Some questions about my next pot still build

[Changnoi]

Currently I'm using a homebuilt pot still, and I'm thinking about upgrading. My current set up is a heavy-duty 10gal SS pot, with a head/column/lyne arm made out of SS mixing bowl, 1/2" column and lyne arm, each about 2' long. My condenser is homebuilt brewing counterflow chiller, the distillate condenses in a 3/8" copper coil which has been fed into a 1" poly tube with standard hose thread adapters. It works pretty well, but I think it's nearly time for me to kick it up a notch.

My basic design centers around the standard keggle. My brother is a stainless welder and has offered to help me put the 4" ferrule in the top, the threaded bulkhead for the heating element in the side, the drain in the bottom, and of course the legs. Just your basic keggle. Since I brew beer and process poultry, this will have multiple uses around my farm.

I was planning to build a simple 2" column with SS ferrules, a 2" Liebig condenser with ferrules, and using tri-clamps, a Tee, and a 45 degree elbow, do the simple standard pot still build that's modular and some of the parts could be used later with SSVM, thumper, etc.

So I started shopping for copper. Holy crap batman. The best source I could find in my local wholesale plumbing supply carries ONLY 20' lengths of Type K (way overkill) for $250. I found a guy on ebay who sells Type L in lengths of 1,2,3,4, and 5 feet. 4 feet costs $80, so if I wanted my column and condenser to each be 2' long they would still cost me $40 and then I'd have to buy the ferrules, weld/braze them on, and do all the construction on the condenser myself, too.

Yes, I understand that 2' is considered fairly short especially when you're getting into reflux column builds. As a farmer, however, I am mostly dealing with fruit brandies. "Scotch" from whole grain. Rum from molasses. So I'm actually wanting those oils and congeners in certain situations.

Then I started looking on Ali Express, and found a guy who sells 20" flanged copper columns for around $50 with shipping, and 18" flanged stainless shotgun condensers for about $70 with shipping. That's only slightly more than I'm looking at paying just in copper and stainless ferrules and then having to do the work.

What do you all think is the best way to go about something like this? I'm not in a hurry, I'd rather think and plan this through since I have a system that works. I really appreciate any advice you can give.

[corene1]

Personally , I enjoy the design and building of my stills . It gives me a certain satisfaction knowing I built it from scratch. For copper pieces I use this supply company. Reasonable prices and quick shipment. https://www.supplyhouse.com/Copper-Pipe-25966000" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow For Stainless fittings and tubing I am fortunate enough to have a steel supply house locally that carries all that I will need in building stainless pieces for my still as well as large sheets of copper if I make a copper boiler instead of stainless.

[Changnoi]

corene1: thank you for your reply! I really enjoy designing and building, and I just got frustrated with the prices of copper pipe earlier. I'll check into the link you gave and see what I can come up with. We have a full shop here and my brother is an excellent metalworker and has offered to help with everything, so I am fortunate. As far as building the keggle, I definitely need to do that regardless of whether I build a column and/or condenser. At minimum for the keggle I'll be taking out the ball valve, cutting off part of the rim, installing a 4" cleanout on top, inserting an electric element and drain, all the basics.

I am also lucky to have a nearby stainless steel tank manufacturing company that sells all the fittings, adapters, etc retail from their brick-and-mortar store. So I can get the ferrules, gaskets, tri-clamps, adapters like tees and elbows, etc just by driving a few miles.

Just the cost of copper and stainless, and the amount of work needed, made it seem like building my own basic column and Liebig condenser would be more expensive and time consuming that just getting an OTS version from china. As I intend to, in the future start using a thumper and maybe at some point a reflux column, getting the basic pieces sorted now seems reasonable, as long as I can use them in version 2 and 3.

Thank you!

[NZChris]

Have a talk to your local scrap metal dealers. I picked up 4' of 2" for bugger all at the first one I tried.

Edited to add 'all'

[Changnoi]

NZChris that's not a bad idea; I'll have to look into that. Not sure I want to go the bugger route

[corene1]

With a full shop have you considered making your boiler as well? You could make any size or configuration you want.

[Changnoi]

corene1 haven't even remotely considered it. I'm trying to take baby steps here and bite off only as much as I can chew at a time. Because of the batch size I already use for brewing and poultry processing, a keggle works perfectly. My brother already has dozens of kegs on hand because he makes backyard fire barrels for people by cutting out artistic designs, so rather than invent and fabricate a boiler I'm content to just modify what I have available. I'm humbled by your attitude about constructing from scratch though. As I gain more experience and confidence hopefully I'll be able to walk down that road. I'm already bootstrapping hard as a farmer with limited resources.

Thanks for your response!

[Twisted Brick]

You are indeed fortunate to have a welding source to assist with outfitting what sounds to be a very nice keg. Your plan for a modular pot/CCVM still is popular and gaining momentum. I have purchased a few pieces of copper from Supply House and the service was prompt.

Like Corene, I enjoy the design/building aspect, and optimizing those features that I can. I too, built this same modular still and love its versatility. I think you'll enjoy the build.

[Changnoi]

Thank you so much for your reply Twisted Brick. I've read the build that you just linked and I am in awe of the machining required. It's part of what made me go "well maybe I should just buy an already made shotgun condenser instead of building a simple Liebig." Eventually I want to get 1/4 of the way to the point of your build, but not this day. LOL!

[Oldvine Zin]

Hey Changnoi,
I know that copper and parts can add up $ wise. Some times you can get lucky at the scrap yard or craigslist. Also sometimes cheap turns out expensive, if you havn't already read this topic: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74198 you should.

Be safe
OVZ

[Changnoi]

Thanks, Oldvine Zin! I've gotta get myself plugged into the scrap yards I guess, and start watching craigslist more often. And yeah, I'm trying to avoid the whole "penny wise pound foolish" thing, and in a lot of ways it's true: you get what you pay for. I hadn't read that topic yet either, so that was fun.

I'm still up in the air over this one, starting to think I should scour the scrap yards and craigslist for a few months and meanwhile, just make a minor repair on my existing homebuilt still. Anyone know where to get 3/4" ID PTFE/Teflon washers?

[cob]

if you look around here you will find several folks have turned their kegs upside down,

the 4" goes on the new top, and the now on the bottom opening is a ready made 2" drain.

[Changnoi]

Hmmmmm I haven't seen that before but it makes sense, cob. My intent is to go with a 2" column (I don't really need bigger, and TBH I'd be happy with a short alembic style still) and the 4" on top is for filling and cleaning access. I intend to use my keggle to boil water and maybe wort as well, so it needs to be really easy to clean.

[Twisted Brick]

"well maybe I should just buy an already made shotgun condenser instead of building a simple Liebig."

Because of their heat transfer coefficient, copper condensers are superior to ss ones. You wouldn't have to machine anything (just solder) if you went with a couple of my flanged plates in making a copper shotgun. Also, the limiting factor in your still output speed would definitely be overcome by replacing a liebig with a shotgun.

[NZChris]

My second build, soon after the first, was to build a Cognac style Charentais preheater to eliminate the heat up times when stripping. It's proven much more time and energy efficient than building a larger still. There are a few mentions on the forum that a search for Charentais should find.