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So I have the Vevor 18 gallon still shown in pic#1. I've read and seen posts where adding more height to the column helps. I'm considering adding a 2"x18" spool piece between the existing column vessel and the pot top. (See pic#2) Inside the existing column is a plate and some ceramic balls and I added some copper choreboys. I have a few questions.

1. What, if any help will this help.

2. Should I put a mesh plate on top and bottom of the spool piece and put more packing in it?

3. Would there be any benefit to adding a cooling jacket or coil around the spool piece?

I apologize in advance if this has been covered.

The height makes sense if you have a reflux mode otherwise you won't need much...

What is your intentions with increasing the length by using extra column..

If you are to run it as a pot still, the extra will be of no benefit..

As to developing the unit into a reflux column, addition part will be required..

Ether way, it would be best if you researched and learn the different in unit style..

Mars

What if I added this instead

DJR1967 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 6:05 am What if I added this instead

What exactly is the end result you are wanting to accomplish, as you are all over the map with ideas....

Mars

Have you used this still yet? What are you trying to improve on? I have this exact still, (before I started building my own) and it works pretty good right out of the gate.

I've made about 5 runs on it so far but just stripping runs on bourbon mashbill washes making low wines.Im thinking ahead on different modifications to.work on efficiency and cooling conservation. Right now my bottleneck is mash making. I just acquired a 40 gallon fermenter and made one batch tonight and gonna make another 2 tomorrow so I'll have about 30-35 gallons fermenting by tomorrow. I've yet to run a spirit run as I don't have enough low wines accumulated yet. I've treated each stripping run as a spirit run and taken lots of notes and tasted each jar just to get the experience.

Most folks here will tell you to run your stripping runs pretty fast after collecting the fores and heads. After you reach into the tails, keep the better parts to blend back in before your spirit run. The chinese still works OK after you get rid of the silicone seals.