wrong but Missouri doesn't have state laws against it or does not enforce them. Still a fed thing though.....

Tell that to Colorado though

Distillation is common here non the less. Generally not too on the downlow. I just dont care to be so open, even though I have no plans to distribute.

It also is common here for the product to taste pretty rough. Rough like a quart of foreshots poured over a dog turd.
I gotta do better than the local stuff.

[nuncaquite]

Got my liebig soldered together over the weekend. 30 years since I soldered, still not too ugly.

I was making this thing harder on myself than necessary.

[fyfo]

Great work getting your liebig made! Any chance of some photos mate?

[nuncaquite]

My computer is old but functions well. My camera is not as old, they dont talk w/o me downloading a program. I want to keep this old thing working, so Ive got fears about loading it down.........Ill just describe the liebig in detail.

Shined up with emery cloth to hide the horrible solder job. The same as half the other guys on here did.

[raketemensch]

Ill just describe the liebig in detail.

Shined up with emery cloth to hide the horrible solder job. The same as half the other guys on here did.

Hey, if you can't post pictures, just tell us it shines like the sun, with perfect silver pinstripes and a hood scoop.