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Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 3:47 pm
by davesims
Hi guys

I have a mate wanting to get into the sport or distilling, he has no knowledge of distilling other than what i have told him and i am a grasshoppers grasshopper. I currently have the T500 and a 5 start pot still and he likes what he sees with my set up and is wanting to go the same router.

I have seen the Pure distilling column and some say it is better than the T500 but have not played with it at all, some say there is no needle valve to dick around with and so on.

Is there anyone that has played with both that could offer an opinion on the better unit or anyone offer some advise on a good solution?

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 4:04 pm
by Minpac
I looked at both before going down the pot route - I liked the pure distilling more, but I'd have to look back as to why. In the end I bought a pot & a VM system on a keg boiler.

Ultimately, the question is whether he wants to make neutral or a flavoured spirit (rum,whiskey)?

There can be cheap options that beat out both of those products at either neutral or flavoured/brown spirit.

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 6:32 pm
by davesims
Minpac wrote:I looked at both before going down the pot route - I liked the pure distilling more, but I'd have to look back as to why. In the end I bought a pot & a VM system on a keg boiler.

Ultimately, the question is whether he wants to make neutral or a flavoured spirit (rum,whiskey)?

There can be cheap options that beat out both of those products at either neutral or flavoured/brown spirit.

Hi, yeah it will be more for neutral spirit and might consider a pot as well for stripping at a later stage,

What VM still did you end up going?

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:55 pm
by davesims
Any other opinions/ comments guys

All info much appreciated

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 7:22 am
by bayshine
I started with a pure distiller and it was much easier to run than my mates t500, I put a 400 mm packed extension on it and this made it achieve a higher abv aswell :handgestures-thumbupleft:
But I soon outgrew it as it's only good for nuteral and in only 2 inch it's very slow

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 1:14 am
by pafc64
I've been researching the Turbo500 for ages & was nearly set to buy one until I found the Pure Distiller & after talking to a bloke I work with who has been stilling for 20+ years he said the Pure Distiller looked and sounded far better than the Turbo, so I started pricing the Pure & once I found out the price I decided to just buy a boiler & make my own VM tower with a Liebig condenser.

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:25 am
by Minpac
davesims wrote:What VM still did you end up going?


I've got a 2" VM with 1" offtake valve and a shotgun condenser. It can be a bit slow -I'm wondering if a full 2" offtake valve would make it run faster.

Once you do look at the prices, it can be cheaper to buy a second hand bit of kit, or get someone to build it for you.

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:38 pm
by rossgillespie
Where did u get yr 400mm ext for pure distilling rig bayshine.
I've been looking everywhere can't find them

Re: Beginner fitout T500 or Pure Distilling

PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:25 am
by bayshine
rossgillespie wrote:Where did u get yr 400mm ext for pure distilling rig bayshine.
I've been looking everywhere can't find them

I just made it out of some 2in copper pipe and stuffed some more scrubbers in it :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I can't really remember but I think I de-soldered the brass fitting and soldered it back onto the bottom and just made some easy flanges for the joint an a triclamp :handgestures-thumbupleft: