new 'shiner

[bluess57]

Hi All,
Long time lurker, first time post.
About me - been doing the home brew beer thing for some time, figured time to graduate to spirits.
I'm a bourbon drinker so, whiskey/sour mash spirits is what I'm looking to do for myself. Wife drinks copious amounts of gin.
Thought I'd look into building a mini pot still to start, and maybe graduate to a bok/reflux/VM column later(?) to do a good gin.
For a boiler, I am contemplating using a stainless stockpot around 20L, running on the BBQ wok burner, similar to what was done here
http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=824&p=9275&hilit=microstill#p9275

Couple of still build questions:-
1) is 20L boiler a waste of time - compared to volume of output.
2) I've seen the plans to "The Easy Pot Still" @ http://www.homedistiller.org, which uses a 54mmX500mm riser.
Is the 54mm width riser actually worthwhile on a smallish pot still?
I am thinking of just using DN20 (3/4") for the riser column thru to a liebig condensor.
Comments and suggestions

Cheers

[Kimbo]

Hi Blue,
welcome o the forum mate. as for potstill sizes, i believe that you are better off going a bit bigger.(you dont have to fill it)
but it all depends on your budget and drinking requirements( some need a 1-1/4" column and some need a 8" column) ;-)

[R-sole]

50l beer keg will be best for you if you want to graduate to a column later on. You will need the capacity to strip washes.

3/4 will work ok, but 2" fits the beer keg. You still have to reduce somewhere, you can reduce straight from the keg fitting if you like.

[bluess57]

Built my first Liebig condenser on the weekend.
Got some practice with the gas torch and soldering.
A messy joint or two but getting the hang of it. No water leaks.
Now for a clean n polish

[zwagerman9]

Details?!
Dimensions?
Pics?

[Sam.]

A picture says a thousand words so they say.......

[bluess57]

The Liebig that Bunnings built :-) (pre-clean)
I sorta went by "The Easy Pot Still" plans over at Homedistiller.org
Picture isn't too flash, taken with iphone camera.

DN20 (3/4") outer, DN15 (1/2" inner)
Overall length approx 880mm
Water jacket internal approx 740mm (between the tees)

Two reducing tees as per plan. 20x15x15

I had to enlarge the internal of the tees at the ends, to pass the length of DN15 pipe completely thru.
This isn't highlighted enough.

Treated to a couple of brass hose attachments for bling factor

[Kimbo]

Well done Blue,
that little beast should serve you well :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sam.]

Looks good mate, should knock down what you need it to

[Cane Toad]

Keep up the good work Bluey,you'll be crankin out booze in no time :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bluess57]

2" Pot Still - steam cleaning run last weekend.
Have TPW fermenting of 2 weeks
20Kg bag of cracked corn picked up - ready for some UJSM

[NotBenStiller]

Thar she blows! :handgestures-thumbupleft:
nice work

[kiwikeg]

nice!!!! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Cane Toad]

Hey Bluey,hold on,the ride has started,there is no turning back now :D

[bluess57]

The ride is on alright.
I've already stripped a TPW. SWMBO is drinking it already ;-)
Was gonna run it with another TPW wash, if there's any left.
Got some juniper berries coming.
Want to get a UJSM was going this weekend.