Home Distiller

Hi, first post here, seeking advice from all of you, nice to meet you all.

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:53 am Hi, first post here, seeking advice from all of you, nice to meet you all.

Welcome October!

MY first piece of advice to you is NOT TO SPEND ANY MONEY for a couple months.

Unless it's to purchase Proof and Traille, Alcohometer hydrometers or pH test strips.

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:59 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:53 am Hi, first post here, seeking advice from all of you, nice to meet you all.

Welcome October!

MY first piece of advice to you is NOT TO SPEND ANY MONEY for a couple months.

Unless it's to purchase Proof and Traille, Alcohometer hydrometers or pH test strips.

Thanks, you mean wait 2 months because everything is too expensive now?

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:08 am

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:59 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:53 am Hi, first post here, seeking advice from all of you, nice to meet you all.

Welcome October!

MY first piece of advice to you is NOT TO SPEND ANY MONEY for a couple months.

Unless it's to purchase Proof and Traille, Alcohometer hydrometers or pH test strips.

Thanks, you mean wait 2 months because everything is too expensive now?

NO! Wait two months to make a good decision on what you have read here and initially stay away from chinese tin until you are fairly sure what direction you will take.

Good Luck!

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:15 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:08 am

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:59 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:53 am Hi, first post here, seeking advice from all of you, nice to meet you all.

Welcome October!

MY first piece of advice to you is NOT TO SPEND ANY MONEY for a couple months.

Unless it's to purchase Proof and Traille, Alcohometer hydrometers or pH test strips.

Thanks, you mean wait 2 months because everything is too expensive now?

NO! Wait two months to make a good decision on what you have read here and initially stay away from chinese tin until you are fairly sure what direction you will take.

Good Luck!

Ah ok, my initial thought actually was to get a cheap amazon still, learn its weak spots and then upgrade it with flour or cement.

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:20 am

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:15 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:08 am

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:59 am

Welcome October!

MY first piece of advice to you is NOT TO SPEND ANY MONEY for a couple months.

Unless it's to purchase Proof and Traille, Alcohometer hydrometers or pH test strips.

Thanks, you mean wait 2 months because everything is too expensive now?

NO! Wait two months to make a good decision on what you have read here and initially stay away from chinese tin until you are fairly sure what direction you will take.

Good Luck!

Ah ok, my initial thought actually was to get a cheap amazon still, learn its weak spots and then upgrade it with flour or cement.

First you must decide what you want to make, how much, and why. Then decide whether to learn how to make great neutral or less than great flavored/colored spirits. You can be making the best neutral spirits in a lot less than a year, or, somewhat passable flavored/colored spirits in several years.

Choice is yours.

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:45 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:20 am

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:15 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:08 am

Thanks, you mean wait 2 months because everything is too expensive now?

NO! Wait two months to make a good decision on what you have read here and initially stay away from chinese tin until you are fairly sure what direction you will take.

Good Luck!

Ah ok, my initial thought actually was to get a cheap amazon still, learn its weak spots and then upgrade it with flour or cement.

First you must decide what you want to make, how much, and why. Then decide whether to learn how to make great neutral or less than great flavored/colored spirits. You can be making the best neutral spirits in a lot less than a year, or, somewhat passable flavored/colored spirits in several years.

Choice is yours.

hello and welcome!

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:20 am Ah ok, my initial thought actually was to get a cheap amazon still, learn its weak spots and then upgrade it with flour or cement.

Don’t do it! I had exactly the same thought, and acted on it. Today, a little more than a year and a lot more than the initial price tag later, all I have left is the pot and lid, and those are so heavily modified as to be nearly unrecognizable. I finally have it in a condition which I think is tolerably usable and reliable, but I am still dealing with a few limitations.

The sad reality is that the weak spot of a Vevor still is the whole still. You -can- modify and use one. I am. But the real best fix is to replace it, or better yet not to have bought it in the first place. The only really good thing I can say about the whole thing is that it has been an invaluable educational experience for me. It worked just barely well enough to keep me plugging along, making modifications, gaining new skills with each incremental improvement. But the guys here are right, there is a better, faster, cheaper way.

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:45 am Then decide whether to learn how to make great neutral or less than great flavored/colored spirits.

With all due respect, I don’t think that’s entirely true. I would argue that in far less than a year I was making something at least as good as the stuff I’d commonly buy, with as clear path forward for improvement. I’m certainly not making top shelf products yet, but I don’t think it’s fair to suggest that I should have focused on making vodka instead just because it’s easier to master.

I do completely agree that it’s helpful to have a good idea which area you want to focus on first, though. For me, I’m not a huge fan of neutral or any of the things made from it. My preference is whiskey, brandy, and rum, and I accept that those come with a bit of a learning curve. If I was simultaneously trying to master neutral, I would be struggling to produce either one well.

Bunny is correct. Figure out what you wanna make,and start reading. Patience is the key for pretty.much every decision you'll make in this hobby. That's why it important to read here. Welcome to the rabbit hole and

Steve I'm the kind of person who goes very slowly and double check everything. I'm into beer, cider and gin. What do you think is better than the ebay still+cement/flour?

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:59 am What do you think is better than the ebay still+cement/flour?

A beer keg, triclamp ferrules, and solder, braze, or welding. Or a stainless milk can, triclamp ferrules, and solder, braze, or welding. Or a simple stainless pot of whatever size you like, triclamp ferrules, and solder, braze, or welding.

I think you might get the idea that I’m a big fan of triclamp for the flexibility and modularity that it gives. The choice of pot will largely be dictated by how you’re going to heat it and how big you want it to be, as well as what is available locally and/or in your budget.

I agree with bunny, decide what you’d like to focus on first, research the sort of stills people are using for those products, and then decide how to go about getting the still that you need. There are also ready made stills available, and while the prices seem high at first, you can and probably will spend more than than in the long run on a cheaper DIY option.

Steve Broady wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 11:08 am

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:59 am What do you think is better than the ebay still+cement/flour?

A beer keg, triclamp ferrules, and solder, braze, or welding. Or a stainless milk can, triclamp ferrules, and solder, braze, or welding. Or a simple stainless pot of whatever size you like, triclamp ferrules, and solder, braze, or welding.

I think you might get the idea that I’m a big fan of triclamp for the flexibility and modularity that it gives. The choice of pot will largely be dictated by how you’re going to heat it and how big you want it to be, as well as what is available locally and/or in your budget.

I agree with bunny, decide what you’d like to focus on first, research the sort of stills people are using for those products, and then decide how to go about getting the still that you need. There are also ready made stills available, and while the prices seem high at first, you can and probably will spend more than than in the long run on a cheaper DIY option.

great, I'll keep that in mind.

Steve Broady wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:50 am

bunny wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:45 am Then decide whether to learn how to make great neutral or less than great flavored/colored spirits.

With all due respect, I don’t think that’s entirely true. I would argue that in far less than a year I was making something at least as good as the stuff I’d commonly buy, with as clear path forward for improvement. I’m certainly not making top shelf products yet, but I don’t think it’s fair to suggest that I should have focused on making vodka instead just because it’s easier to master.

I do completely agree that it’s helpful to have a good idea which area you want to focus on first, though. For me, I’m not a huge fan of neutral or any of the things made from it. My preference is whiskey, brandy, and rum, and I accept that those come with a bit of a learning curve. If I was simultaneously trying to master neutral, I would be struggling to produce either one well.

Please let me clarify my opinions:

Anyone capable of reading with comprehension can with minimal skills produce world class neutral in much less than one year.
Good luck producing anything else world class in under a year. ( You might have a chance if it remains white.)

I do not believe in "modular" for the sake of tinker toys or erector sets. Modular for me is strictly for take down, cleaning and storage ease.

Neural requires a reflux column. All the other products are best made with a pot still. These are two very different techniques which pretty much requires two set-ups also pretty much requires a choice of direction or adequate funding to do both.

"Steve Broady": I agree with you that trying to master neutral, whiskey, brandy, and rum all at once would be a struggle.

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:59 am Steve I'm the kind of person who goes very slowly and double check everything. I'm into beer, cider and gin. What do you think is better than the ebay still+cement/flour?

Hi October, welcome to the rabbit hole. Enjoy the journey.

By now you’ve figured out that there’s lots of different ways to approach this hobby, and lots of great conversations and debates on HD about it. As the other guys have said, knowing what you would like to focus on is important. There are no one size fits all / makes all solutions. Read, read and read some more, and you’ll soon come to a landing on what will work for you.

You mentioned being into beer. There’s quite a few of us who ended up here via all grain home brewing. If that’s you, then there’s a fair chance that you’ll be able to build a serviceable hobby still with a few simple mods to your rig. There’s also lots of good advice here on how to go about it safely.

Have fun, and be safe.

GrumbleStill wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 1:27 pm

October wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:59 am Steve I'm the kind of person who goes very slowly and double check everything. I'm into beer, cider and gin. What do you think is better than the ebay still+cement/flour?

Hi October, welcome to the rabbit hole. Enjoy the journey.

By now you’ve figured out that there’s lots of different ways to approach this hobby, and lots of great conversations and debates on HD about it. As the other guys have said, knowing what you would like to focus on is important. There are no one size fits all / makes all solutions. Read, read and read some more, and you’ll soon come to a landing on what will work for you.

You mentioned being into beer. There’s quite a few of us who ended up here via all grain home brewing. If that’s you, then there’s a fair chance that you’ll be able to build a serviceable hobby still with a few simple mods to your rig. There’s also lots of good advice here on how to go about it safely.

Have fun, and be safe.

Welcome aboard man. Check out the Tried and True. A lot of great recipes there. The all bran recipe is good and makes a good drop. Mater a pot still and cuts. You will be busy with that for awhile. Welcome aboard and stay safe.