condensor coil question

[goatroper57]

hello all
ill let ya know my spelling ant that good. iam newbie at this so if my few questions sounds stuipd iam sorry as i want to do this as safe as possable. so i was wanting to know i have a peice of copper tubing it looks to be about 3/8 osd x about 12-15 feet long will it work as far as size. and it was use on a propane gas stove for about (3) 11 lb cans went thru it. can i still use it if the size is ok . and i order some yeast on ebay i got it for $9.50 for three packs heres the name of it (Liquor Making - Liquor Quik - Super Yeast X-Press) it says it makes 6.5 gallons but my fermenter is only 5gl. capasity will that make a difference if i use the hole 6.5 gl. pack in the 5gl. fermenter. and i was wanting to know i read some were in one of the distiller sites that ya can use sweet feed is that ok to do. as i have 12%sweet feed that i feed my horses i allso have chopped corn.
thanks all
goatroper57

[Dnderhead]

first that tube ok just wash it out with vinegar/water. more yeast is ok, just gives it a little head start.

[Oaty]

3/8 inch tubing should work just fine. For techniques for making a coil see: Winding a Coil. Any starch will work , but you have to mash it first. As you appear to be a Newbie use a sugar wash to get your feet wet, before trying to mash. While you're waiting you can finish your rig an study the homesite. Have you design in mind for your rig?

[Hawke]

Welcome,
Your copper should be fine. It's a little small for a worm, but will work.
Your Liquor Quick yeast is a 'Turbo' yeast. I would use 1/2 pack for your 5gal ferment.
Once it's used up, save yourself a bunch of money and buy regular bakers yeast or find a homebrew/ wine makers shop and get yeast from them. I have used Savlin Saf-ale 33 and EC-1118.
There is a recipe for sweetfeed on the parent site. The chopped corn can be used for a cooked mash or for UJSM (Uncle Jesse's Simple Sour Mash).
Lots of info to be found in the sticky posts for each section of the forums here and the parent site is considered required reading by most of us.
http://homedistiller.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[goatroper57]

thanks for the fast reply all
mr. dnderhead
thank you for the how to on cleaning the tubbing

mr.oaty
my rig is being made out of a outside turkey deep fry i got for x-mas about 5 years ago but never used it as a matter a fact would the burner that came with it be better to cook on then a electric stove witch would be easyer to regulate the on ok bat my rig components the pot is about 5 gl. i think and for the condenser iam going to coil the copper tub in a 48qt chest cooler ill put holes in the sides for the copper tub togo thru and seal them but witch way would be best lay the coil flat or up right and i read some were in here about a thumper do i need one of them in between the cookin pot and condenser

mr.hawke
i cant find that sweet feed wash you told me about i remember finding one about 2-3 weeks ago but i didin save it cause i never thought ied be makin a still so if you would please send me the direct link i would appeciate it
thanks yall
goatroper57

[Hack]

I use a turkey burner for my rig with a 15 gallon keg. The turkey burner is the way to go. It will bring your still up to temp much faster and give finer control of temp, even with a five gallon rig.

I also use 3/8" copper for my condenser. It works fine. You'll want to make sure to position your condenser so that any liquid can drain out of it, which if i understand your question means vertically. The vapor goes in the top, condenses on its way through and drains out the bottom as liquid.

EDIT:What Dnderhead is saying in the next post about positioning your condenser is the same as what I'm trying to say.

You don't need a thumper for your rig. I'd recommend starting without one at first. That will keep your still easier to run while you are figuring many other things out.

[Dnderhead]

Id use the gas burner electric stoves cycle on and off causing problems and lay your coil flat so it is all down "hill" and every thing will run out.

[Dnderhead]

sweet feed wash
add 3-4 inches of feed in the bottom of fermenter add 5 lb of sugar add 1/2 bucket hot water stir to dissolve sugar let sit 1/2 hour
add cold water when cooled to 80f add yeast

[goatroper57]

thank you mr. dnderhead
for your reply i think i can do it now ill just have to get my still ready one more question dose the sweet feed wash have to be heated on the stove or can i just use hot tap water as my tap water runs between 110f-120f thats what i have my hot water tank set at and i can turn it up if need be and iam on well water about 460ft deep P.S. i dont mean to be a pain in the butt i just want to make sure i do this right
thank you again
goatroper57

[Dnderhead]

the hot water is to dissolve the sugar /molasses so it can be out of the tap . can add all hot water but it would take longer to cool

[goatroper57]

ok that will work for me as far as time i got plently of that the reason i was askin about the tap water is i dont have any thing bigger then a 3gl. pot to heat up on stove and i think its made of aluminum and i do know ya shouldin use aluminum and i was thinking i had to cook the sweet feed for a little bit
thanks again your one smart man

[Dnderhead]

the feed is for flavor and nutrients much like UJSM (yeast mite "eat" some starch)

[Hack]

ok that will work for me as far as time i got plently of that the reason i was askin about the tap water is i dont have any thing bigger then a 3gl. pot to heat up on stove and i think its made of aluminum and i do know ya shouldin use aluminum and i was thinking i had to cook the sweet feed for a little bit
thanks again your one smart man

Aluminum should be fine for cooking up your mash. You just don't want it as part of your still.

[goatroper57]

mr. hack i thank very much for that info. but from what mr.dnderhead says i dont need to cook it anyway

and mr. dnderhead just to maake sure i under stood ya the coil should be coiled from one side of the cooler to the other rather then from the bottom to the top right

[Dnderhead]

hears some pitchers courtesy of nosegor http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... d#p6761800

[goatroper57]

ok thanks now i see what your talkin about that is what i thought you ment thanks a bunch and when i get the rest of my part as i have a lead on a 15 gl. fermenting vessel and maybe a pressure cooker if its big enought in stead of my turkey deep fryer pot ok ill holler at ya if you dont mind i know ill have some question on the putting it together probly and you were a big big help on how to make the wash i under stand it a hole lot better now thank you very very much
holler at ya later
goatroper57