Hey folks

[LikkerSheWillLoveIt]

It’s been a long time coming, I finally built a still.

I’m in Tweed Heads, North East NSW, Stainless Fabricator for the last 15 odd years. I work in Research and Development (F#%k ups and After thoughts) building robots in an indoor hydroponic farm, No, we don’t grow weed.

It does give me access to some pretty cool stuff. I work with 2 mechtronics engineers, one of them specialises I’m fluid dynamics. Also I get as much Reverse Osmosis water as I can carry.

I’ve built a dual valved reflux still, double helix condenser coil, I use copper saddles as packing, I have 2 different size saddles, so I kind of layer them, in an attempt to make different pockets of reflux if that makes sense. It’s sitting on top of a keg with a 2000W internal element, controlled with a PID, I’ve put about 5 turbo washes through It and have pulled 94% at 20C every run I’ve done, I’ve got my first TPW in the fermenters now, hopefully run it in the next few weeks.

[FilthyPhil]

:greetings-waveyellow: I love the username.

[dans.brew]

Welcome to AD!
Feel free to whack up some pics of your gear.. as a pic says a thousand words.
Helps those of us that are visual people too. :laughing-rolling:

[Wellsy]

Welcome aboard mate , enjoy the ride as it is a hell of a journey

[LikkerSheWillLoveIt]

Here’s a bad photo of my still

I’ve done some mods since. I’ll take more on my next run.

[RC Al]

Welcome mate

Dont want to bust your chops too hard straight up, but is the top of that offset condenser vented? if not as it sits by closing the product valve you are creating a bomb...

How are you using that PID? if you havent already, have a read of this one viewtopic.php?f=57&t=3541
The still will produce booze with a pid, just not how it should be done, your way better off with a voltage controller to make nice product

Can you please post a pic of MK 2 before running again ? Aside from the venting issue, as it sits one of those valves is redundant and using both at once will smear your product - with the two you could over restrict both - causing it to pool and mix. The return line is entering the column far too low as well, ideally it would be returning to the top of the packing, not halfway into the middle as it is nopw

Other than that, Hi :greetings-waveyellow:

[LikkerSheWillLoveIt]

Hi RC. Yes it’s vented. The top cap is loose fit, and the top of the condenser is not sealed. vapours only escape if condenser water is too low, turn the condenser water up and all is joy. So very open to atmosphere. I copied a plan I found years ago. Moonshine still or something on the interwebs. I don’t know if it smears yet as I have only done turbos and it all tastes like shit. Got the first TPW on now. I run it sloooow, drip drip drip, never a stream. I know my ABV is 94% temp checked at 20C, but, tastes like rocket fuel turbo shit. So I’ll let you know.

I figured the “reflux valve” is pretty much redundant, I leave it full open anyway. The PID has a thermometer at the top of the column where the vapours are crossing over to the condenser. I balance it at 65C (the PID controls a SSR to a 2400(??) watt element. I work with a robotics engineer, he sorted it and my Sparkie mate wired it) then creep it up and take anything under 71c as Foreshots, then let it reflux for an hour or so, then start taking Heads, throw some of that out, then all turbo smells the same.

Hey it works, cost me fuck all, I made it myself and it produces a good neutral (even off turbo), it’s safe, as all work carried out by qualified and experienced tradesman, it’s vented to atmosphere at 3 locations, it takes fucking ages to heat up, and it’s a full day for a run, but how good is doing this with your own hands?? Money couldn’t buy what it gives me!

[Wellsy]

Plus one to your comment about it taking all day and the joy it brings.
I have started taking tuesdays off and it is my play day. All day to piss fart around labelling bottles, running stills, getting washes. Life is good.
If it is this much fun making the stuff how good is it going to be drinking it.

[dans.brew]

Plus one to your comment about it taking all day and the joy it brings.
I have started taking tuesdays off and it is my play day. All day to piss fart around labelling bottles, running stills, getting washes. Life is good.
If it is this much fun making the stuff how good is it going to be drinking it.

Life does sounds wellsy. :))
I've got a few more years of work in me before any dedicated play days.. but hope to have pleanty of time to tinker one day.
Just dont tell the Mrs, they seem to always have something that needs doing. :laughing-rolling:

[LikkerSheWillLoveIt]

Mate, you should see my LIST! Why do today, what I can put off until tomorrow.