Hallo from canada

[MidnightBrewer]

I've been watching a friend of mine moonshine for two years. The more I probed into how he does it, the more I saw room for improvement and some experimentation.

I decided to study for a few days and start my own system. Studied yeast, why use the materials we use, heating, quasi-movability, ect.

started with apples and opened a world up for myself. I had a simple pot still, built with a pressure cooker, 1/2" copper tubing in a 5 gal home depot bucket.
I learned after 4 batches my cooker was aluminum and replaced it with Stainless. My friend still uses aluminum, even after all the info I gave him, but he's slowly beginning to listen.
experience vs strange intelligence, but my second try was good enough for him to start to listen.

I added a 2l glass jar thumper and learned how to do it all better, but I still see a lot of issues. As I pushed percentage, my flavour dissapeared, then I had some weird issues, so I've stopped after batch 5 till I can completely reset my system.

Since I live in town and rent, my setup is moved frequently to the deep woods. after over 30 years here I have a lot of places. Mid British Columbia in Canada is mountainous and thickly forested with plenty of lakes.

I'm currently doing as much R&D as my spare time can handle, but extra info is always welcome, and I usually share info in return. I'll try to post a few pics of my first two builds and expand on this once I'm less drunk on tequila and batch 4 moonshine. super happy to have found this forum.

[fizzix]

It's quite a forum, ABadBrewer.
I've never seen so much distilling information in one place and for FREE (Although I was compelled to throw a few coins in the fountain.)
Here's how to use HD Google Search (at the top of the page) to further your adventure:

HD Google Search.jpg

Good 'stilling to you, be safe, and have fun!

[BlackStrap]

ABadBrewer Welcome aboard;
You are well on your way, and it seems you take note on what does what, and sounds like you've have some what not to do's also... Looking forward to see your pictures.

Please keep things safe, have fun, and enjoy reading/studying this forum, lots of good useful information, and a great group of people.
Blackstrap

[nuntius01]

welcome

[cede]

Welcome on board !
Truckloads of infos here and very knowledgeable people.

[MidnightBrewer]

Neat way to sort through the info with the google hd search.

I should mention that its a canning jar, its good for up to something like 900°... I also acknowledge flaws and accidents do happen. So keeping an extinguisher is a must.

[MidnightBrewer]

New build, test run tomorrow. Pipe and bucket was all that was recycled. Not moving around anymore. Setup a 'private smoking hut' lol.

100% copper and stainless. No more reflux coil, % was too high for what i'm trying to make.

[johnsparrow]

Welcome to the site!

[MidnightBrewer]

Also about to make an orange mash and a lemon mash tomorrow. Citrus is notoriously difficult and I have a semi plan for it, and from what I found here I expect this to be... challenging.

I have a high grade ph tester, and am looking to use baking soda to bring ph to about 4.5 - 5. I have learned that using baking powder to get to ph 7 was too alkaline, and don't use the powder. Either it was too alkaline and cleaned corrosion out of my pipes (being as that was the 5th run, I don't believe that there should be much corrosion, could be wrong) and that powder turns blue when cooked in the mash.

Interrupted on this post for a new piece of equipment that arrived, a SS fermentor I want to repurpose for a boiler. it is 304 Stainless. Looking it over, it has two seals, but I could replace them with wood inserts, possibly. I'd have to replace them frequently to prevent mold, but while the tree oil is fresh it would be anti-bacterial, also may flavour the distillate slightly depending on the wood. fresh wood would also be less likely to crack, and swelling could help seal. Anyone have experience with something like this?

[bitter]

Welcome Fellow Canuck

[MidnightBrewer]

Ignore the wood sealer bit from before. Made a thicker flour paste, smacked myself in the head, rolled another J and went out to brew another 28 Liters.

[MidnightBrewer]

Worked great! ... also too much cinnamon in ur mash REALLY comes through in the distillate