Home Distiller

Okay so I've been lurking on here for years, finally bit the bullet and got a still and big fermenter, etc. Started ujssm from stogiefarts tutorial, easier read for me. Anyhow, I changed it up a bit. Instead of just corn, I did 6 different grains in equal parts to total up the same weight as in stogiefarts' post of 1.4#/gallon.
Sunflower seeds, corn, oats, Barley, millet and milo. Collected 14 gallons from above the sludge after 9 day ferment. Used a 55 gallon drum with a 175w aquarium heater, open top with a screen to keep out bugs. Starting gravity 1.055, ending gravity 1.007. Did 4 stripping runs thru my still down to 15%. Doing my first spirit run right now as I type. 1st cup jar I set aside, got 9 cups at 80% then it started dropping very slowly. I'm at about 72% now

Exciting stuff.

Sunflower seeds??..

Yup, sunflower seeds, no salt or anything added to em. Can definitely taste the sunflower seeds and corn thru it a lot more than the other grains.

On a side note, I bought my still instead of building it. Not much free time available for me outside of work to collect the pieces and build one, so I bought one from the internet for about $200 US. One of those Vevor 20 liter combo stills, Chinese. Very thin stuff, so I use the perforated plate that comes with the boiler for a heat shield, a way to disperse the flames so I don't scorch the bottom. Heating it with propane. Works good enough for now, eventually I'd like to modify this still and add a 2ft joint of pipe between the head and the boiler, also add a controller and a 120v heating element with a tri clamp where the drain port is, exactly like the guy from Barley and Hops on YouTube, if anybody is interested.

LunaDogFever707 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:06 pm no salt or anything added to em

but lotta oil, still...

I made a bird seed whiskey a while back which had sunflower seeds. Added a lovely flavour! And I like to think helped with puking....

DSmith78 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 5:08 am I made a bird seed whiskey a while back which had sunflower seeds. Added a lovely flavour! And I like to think helped with puking....

I'd have to try that, can't be too far off from what I made. These oddball recipes really interest me that's for sure haha

but lotta oil, still...
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Idk about oil added, if that were the case, wouldn't I see oil either in the distillate or in the backset? Haven't noticed any on any run so far. When I do cleaning runs, no oils show up.

Corn is oily enough as is! Either way, nothing like the first time! It's magic, making booze out of grains. Almost like making it appear out of thin air (except for all the work and science involved).

LunaDogFever707 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:22 pm Idk about oil added, if that were the case, wouldn't I see oil either in the distillate or in the backset? Haven't noticed any on any run so far. When I do cleaning runs, no oils show up.

It could not get thru the still... but it worked as a nutrient(s) in your fermenter. Dunno if that was for good or bad...

Hahaha well heck guess o got more reading to do, didn't know corn was oily! From my very limited experience, it tastes quite... Dandy I like it, the only negative effect I've noticed is I have this urge to make more

LunaDogFever707 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 12, 2019 10:46 am ...didn't know corn was oily!

Duh.....where do you think that “corn oil” on your grocery store shelf comes from?

Just like, where do you think sunflower oil comes from on the grocery store shelf? Or, olive oil? Or, vegetable oil, for that matter. Ever seen grape seed oil on the shelf?...all processed from seeds and fruit.
ss

Well-well, you oily souls here

May I ask you the last questions, please? Should I chop the sunflower seeds before fermentation? In which way? In what ratio to the rest of the grains being mashed?

Well I malted my bird seed so I did no chopping! Turned out very nice!

Hahaha I know that bit at least, just didn't think dried out and ground corn had much oil in it, if at all.

As far as seed prep, I didn't chop or cut any of em, just measured out equal parts by volume and dumped em in with my sugar water. Probably not the correct way but just experimenting.

Been a while since last update, been reading lots of different things on here, making mistakes and learning. Found out I'm not as good at soldering as I am at stick welding! Anyhow, got me a 15 gallon keg, a SS spool with ferrules on both ends, some Copper fittings and a 10ft stick of 3/4. Since my chinesium still is well... Chinesium, thought I'd make my own. Really wanna do a thumoer but don't have the funds at the moment to make one, so thought I'd just modify what I got and make it work.

Got my keg, lil spool cut and sleeved with Copper pipe, then a reducer from 2 to 3/4, then a tee. Nipple from tee to a union. Then a 90 to a length of 3/4 to another 90. Then a union, nipple, then 90 down to a length of 3/4 with a cap on the end. That last bit is going thru the lid of my old still. Figure that's guna work as my thumper and condenser. Can also use the football shape column on the old still as a dry gin basket while I have my wash down in the thumper below. Also have a little valve on the lid to vent when I shut the heat off so it doesn't implode. Will put another little valve on top of the keg just to be sure it doesn't implode either.

I'll post pics of my Frankenstein tomorrow in the daylight.