Newbie from Tasmania

[rfvdw]

Hi all

another new member here

I'm currently assembling my first pot still. I've got a 50l keg to use as a boiler, as a start I'll run it over a gas burner but would like to upgrade to elements later on. I'll be using 2" copper tube with a 3/4" over 1/2" liebig condenser. I've already made the liebig and was surprised that I managed to solder something together and it's not falling apart :-D

I'm hoping to get the still finished in the next week or so. I'm thinking of starting either with the Cornflakes or NutriGrain whiskey wash from the tried and proven section :happy-partydance:

I'll post some pics once the still is complete

Cheers

[TasSpirits]

welcome mate, can't wait to see some pics. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sam.]

welcome mate, can't wait to see some pics. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

:text-+1: welcome bud :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Doubleuj]

Gday mate, either of those recipes will give you a nice drop :handgestures-thumbupleft:

if you haven’t read it elsewhere on the forum, the best way to run a pot still is just an unbroken stream. So once she’s up and running, back off your power/ heat till the stream of alcohol is “broken” ( think a tap that’s not open enough) then slowly increase your power until the stream is unbroken.

And be harsh on cuts in the early stages :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[hillzabilly]

G-day,welcome to the fold,was glad ta see ya got ya copper bits sorted ,hope all goes well.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[dans.brew]

Welcome! :greetings-waveyellow:

I'm hoping to get the still finished in the next week or so. I'm thinking of starting either with the Cornflakes or NutriGrain whiskey wash from the tried and proven section :happy-partydance:

I would suggest getting your fermenter fired up before your still is done, if your anything like me you will be itching to run it when its done... nothing worse than waiting for the wash to finish fermenting. A wash can sit for a while if its sealed up fairly well.. in case your still isn't done in time.

[rfvdw]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Doubleuj, I was wondering about the heat and have not read that elsewhere. Thanks for the tip, I'll aim for that on my first run. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

dans.brew, I was thinking the same. I started a TPW wash tonight for my sac run. I've read the TPW is not meant for a pot still, but as I'm going to chuck it out i thought it should be OK...?
I'll try to stop at bunnings tomorrow for another bucket so I can start the Cornflake wash. I don't want to wait a week after doing my sac run before I can do a proper run, I'm already impatient :-D

[woodduck]

Welcome mate. Looks like you've got it under control :handgestures-thumbupleft:

TPW will be fine for a sac run. Keep what you get out for future sac runs if you ever build another still.

CFW is delicious you won't be disappointed :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Good luck mate

[rfvdw]

So this is what I've come up with so far. I've done a water/vinegar run and it seemed to go OK. No leaks at least. My easy flange is a bit rough, I'll try to redo it at some point down the line. It also needs a bit more sanding/polish on the joints.

Now I'm waiting for the TPW to finish so that I can do the sac run. My CFW is also bubbling away, I'm hoping to run it through over the weekend :-D

My liebig is fairly long (900mm), just because the tube I got came in 1.5m lengths from bunnings... Does it improve performance at all if the liebig is this long?

20190729_202154.jpg

[dans.brew]

Now I'm waiting for the TPW to finish so that I can do the sac run. My CFW is also bubbling away, I'm hoping to run it through over the weekend :-D

My liebig is fairly long (900mm), just because the tube I got came in 1.5m lengths from bunnings... Does it improve performance at all if the liebig is this long?

Nice looking still mate! :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Im sure your on to it, but make sure you use glass to collect your spirit in... plastic is no good.
A liebig that long won't greatly benefit you for a spirit run because you are only chasing that broken stream, but for a stripping run you will be able to run a bit harder because it should knock vapour down well.

[db1979]

Looks good. A long liebig is good when running on gas as it takes the output further away from the flame.

[woodduck]

:text-+1: with these blokes. It's better to have too much cooling than not enough. It's good to have your take off away from those flames too :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Hazy250]

Looks great mate and welcome.
Hazy fellow newbie

[rfvdw]

Thanks for the replies guys. My plan is to convert to electricity some time down the line, but until then I'll keep the liebig as is for extra safety. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

dans.brew, for sure. The plastic was just for catching the vinegar. I'll be using glass when doing my actual runs.

Cheers

[db1979]

You can make a shotgun when you covert to electricity. The next step after that is bubbler :happy-partydance:

[dans.brew]

dans.brew, for sure. The plastic was just for catching the vinegar. I'll be using glass when doing my actual runs.

Cheers

Great stuff... it was just as much a reminder for others reading and looking at your pics as you. :handgestures-thumbupleft: