New Member

New to distillation, or simply new to the HD forums.
** Your first post MUST go here. Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your interest in distilling. Any posts asking distilling questions will be deleted. **

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
Cmfb
Novice
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon May 22, 2023 7:11 pm

New Member

Post by Cmfb »

Hello!
New to the site. I'm located in the central US.
I just started looking into stilling as a new hobby. Currently looking to buy a beginner still to get my feet wet. Leaning toward a cheap Vevor, but open to recommendations. Can't wait to get started.
User avatar
EricTheRed
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1108
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:49 pm
Location: South Africa

Re: New Member

Post by EricTheRed »

Welcome
Milkcan - beerkeg
Triclamp fittings
2"
Liebig - shotgun
Copper - ss

All search terms to get you started

:D
My fekking eyes are bleeding! Installed BS Filters - better! :D
Life has gotten interesting!
User avatar
Demy
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3084
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:45 pm

Re: New Member

Post by Demy »

Welcome to the forum
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: New Member

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Welcome Cmfb.
Before you leap into buying a "Cheap Beginner Still" you might like to read from a couple of the threads below.
Could save you money and frustration further into the hobby.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=87049
viewtopic.php?t=65528&start=30
viewtopic.php?t=89172
viewtopic.php?t=90061
Wildcats
Distiller
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:12 pm
Location: Kentucky

Re: New Member

Post by Wildcats »

Welcome aboard man. There a lot of better starting stills than the vevor. Don't waist your money on it. Have fun and stay safe.
Bradster68
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2196
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:57 am
Location: Canada

Re: New Member

Post by Bradster68 »

Welcome and 🍻. Great hobby. Deep rabbit hole. I did buy a still,wasn't cheap, but works great. Be careful before you buy.
I drink so much now,on the back of my license it's a list of organs I need.
Cmfb
Novice
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon May 22, 2023 7:11 pm

Re: New Member

Post by Cmfb »

Appreciate the replies! I've spent the past few days pouring over the forum as suggested. Although fairly overwhelmed now, I'm glad I did.

I've decided to ditch the Vevor (for all the reasons stated throughout this site) and make a pot still from a keg with a shotgun condenser. I happened to find a 15.5 gallon locally for $25, so I snatched that up. I work as a commercial electrian, so copper pipe and fittings are pretty easy to barter for on the job. I plan to make it as modular as possible in case I decide to try a reflux head or something later. I'm also looking at going electric with a 5.5kw element and scr. I didn't realize building a simple pot sill was so easy or I would have started there.

I'm getting through the required reading sections and some of it is even starting to make sense lol. So hopefully in a couple months I'll have a full design nailed down as I'm still trying to make sure I understand everything well enough before jumping in.

I'm glad I found this site. I can't believe how much information is here. Enough of my rambling lol.

Again, thanks for a push in the right direction.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: New Member

Post by Saltbush Bill »

One last suggestion, if you are new to soldering save your self some grief and build a liebig condenser for the pot still rather than a shotgun.
A liebig is fast and cheap to build as well as whole lot easier.
Make the shorty a project for the future when you have more experience.
Cmfb
Novice
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon May 22, 2023 7:11 pm

Re: New Member

Post by Cmfb »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 10:22 pm One last suggestion, if you are new to soldering save your self some grief and build a liebig condenser for the pot still rather than a shotgun.
A liebig is fast and cheap to build as well as whole lot easier.
Make the shorty a project for the future when you have more experience.
My brother-in-law is a commercial plumber. I'm going to have him do it lol. I'm decent at soldering/brazing, but I know my limits. He can make it look factory. He's also my parts guy lol.
User avatar
sadie33
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1493
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:45 pm

Re: New Member

Post by sadie33 »

hello and welcome!!
User avatar
HDNB
Site Mod
Posts: 7360
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:04 am
Location: the f-f-fu frozen north

Re: New Member

Post by HDNB »

Links to these sites and videos are not welcome here and will be deleted:
American Copper Works
HILL TOP COPPER OR DEEP SOUTH STILLS
Powder River Copper works
copperflutes.com
Stilldrinkin
realmccoymoonshinestills
Rkhelp,
Hillbilly Stills
visionstills
woodshed distilling
Agenzymes.com.
Youtube channels: Barley and Hops Brewing.===These sellers have a poor reputations regarding advice, service, delivery or workmanship. Caveat Emptor.
Other links to vendors may be left for user's convenience but are not endorsed by the forum. If any vendor become suspect, they will be added to this list and the links deleted. Users repeatedly linking to these vendors may also be banned.
I finally quit drinking for good.

now i drink for evil.
User avatar
Stonecutter
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1911
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:40 pm
Location: Somewhere within the Milkyway

Re: New Member

Post by Stonecutter »

Welcome aboard, have fun and stay safe. Looks like you’re off to a good start.
Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.
-Thomas Paine
Post Reply