Now that distillation is becoming legal in WV

[rickyaifd]

Now that distilling is becoming legal in West Virginia, I found a pic of a still set-up that has everything I want in an ideal set-up, except it uses mason jar thumpers. Knowing the risks of glass, What type of thumper set-up would you all recommend in place of the thumper set-up shown? The only other substitution is the pot itself. This picture is a Vevor pot and I have decided to go with a Brewhaus 15 gallon kettle and use their electric band heaters. The main question is a recommendation to use in place of the glass jar set-up pictured.

[Bolverk]

Funny, i saw this one in one of the FB groups.

Ideally, your thumper should be 1/3-1/2 the size of your boiler, so that's why a lot of people will use 20l and 30l kegs.

[rickyaifd]

Yes, the photo was in a distillation group on Facebook and it is the type of set-up that I am looking at. The primary difference between what I want and the photo is the choice of pot and a suitable substitution for the glass thumper set-up. Glass is inherently dangerous with the hot alcohol vapor and liquids and risk shattering. Glass is also frowned upon with serious distillers. No reputable, careful distiller uses glass in any part of their construction of the still.

[Bolverk]

So you want a 15g pot and 3 thumpers?

I have a 10l (2.5g) keg I got off Amazon that works well as a small thumper. https://a.co/d/8l10TWS

[Twisted Brick]

So you want a 15g pot and 3 thumpers?

Rickyaifd, what spirit are you planning to make with 3 thumpers?

[Bolverk]

Something like the Stilldragon Caribbean rum machine (double thumpers or double retort), in my opinion is perfect for a flavored spirit (rum, whiskey, and/or brandy), but it has the valves so you can pick and choose how you want to do your runs.

[Steve Broady]

May I offer a suggestion?
Make sure that whatever boiler you use has triclamp connections, then start with a simple pot still setup. Learn to run that, and THEN add thumpers. Otherwise you’re trying to learn too lane variables at once, and if/when it’s not what you hoped you’ll have a hard time fixing it.

[rickyaifd]

That's a good point Steve. I will probably do that to start with.

[Saltbush Bill]

Those stills were designed that way for the bling effect, I've seen them with 10 and more glass thumpers.
Can someone tell me what the benefit having of three small thumpers like that, is over building a still the traditional way using just one or two properly sized thumpers?
I't has to be a great design, it has three thermometers.
I hope none of those valves can be turned to a position where it creates a bomb.

[rickyaifd]

What am I wanting to make with that set-up pictured minus the glass thumpers......I would start out by taking advice given me time and time again, start out by running storebought wine in order to learn the particular characteristics of the still set-up. Learning the heat controls and everything else. Then go to a simple sugar wash ( such as birdwatchers or Shady's Sugar Shine or Wineo's Sugar wash ), Once that is complete, then probably go to a simple grain run such as Odin's cornflakes mash. Then decide from there what specific mixes and mashes/ washes to make for my own consumption and use.

[NormandieStill]

I would go the other way. I'd start with a T+T sugar wash and no thumpers. Then maybe start adding botanicals or fruit washes to one of the thumpers to see about adding flavours. Then maybe a UJSSM because it seems to be an easy and consistent recipe. Once that's stable you could experiment with adding wash, or feints or low wines to the thumpers to see what the effect was on the final product.

But I also think that in those cases and those you described you're putting the cart before the horse. If you don't know what the thumper(s) will do, take them out of the equation. As best as I can tell they are peculiar to the production of certain runs and the moonshining community. I've certainly not seen any on any of the traditional stills in France or Scotland (The two countries whose distillation methods I'm most familiar with).

I could imagine that setup being good for adding auxiliary flavours like making a geist, but you'll need a cleanly cut spirit to run through there first, otherwise your cuts will obscure the flavours that you're trying to add.

[Bolverk]

Let me first say, no disrespect intended in the following...

I suspect you want this more because "it looks cool" and thats ok, but these small "Tennessee thumpers" are really the least functional thing you could be doing to infuse flavor. They are ridiculously small and just don't work well in the grand scheme of things. It would really be in your best interest to abandon the small thumpers and go with ones that are more correctly sized. But, hell it's your money, and you're free to waste it however you see fit.

[elbono]

Let me first say, no disrespect intended in the following...

I suspect you want this more because "it looks cool" and thats ok, but these small "Tennessee thumpers"

I'm from Tennessee and was tempted to feel disrespected by that name, then I looked around.a bit and decided you aren't far off the mark.

[Saltbush Bill]

The subject of these types of stills has come up before.
viewtopic.php?t=67246
Even if the glass jars are replaced I've yet to see anyone say they are a great design.

[Bolverk]

I'm from Tennessee and was tempted to feel disrespected by that name, then I looked around.a bit and decided you aren't far off the mark.

I mean I didn't coin the term, that's what I've always heard the jar thumpers referred to as.

[Saltbush Bill]

My gut feeling is that it's a relatively recent term for this type of still, probably thought up by the people marketing them.
I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will tell me fairly quickly.
I've seen plenty of remarks from some of the more experienced distillers saying it's not a great design, even if you take the glass out of the equation.
Still waiting to see if anyone can tell me how or why this design works better than traditional styles of thumper stills.

[elbono]

I guess I'm above average in TN, my gripe is that bar just keeps getting easier to jump over.

Those "Tennessee thumpers" work great because they have a dope tik tok showing them doing their stuff!

[rickyaifd]

As I said in the first posting, I don't want that type of mason jar thumper or thumper setup. I guess I'm looking for a suitable substitution. As the picture showed, the thump setup can be bypassed. I am well aware of the dangers of glass. Yes, I know the glass thumpers 'look cool' mainly because of the influence of a certain quasi-reality show.

[Bolverk]

So I guess I'm back to my original question...
You want a 15g pot and 3 thumpers?

[Yummyrum]

Ideally, your thumper should be 1/3-1/2 the size of your boiler

Boom , first reply and it had the correct answer

[rickyaifd]

So I guess I'm back to my original question...
You want a 15g pot and 3 thumpers?

Ideally, one thumper should suffice.

[still_stirrin]

ricky,
The rig in your original post would never make good spirits, because … it’s TOO SHINY. Even the kitchen looks too shiny. So, you’ve got to break it in a while so it starts to look like a real stillhouse. “Operating Room” sanitization is so overdone that it is too sterile. Use your system a while and you’ll soon understand what I mean. Regardless, if that is your kitchen, next time I want to see your wife in the photo too.
ss

[Bolverk]

Ideally, one thumper should suffice.

Ok, so you have a few problems. The Brewhaus 15 gallon kettle is fine but you're going to want 2, possibly 3 of their 1500w band heaters if you want to get up to boiling in a reasonable time. This becomes a challenge because you need 2 or 3 15A circuits to drive the bands.

Heatup time for 12 gals with 1 1500w band is about 2.5 hours, 2 1500w heaters would be about 1.25 hours.

As for the thumper situation, if you're using a 15g gal boiler, you'll charge it with no more than say 12 gallons. So you'll want a thumper in the 4-6 gallon range minimum. A lot of people get used 20l or 30l kegs as they can be had pretty cheap on Craigslist or FB marketplace.

Check out the thumper section, lots of good ideas there.
viewforum.php?f=16

The bigger question, what do you want to make? Decide on that then build, make, buy the still that's geared more that that.

[rickyaifd]

Ideally, one thumper should suffice.

Ok, so you have a few problems. The Brewhaus 15 gallon kettle is fine but you're going to want 2, possibly 3 of their 1500w band heaters if you want to get up to boiling in a reasonable time. This becomes a challenge because you need 2 or 3 15A circuits to drive the bands.

Heatup time for 12 gals with 1 1500w band is about 2.5 hours, 2 1500w heaters would be about 1.25 hours.

As for the thumper situation, if you're using a 15g gal boiler, you'll charge it with no more than say 12 gallons. So you'll want a thumper in the 4-6 gallon range minimum. A lot of people get used 20l or 30l kegs as they can be had pretty cheap on Craigslist or FB marketplace.

Check out the thumper section, lots of good ideas there.
viewforum.php?f=16

The bigger question, what do you want to make? Decide on that then build, make, buy the still that's geared more that that.

I can opt for the 8 gallon kettle if need be. As far as what I will be attempting to make...... As I stated in another posting, I will start out by running store-bought wines..... That way, I can learn the ins and outs of that particular setup, then after I do a few runs of that, probably graduate to a simple sugar shine such as bird watchers, Shady's sugar shine, or Wineo's simple sugar wash, then after a few runs of that, start with the simple grain based run such as Odin's corn flakes whiskey

[Bolverk]

I can opt for the 8 gallon kettle if need be. As far as what I will be attempting to make...... As I stated in another posting, I will start out by running store-bought wines..... That way, I can learn the ins and outs of that particular setup, then after I do a few runs of that, probably graduate to a simple sugar shine such as bird watchers, Shady's sugar shine, or Wineo's simple sugar wash, then after a few runs of that, start with the simple grain based run such as Odin's corn flakes whiskey

8 gal would easily work with 1 1500w element.

I saw that part, but those are all what you plan on doing while cutting teeth. I ask because you mention sugar shine above and a thumper set up isn't the right for neutrals. You're going to have to run it and dilute it multiple times just to get close to a neutral profile.

What's your goal though? All grain whiskey, rum, fruit/wine brandy or are you shooting for more neutral spirits like vodka,
or neutral for gins?

[The Booze Pipe]

ricky,
The rig in your original post would never make good spirits, because … it’s TOO SHINY. Even the kitchen looks too shiny. So, you’ve got to break it in a while so it starts to look like a real stillhouse. “Operating Room” sanitization is so overdone that it is too sterile. Use your system a while and you’ll soon understand what I mean. Regardless, if that is your kitchen, next time I want to see your wife in the photo too.
ss

You need a nice patina on her

[quote=Bolverk post_id=7781086 time=<a href="tel:1712472337">1712472337</a> user_id=91716]
So I guess I'm back to my original question...
You want a 15g pot and 3 thumpers?

Ideally, one thumper should suffice.
[/quote]

Save your money on the store bought stuff, and start a UJSSM sour mash. It’s easy to make a lot of wash, and cheap. It’ll give you a lot to distill, including the sacrificial run, providing all the experience you need..
It makes a decent whiskey, or you could turn it into neutral spirit if that’s more your thing.

And agreed, start simple and build off that.

[rickyaifd]

Ahh, ultimate goal for home distillation: Probably to just make a good neutral for blending/mixing my own cocktails.....i.e. a vodka or a gin base. And yes, I am aware that I can buy an inexpensive vodka from the local store just for that purpose. Mostly interested in distillation is to keep up the traditions started by my parents as they owned a very, very small craft distillery. My own favorite drink are the various types of meads. In truth, I'll most likely just get a small affair, like an alembic or other smaller type still, and do the occasional run of a simple mash or wash. However, in whatever still I either buy or make, needs to be small enough to go in a senior apartment building, use tri-clamp connections, and a shotgun type condenser. No, the original picture I posted was an example of the ultimate still set-up in my opinion for home distillation. I can only wish my kitchen was that big.

[Bolverk]

Ahh, ultimate goal for home distillation: Probably to just make a good neutral for blending/mixing my own cocktails.....i.e. a vodka or a gin base. And yes, I am aware that I can buy an inexpensive vodka from the local store just for that purpose. Mostly interested in distillation is to keep up the traditions started by my parents as they owned a very, very small craft distillery. My own favorite drink are the various types of meads. In truth, I'll most likely just get a small affair, like an alembic or other smaller type still, and do the occasional run of a simple mash or wash. However, in whatever still I either buy or make, needs to be small enough to go in a senior apartment building, use tri-clamp connections, and a shotgun type condenser. No, the original picture I posted was an example of the ultimate still set-up in my opinion for home distillation. I can only wish my kitchen was that big.

Cool, I understand.

Dude a an alembic and or thumper is not really where you want to be if neutrals are your end goal, especially if it needs to be portable/ packable. It's just the wrong tool for the job. But if you stick with triclamp fittings it can be modular enough that you can start with one still type and grow it to fit your needs.

Check out the column builds sub forum viewforum.php?f=17. I'm not really a neutral kinda guy so I'm probably not going to give you the best recommendation when it come to making vodka, but what I do know if it were me, I'd be looking at a CCVM or LM style still with some SPP packing.

Being 100% honest, It's an eye candy still but that's about it. The more you learn you'll see just how useless that one really is.

[Bee]

So much easier to build a CCVM if you want 1&dun runs