Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

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Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 1:40 pm

The more I read the more confused I get.... What is the difference between the standard T500 and the T500 with the copper dome lid.... .?
People tell me that I should get a pot still and not go for t500 but I think I need to walk before I run... The "to do guides" on YouTube seem pretty dickhead proof... I would not have a clue how to use the pot stills... Probably friggen kill myself...

Thoughts....?
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby bluc » Tue Apr 25, 2017 1:52 pm

The one with the copper lid is a pot still.

Pot still is simpler than a reflux. Better off buying the bits and making one like this http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=369&p=3000&hilit=pelican#p3000 out of 2" pipe than buying that one. If you wanna buy check out 5 star distilling's 2" pot or modular 4" pot. Really depends what you want to make. If you like whiskey/bourbon/rum go with a pot still. Essence drinks don't compare to the real thing in my opinion..and I am betting you will soon tire of vodka/flavoured vodka which is what you get from a reflux still.
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:06 pm

So the T500 with the copper dome lid is the same as the pelican top system..... How do you use the pelican system...
I could not be bothered making one... Don't have the time to muck around building it....
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby bluc » Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:18 pm

Whats your budget?
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Plumby » Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:19 pm

No the copper lid is the pot still attachment for the boiler, the pelican style pot still works best for that boiler because it is stable
My pot still took me 3 hours to make, they are pretty easy but it you want to buy, go for the 5 star range.
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 3:07 pm

Don't want to go more than about $700.... I would probably start with using esscents at first then once I know what I am doing then move to using grains and other ingredients.... So would like something that I could use in both situations... If possible
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 3:12 pm

With a user name as plumby I would guess your a plumber which means u r good with a soldering iron.... I'm not :-(
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Plumby » Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:36 pm

No not a plumber mate, Stonemason come formsetter/concreter.
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:39 pm

Stone mason.....?.. I'm putting in a stone kitchen bench.... Mate..... Buddy....pal..... :-))
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Plumby » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:40 pm

Nice try man, I work for local government now, so I guess I'm semi retired :laughing-rolling:
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Professor Green » Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:59 pm

Hi Pist n broke,

There's a lot of misinformation out there about these units. Don't believe the hype in the propaganda videos.

For $700 I don't think you going to find something off the shelf that will do both neutral and flavoured spirits although having said that I believe you can get reasonably close to neutral with a pot still by re-distilling the right wash numerous times but I reckon that is too much like work.

Ultimately you really need to make a decision on what you want to make first then look at the equipment options available to you. Here's a couple of options I can see that would get you up and running depending on what you decide:

1. You want to make whiskies and rums with a pot still rather than using essences
You can pick up a T500 boiler (which is a competent boiler BTW, just a little on the small side) online for $175. That leaves $525 out of your budget for the still. I reckon that will get you all the parts you need to assemble a pelican style pot out of 2" parts from 5 star (Since the boiler is so light, the pelican design is best as it distributes the weight evenly and won;t topple over). The beauty of this is that it will put you good stead should you want to upgrade to a larger boiler then move on to a bubbler as the still will handle the larger boiler with ease and most of the parts can be reused when putting a bubbler together so you're not starting over.

2. You're dead set on making neutral and flavouring it using essences:
Have a chat to 5 Star about their boka - it makes great neutral and is priced to compete with the t500 (at least it was when I bought mine)

Don't bother with the alembic dome and pot, it's overpriced and underperforms and you will find it very disappointed.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:08 pm

Hey thanks for the info....
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:30 pm

Problem is that I am not confident in making the pelican pot myself...the $700 was for either the pot or reflux still... Not both.... Everything I have seen on 5 star is way up there in price... And u still have to buy the boiler... I know their products look super high quality but mate I'm on my learners licence... I don't have a v8 supercar licence :))
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Pist n broke » Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:47 pm

I suppose this would be crap as well...?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/132133572289
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Wobblyboot » Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:53 pm

Great post prof green, was well said :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I made my pot still on gas for $300 excluding gas bottle. I did get some of it for free but it shouldn't be much more than that! And don't bother with that pist, u won't be happy with it....
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Plumby » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:03 pm

Oh my god do not buy one of those. Honestly man I made my pot still in 3 hours with no vice and a $30 bunnings torch, if I can do it anybody can l and I have 2 kids under 5 and I did it so can you :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Plus with that thing you are trusting everything to somebody in another country with questionable quality control.
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby copperhead road » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:06 pm

:text-+1:
Wobblyboot wrote:Great post prof green, was well said :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I made my pot still on gas for $300 excluding gas bottle. I did get some of it for free but it shouldn't be much more than that! And don't bother with that pist, u won't be happy with it....

U will not be happy with eBay job, and compared to US options FSD is far cheaper and you still get top quality
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby ed9362 » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:27 pm

While 5 star are obvioisly the best there is home brew store in vic that will sell you the boiler and a decent pot or reflux still for under $500, they do sell online i have one of their potstills and it work fery well
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Kenster » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:48 pm

pist.. get a grip.. for christ sakes... you have posted these dilemmas several times// RESEARCH what u want/need (in terms of the booze u want to make).. and make a FUCKING decision... we can not tell your brain what to do. Some times it is better to take a small risk, and learn from the experience.. the info you have received is enough to go onward.....
OBVIOUSLY... the T500 is not recommended as a good path... it is up to you bub...surely you get it by now.....
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Re: Difference between T500 or T500 with copper lid

Postby Professor Green » Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:02 pm

The Professors 5 Star Pelican for a T500 boiler

I put one of these together myself (see here: http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9212) using bits I already had but here is bare bones costing for something similar using prices from the 5 Star site (not sure if GST is included or not). This leaves you with over $200 from your $700 budget with which to obtain a boiler.

1 x T500 Adapter 16.95
1 x 45 Deg 2" Bend 18.85
1 x 300mm 2" Pipe 39.85
1 x 90 Deg 2" Bend 20.45
1 x 90 Deg 2" Bend 20.45
1 x 2" Product Condenser 205.00
1 x 2" x 4/3" Reducer 25.45
6 x 2" Tri Clamp 59.70
6 x 2" Silicon Seal 7.20
Total 413.90

Note you don't need the alembic dome, the normal T500 lid will work just as well. I just happened to have it so I use it.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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