Home Distiller

Hi guys I've been a long time member but don't speak much, I've been quietly making single malt scotch, corn whisky, rumsky, and hotdamn, now over this time I've been learning what I like and what I like to taste and I'm now ready to move from potstilling to a neutral making vm like minime used to compare against the boka, I would honestly be happy to use 2" as I have 8' of 2" spare so would be nice to use it
But I only have a 22gallon stainless keg for the boiler and will use an 18000btu gas boiler on it so....
I can make it from copper or stainless tube and understand slanted plates as I made a bokakob last year which I also like but, I just want to get neutral as quick as possible and with as little fuss as is necessary.
Cheers

Big bad Dave hunting sheep in the welsh highlands

minime doesn't post here anymore. You can find perhaps something or contact him on artisan-distiller.net.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =17&t=8376
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =17&t=7647
Those were his VM threads. But he deleted the pictures.

Are you sure, you need a VM? Why not distilling the neutral with a Boka?
I had a VM/LM combination and decided after a few runs, not to use the VM option anymore. LM is easier to control and produces 95% at the same speed. And my next build was a pure LM.
I know, there are different opinions about that.

Pawnstarr,

I use a combo LM/VM for my neutrals.

I start the run, stabilize in reflux, then open the LM and draw off the fores and early, early heads. Then, I close the LM and restabilize and compress the heads for a bit (20-30 minutes usually). Next, I open the VM and set it so my flow is right (where I want it) and start collecting the heads.

With a high RR and 1.8kW or so, the product will come off at 96.3%ABV and stay above 95.5%ABV through most of the run. When I get to the tails, the proof will fall rapidly and the flow slow to almost a drip. I'll collect down into the tails in a separate container (for feints).

A 9-10 gallon low wines (spirit run) boiler charge will take me 7-8 hours from the time I charge, power up, to power down and drain the backset. Of note, I strip using a potstill head so I do at least double distill my neutrals. Sometimes I even triple distill my neutrals using my small (16 liter) gin potstill. That produces really fine neutrals.

So, I much prefer the combination head flexibility in my process. I find it very easy to manage and get what I want out of the still. Of course, everybody is different and it does take a little training to operate any still the way you want to. But that is exactly why we "hobby" this.
ss

Yeah I see what you saying, honestly I feel the need to build another and all of minime pics disappeared in his threads so I cannot see them, I am a member on artisan I'll see if he stil has them (pun)
It's not necessarily that I don't get on with the bok but I wanna try the one he used like simple build to do in work next week
Thank you both for taking the time to reply

I take it it'll be fine to make it from ss as I've got a great offer of some 3" ss tube in 6ft length

Minime's last VM was a design by Harry... see if you can find an avatar photo of PatchworkDoll he has a photo of the vm head or at least a version of it ... there was a version using two ball valves with linkage between them so that as you open one the other closes and both could not be closed at the same time this way...

I like the one in the photo below it's nice and very compact




happy stillin,

FS

F.s I believe this particular one is what's called a "proportional splitting head".
One side is a VM, the other is a LM. The horizontal pipe just before the small ball valve is the reflux return.
It allows for either VM/LM take off or running both at same time (the LM side will determine the reflux returned in relation to the product take off on the VM side).
A very nice idea...I've not yet had the time to make one myself.

Hi Fullysilenced / Danespirit
Your right there was a linkage one somewhere but I think its gone now. I kinda preferred the one I have with the 2 stainless steel gate valves welded together (foolproof). One open one shut. Its a 54mm column 1500mm long. You can never have 2 shut at the same time (safety paramount). Ive had mine now for about 4 to 5 years and its fantastic. It was also designed by Harry Jackson.
Regards
Patch

If you want an easy build and operation on VM look up DAD300 CCVM. You can vary the build and use materials that are more available but it does not get simpler. If you do put a sight glass in put it lower than the takeoff closer to the packing.

Don't want to go into details of why but I don't believe Minimie has been on any forum for over a year.

You are correct Bushman,Minime has gave up the hobby and since moved to a new place of residence closer to his children!

I miss Mini!!!!

Thankyou I did think it funny that the pictures were deleted
I just want a simple to build, simple to operate relatively quick column, I'm gonna be using a 100litre 22 uk. gal sanke for a truly neutral spirit to play with flavours and I'd like to have a go at a nice gin possibly using a gin basket in a removable section maybe
3" stainless is looking good but I will join each section with removable sanitary clamps with Ptfe seals or Viton depending on what is available

I must say, modular is the way to go.
As I started building several years ago, I took a modular build as a starting point and have never had any regrets.
A CCVM, could easily be build modular, a separate gin basket should be feasible too.
Please forget about the Viton seals, PTFE is easy enough to get on E-bay, even for a 3" (76 mm).
Viton won't be suitable for distilling equipment (in the product path).
If you use Odin's method for Gin, you won't even need a Gin basket..

@Prawnstarr13

BTW if you look in my signature line you will see Hookline's drawings he has several versions that you can review and adjust your piping sizes proportionally based on column diameters... if you building a VM, LM or Splitting VM

Just good basic old style information to read and study...some general packing height info mixed in as well

happy stillin,

FS

Prawnstarr13 wrote:Thankyou I did think it funny that the pictures were deleted
I just want a simple to build, simple to operate relatively quick column, I'm gonna be using a 100litre 22 uk. gal sanke for a truly neutral spirit to play with flavours and I'd like to have a go at a nice gin possibly using a gin basket in a removable section maybe
3" stainless is looking good but I will join each section with removable sanitary clamps with Ptfe seals or Viton depending on what is available

in those days some pictures were hosted on outside servers. I lost several photos to not hosting on HD's servers.

people still post pictures from outside hosts and they to may disappear eventually.

if you want simple this is good advise.

Setsumi wrote:If you want an easy build and operation on VM look up DAD300 CCVM. You can vary the build and use materials that are more available but it does not get simpler. If you do put a sight glass in put it lower than the takeoff closer to the packing.

Ok so I have now got 9'9" of 3" copper, 3"x3"x3" tee 2 x 3 inch to 2 inch reducers 2"90 degree bends, I have 8ft of 2" spare, a 100 litre keg for boiler with 2" flange I have 15 ft of 1"3/4 too
Just need to get an overview and rough sizes
I will be making this out of all copper and I need to get the coil winding sorted cos to be honest I'm not sure of my abilities with regards to that part
Cheers

Hi Fullysilenced / Danespirit
Your right there was a linkage one and it did belong to Minime but I think all his pictures are gone now. I kinda preferred the one I have with the 2 stainless steel gate valves welded together (foolproof). One open one shut. Its a 54mm column 1500mm long. You can never have 2 shut at the same time (safety paramount). Ive had mine now for about 4 to 5 years and its fantastic. It was also designed by Harry Jackson. By the way Minime has posted recently and I have spoken to him as well. He no longer distills
Regards
Patch

Pwd do you know if he still gas pics or information so I can make one ?
I also want to use a bit of 3" for a fast stripping still
Lie bigs are no problem I've plenty of inch three quarters sat doing nothing

I understand he no longer stills but his manner and knowledge are sorely missed

Miniime is and was a good egg... yes he is missed on several forums...

Life is a fluid thing... and moves on... so has Mini... I wished him the best

Happy Stillin,

FS