HbPs' double retort potstill build.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Here's a picture of the initial mock up of the still.

Everything is here except for the 1.5" 5psi prv. I was short the 1.5" tee and one 1.5" tc. It came in a week later.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Took me a couple days to get everything all soldered up.

But my soft solder skills have improved greatly. Plus all the copper TC fittings made things way easier. So I feel like I whipped this suckered together with confidence.

Here's how my skills progressed.

First thumper addition:

And here's the most recent work:

[Hillbilly Popstar]

So everything but the stainless welds is done.
I can use the set up as is.

It's gonna be a little while till I can find time to get with the welder who's gonna help me tig the stainless.

I did all my vinegar and sacrificial runs 2 weeks ago and did my first rum run yesterday.

Oh... I also added a thermometer
I dont use the thermometer to make my runs, but I do find them useful to know when it's time to turn in the cooling water and when the run is done.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

This run was an all Panela rum. 2 days into fermentation I infected the ferment with about 2 gallons of live dunder.

The still was loaded as such:
Main boiler:
14 gallons of 8% panela wash

1st Retort:
2 quarts of rum tails plus 2 gallons of fresh panela wash

2nd Retort:
A gallon of rum heads plus a gallon of fresh oanela wash

The first pint from this run smelled so good from 6ft away it made my mouth water and the proof weighed in at 178 proof.

[Deplorable]

Sure didn't take long for that shotty to gather a patina.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

I also upgraded my fire situation.

Out with the old.

And in with the new!

And let me tell you! This 10" banjo gets scary hot. It can drain my 7.5 gallon propane can in a half day easy with a 30psi regulator. The 2" shotty from Twisted Brick will handle EVERYTHING this burner can throw at it.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Sure didn't take long for that shotty to gather a patina.

I can't keep my hands off of it.

My wife told me to stop playing with it or I might go blind.
I dont think she's talking about the moonshine.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

So all that's left is to add a 6" filler neck and a 2" TC drain valve ferrule to the main boiler.
Plus each of the 5 gallon retorts is getting the 2" neck replaced with a 6" TC ferrule for attaching the 6-2" TC dome reducers. Each retort is also getting a 1.5" TC ferrule, also for drain valves.


However, after spending a little time driving this new girl, I fear I severely underestimated how much extra propane it would take to push steam through 2 thumpers. (Or maybe is the bigger banjo?) but as of now a 13 hour spirit run will damn near drain a 7.5 gallon propane keg.
So I am thinking of adding a couple extra 2" TC ferrules for later conversion to electric.

[OtisT]

I like it HP. Nice build.

I recommend you add the tails to the main boiler rather than the first retort, unless you like a little tails in your rum. Just my personal preference.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

I like it HP. Nice build.

I recommend you add the tails to the main boiler rather than the first retort, unless you like a little tails in your rum. Just my personal preference.

I do like the early tails before the oils really start coming over, but that isn't why I did this gs this way.

I was really just trying to follow suit with what I've been reading for traditional Jamaican potstilled rums.

However, I think it's safe to say I have no idea how to run a rig like this and I have LOTS of experimentation. To do in my future. But for me, that's the funnest part!

But the rum I made yesterday is pretty good if I may toot my own horn. I only hope it gets better from here.

[Wyododge]

I was wondering what you were gonna do with all those parts in your post on oak stills.

All I can say is dayuuuuum!!!

[Yummyrum]

Hats off to you Hillbilly , thats awesome .
Your soldering sure has improved

I’m envious of that setup you got going there .

Keep us informed of your trials . …. and early Rum does smell good . … even if its too headsy to drink , I love the smell of it too .

[shadylane]

+1 HbPs
Nice looking build.
Now it'd time to learn how to drive it.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Thanks for the kind words fellas.

In hindsight, here's the couple things I wish I had done differently.

1. I hate how close the first retort sits to the fire. I was using some DWV 1.5" pipe that was gifted to me, so I only had so much available. I wish I would have measured the 2 thumpers and made the 2nd lyne arm just long enough to connect them sitting right next to each other. This would allow the extra copper to be added to the 1st lyne arm, allowing for a little distance between the burner and the 1st retort. I figure this would also allow the 1st retort to help preheat the 2nd retort. This is easily fixed by adding short piece of 1.5" pipe to the lyne arm later on.

2. I didn't think ahead and measure the offsets coming off each column head. So now I have to set it all up with the kegs offset so the lyne arms line up, or they get set up at all kinds of weird angles. I mean, this doesn't effect performance at all, it's just an aesthetics thing.

[BlueSasquatch]

Very cool build, would you mind linking the PRV?

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Very cool build, would you mind linking the PRV?

https://www.oakstills.com/productinfo/538536.html

[Twisted Brick]

HbP, if the PRV in the link is the one you have, you might want to rethink its suitability. The one listed in the link is 1 Bar, (14.5 PSI) which is really high. I wanted a PRV no higher than 5PSI and because of the cost I went with a manometer.

[Hillbilly Popstar]

HbP, if the PRV in the link is the one you have, you might want to rethink its suitability. The one listed in the link is 1 Bar, (14.5 PSI) which is really high. I wanted a PRV no higher than 5PSI and because of the cost I went with a manometer.

It is adjustable. Upon ordering the PRV you tell them what pressure to set it to and they preset it before shipping. I got this one set to 5 psi.

Although, I want to test it. Who knows what those Chinese set it to.

[Salt Must Flow]

Holy cow, this came together nicely I love the attention to detail using all of those 90 elbows. Great work!

[Twisted Brick]

Although, I want to test it. Who knows what those Chinese set it to.

Ah, good to know. I thought I read earlier you said it was a 5psi valve. Can't take safety for granted.

[jonnys_spirit]

Love this double retort still and glad the OakStills parts worked out well!

Cheers!
-j

[ThomasBrewer]

Nice rig! This is the same setup your wife posted on FB the other day, right?

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Nice rig! This is the same setup your wife posted on FB the other day, right?

Yeah

[Bombo80]

I am curious to the actual size of the cleanout port on the main boiler.
I just picked up a new keg and would like an 8 inch port, but I am not sure if it will fit.
Did you have any issues installing your ?

[Hillbilly Popstar]

I am curious to the actual size of the cleanout port on the main boiler.
I just picked up a new keg and would like an 8 inch port, but I am not sure if it will fit.
Did you have any issues installing your ?

I haven't installed mine yet. Life has gotten hectic lately so this project had to get put on the back burner for a bit.

However, I'll say that after dry fitting my 6" neck, an 8" would be a tight fit. Keep in mind that by the time you add the width of the flange and the tri-clamp itself, a 6" is actually closer to 8" wide. It must be installed so that there is enough room between the clean out and the boiler neck to get your tri-clamps on and off.

[Chauncey]

Here's a picture of the initial mock up of the still.

20220326_165609.jpg20220326_165621.jpg

Everything is here except for the 1.5" 5psi prv. I was short the 1.5" tee and one 1.5" tc. It came in a week later.
20220401_132550.jpg

Kick ass

[Yummyrum]

Here's a picture of the initial mock up of the still.

20220326_165609.jpg20220326_165621.jpg

Everything is here except for the 1.5" 5psi prv. I was short the 1.5" tee and one 1.5" tc. It came in a week later.
20220401_132550.jpg

Kick ass

True that

[Chauncey]

Love the urban south and parish kegs.

[SassyFrass]

Great work, HBP. I'm glad the 2 retorts worked out for you. Have fun with the experimentation on driving it.
SF

[Hillbilly Popstar]

Appreciate the kind words friends