How to make a still? Plans and advice
published: 14/12/06, 16:02
Hello everybody
we had talked about it in the thread on nettle manure ...
a superb realization here with a 'howto'
it's beautiful
The following: http://www.fairesagnole.eu/page39/construire.html
Other cool stuff or to do it yourself: tips-and-tricks-Greenest-vf61.html
https://www.econologie.com/shop/cote-cuisine-c-103
https://www.econologie.com/shop/faire-s ... erves-c-58
Edit: a small alambic available for sale: https://www.econologie.com/shop/alambic ... p-566.html
we had talked about it in the thread on nettle manure ...
a superb realization here with a 'howto'
it's beautiful
It is possible to make a still with very few things, such as a pressure cooker, plastic buckets, a copper coil ... The option chosen here is more serious, more technical, but proven. The stills described below work very well and allow a real control of the finished product ... It is not a question of getting intoxicated with its homemade hooch!
As you have already read, there are several types of stills, and it is possible to make many models ...
Whoever wishes to produce neutral alcohols, will build a reflux or fractional still. If he wants to produce flavored alcohols (whiskeys, fruit alcohols ...), he will build a traditional pot still. The enthusiast will want the two or three! It will be necessary to think of it from the beginning, because some parts are the same ... So we can do from the beginning 2 bowls and 2 bridles (or 3)!
Except for the experienced handyman, it is better to start with a "pot still", which is less complicated!
You will find on this site some tracks, but there are many others. Although the following information has been tested by New Zealand fans, we can not guarantee any results (it depends on the skill and know-how of each).
We remind you once again: if you live in a country where it is illegal: DO NOT DO IT !!!
It is impossible to explain everything by the text, so look at the pictures, study the plans ... and make sure you understand before you start!
It is essential in any case to be a good handyman or to get help.
Take your time: before you start, you must:
- have all the necessary tools,
- have all the necessary equipment,
- depending on the material found, make a plan,
- if you start (eg welding): train on waste.
There are a lot of sites that can explain the basics of plumbing needed, check them out!
But come to the point: how to build a still?
The still: 3 parts
Your still will consist of 3 parts:
- the boiler: it is the pot in which one will heat and boil the must to be distilled.
- the column: it is the copper tube in which the alcohol vapors rise towards the condenser. As said above, there are 3 types of columns: simple, reflux, splitting.
- the condenser: as the name suggests, this is where the vapors condense into liquid alcohol. There are two types: coil or tube tube (Liebig).
Materials :
This subject is very controversial within the moonshiners community! The general opinion is to avoid any contact between alcohol vapors and alcohol at a high% ABV with materials like plastic, rubber and any other synthetic material. Similarly, non-stainless steel, zinc, galvanized, aluminum ... are to be avoided. The lead in the welds is obviously to proscribe too.
To summarize, it is easier to remember what is "safe": stainless steel, copper, tin and silver solders, cork, paper and flour paste for the joints. That's all! You may find people to say that silicone is safe, that such and such a type of plastic is too ... But to put it bluntly: if you break your ass to make an artisanal product, you might as well not take the risk of putting m ... e!
It is useful to get organized:
- the boiler can be entirely built separately from the rest.
- the condenser can be completely built separately from the rest.
- the boiler column connection can be entirely built separately from the rest.
- The column of a pot still can be entirely built separately from the rest.
the column of a reflux still can not be entirely constructed separately from the condenser, because it requires a great precision of alignment of the cooling tubes with the water inlets of the condenser.
The following: http://www.fairesagnole.eu/page39/construire.html
Other cool stuff or to do it yourself: tips-and-tricks-Greenest-vf61.html
https://www.econologie.com/shop/cote-cuisine-c-103
https://www.econologie.com/shop/faire-s ... erves-c-58
Edit: a small alambic available for sale: https://www.econologie.com/shop/alambic ... p-566.html