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I have read about using mason jars but I need something that's at ;east 2 gallons, will be making a 8 gallon still this week.

What is everyone making thumpers out of?

Glass jars are not recommended for thumpers for safety reasons. You see them all the time plus like you say they are too small. Our recommendation is the thumper should be 1/3-1/2 the size of the boiler. We also recommend any part of the still that is in contact with the vapor or alcohol should be either copper or stainless steel. You should get some good ideas in the Pot still/thumper design section.

PS: Some of the pictures and information on the Parent site is outdated so go by the info on the forum.

Mine is a 3 gallon milk pail with a press fit lid, wrapped on the inside with teflon tape

DRAM2500 wrote:I have read about using mason jars but I need something that's at ;east 2 gallons, will be making a 8 gallon still this week.

What is everyone making thumpers out of?

With an 8 gallon boiler a stainless stockpot would work.

I just made this... I took a 5 gallon stock pot and made a copper lid that fit tightly... I use teflon tape to seal it.... I come off my still with 1/2 copper on unions so it adjustable and modular... it drops down and turns parallel with the bottom.... I drilled a bunch on holes it the flat piece... the out is 1" copper probably 10" long with a 1/2 over 3/4 Liebig I'm pretty happy with it


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That looks workable .

Yeah, that's a cute idea with thy cap press fit into the stockpot. It should work for a primary boiler, too. Does it give you any trouble sealing it?

skow69 wrote:Yeah, that's a cute idea with thy cap press fit into the stockpot. It should work for a primary boiler, too. Does it give you any trouble sealing it?

No I took a peice of 1/4 copper coil and sodder it on to the outside and wrap it in teflon tape.... no problems

Mgnt wrote:

skow69 wrote:Yeah, that's a cute idea with thy cap press fit into the stockpot. It should work for a primary boiler, too. Does it give you any trouble sealing it?

No I took a peice of 1/4 copper coil and sodder it on to the outside and wrap it in teflon tape.... no problems

The friend who made my new copper still, rolled a rim in the cap, so it did not fall down the boiler. Same effect as your coil. He sealed it with flour paste.

I don't have a machine shop so I had to improvised

Mgmt good job. It what comes out not how pretty it is.
Look at thangs an after while it will all make cents

So I'm tole

I made my first one similar to Mgnt: I used a SS office sized trash can I picked up at a yard sale (always on the lookout for stainless stuff--housewives decorate with this stuff from Target and then change their mind!)

I used a sheet of copper I got at another sale --it was a pressed picture made of copper (probably a souvenir), I just hammered it flat. instead of fitting inside the can, I hammered it over the edges. drilled and swaged a couple holes for the copper pipe and soldered them. to seal the waste can, I used flour paste and a big band clamp I picked up somewhere. it worked great and only cost like $3...so look around you may find everyday items can be used.

but now I just use another milk jug since it's so much easier to setup.

the pic is before it was soldered and clamped.