Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

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....?

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.

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....

Whats your budget?

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.

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

With a user name as plumby I would guess your a plumber which means u r good with a soldering iron.... I'm not :-(

No not a plumber mate, Stonemason come formsetter/concreter.

Stone mason.....?.. I'm putting in a stone kitchen bench.... Mate..... Buddy....pal..... :-))

Nice try man, I work for local government now, so I guess I'm semi retired :laughing-rolling:

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.

Hey thanks for the info....

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 :))

I suppose this would be crap as well...?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/132133572289

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....

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.

: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

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

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.....

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.