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Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:38 pm
by woodduck
You can use any food grade container to ferment in. I've used 20ltr buckets, I've heard of blokes using stacker crates, 44gal plastic drums, mini wheely bins, plastic garbage bins, even plastic bags although I probably would use them, it would make a hell of a mess if it broke :laughing-rolling:

As for collection jars, I use the pasta sause jars, pickle jars or any other I can get my hands on. You could also use glasses or stubbies :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:16 pm
by Hangman
I guess as long as it's clean it would be right. Might give the garbage bags a miss though lol.

Yeah, any glass jars will do the job..

And a lot of this stuff I've only got to acquire once, barring me breaking shit...

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:31 pm
by dans.brew
Hangman wrote:
I should have a still over the weekend. I know I mentioned a pot in my initial post but have ended up with a basic backyard reflux, which will do to start.

More stuff to collect yet, (something to ferment in, thermometer, got some but need more collection jars, etc etc), but getting there.
I've also kept all my empty spirit bottles for years so they'll come in handy


Thats all i started with, only mine was a pure distilling reflux still. Was a good starting point though, a way of learning some of the basics. It doesn't take long and you will be hanging out for a pot though!
As for getting bits and pieces... thats just ongoing. The more you learn the more stuff you need to do new things. :greetings-waveyellow:

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:54 pm
by Hangman
Yeah definitely mate.

I also scored another 50L keg the other day.

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:03 pm
by dans.brew
Yeah righto... grab em when you can get them. They come in very handy down the track. I thought ripper when i got mine.. could do with another one already! Was using it for storage of low wines but now its gonna become a boiler for my bubbler.

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:17 pm
by Hangman
They were both free so I'm in front there.

The still all screws apart so easy to upgrade later, I'm sure I'll find a use for another keg.

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 2:01 pm
by Hangman
Hey Fellas, I'm back lol.
I ended up getting a new job and had no time to get into this.
But now with what's happening, mrs has no job after today and my work has slowed down, I'm gonna give it a go.
I've still got the gear I ended up with when I joined up, time to blow the dust off it.

Cheers :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 2:58 pm
by Birdman85
Where you from in the Valley?

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 2:59 pm
by bluc
Welcome back hangman :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 3:15 pm
by Tesla101
Welcome back Hangman. I hope stillin' keeps you from the Gallow's Pole.

Sorry, had to through in a Led Zep joke :-D

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 3:53 pm
by Hangman
Birdman85 wrote:Where you from in the Valley?

Port Stephens mate.

Cheers, Bluc.

Hahaha, no dramas mate, nothing wrong with a bit of Led Zep. Though my music tastes tend to run a bit heavier :music-deathmetal:

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:13 am
by Hangman
So after a bit of googling on all things still related last night, I found what appears to be the same still as mine on ebay.
And after some more searching, it's a common theme on here that they're no good. A bit Cranky even...

Ok, I can live with that. The keg boiler seems pretty good, I can use that.

But is it worth stuffing around with it as a reflux still, or can I take the packing out and run it as a pot still? Column appears to have a water jacket, which may knock this on the head.

Open to ideas, suggestions, criticism, and ridicule :techie-typing:

Cheers

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:28 am
by dans.brew
Put a pic up so everyone can see what you've got.. I'm sure there will be some good advice out there for you. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:41 am
by Hangman
Will do when I work out how to attach a pic lol

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:46 am
by Hangman
Image

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 2:22 pm
by scythe
Well isn't that a billboard for ants.
Did you by chance purchase your still off a cranky old man from eBay.

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 4:10 pm
by Hangman
Yeah dunno what happened with the image.

From what I can gather yes, it's one of his, but I didn't get it directly off him.

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 6:01 pm
by Hangman
So I've just been looking at the keg flange on the boiler and it looks like he's just soldered/brazed/whatevered a brass thread onto it.

So I should be able to just use a torch to melt the solder, remove it, clean it up, and be left with a standard flange.

Then buy/make/beg/borrow/steal something better.

Hopefully the attached pic works better than the last one lol.

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 7:13 am
by db1979
I don't like your chances of getting that out by just melting the solder. Liquid solder will still stick to the metal and be a pain to remove, as soon as it cools you're back to where you started. You'll also have a real hard time getting it hot enough to melt away, the keg will act as a massive heat sink.

You could try using a grinder and grinding away anything sticking out the top (it doesn't look flush) and a small bit of what's inside, then use a dremel (or equivalent) to grind away what's inside. That'd take ages though.

You could also cut out the old flange and get a new one welded on. This would be the most expensive option.

Last of all, get another keg.

Does your current keg run on gas or electricity?

Re: New Bloke

PostPosted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 7:23 am
by Hangman
Hey mate, it's got an element in it. I do have another standard keg.

Might be better off using the other keg and just start from scratch you reckon? I can use the element out of the current one, it's just a screw in one.

Literally all info I can find (and not just on this site) on the still I have says it's not worth the effort.