My first pot still

by **Greg1234** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:50 am

This is my rough project for first pot still, would like to make one that looks like a swan neck but don't have the access to prebend 2" 90 so without that I will use 45 and 2 90 with over 1 meter long condenser. I will be ready to start soldering it sometimes next week, if you have any suggestions please let me know what could be changed or modified.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1348761011.748221.jpg

by **crow** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:57 am

good to go as far as I can tell. should be able to purchase the 45 long bends though I would think , if ya really wanted to go that way , pelican is as good as a swan anyways ;-)

by **bt1** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:45 am

Hold the solder!

pop into your local plumbing supplies and ask to have a look at Long Radius 90 degree bends...avg about 6" curve ...would go close to the swan neck type.

As a further...P trap bends are long radius as well...might be a fix for u.

The swan neck is worth the effort...read the posts on output rates...bloody magnificent!

bt1

by **googe** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:28 am

bt1 wrote:Hold the solder!

:laughing-rolling:

Looks good mate, its about the same as mine except the swan neck!, my condensor is about 1.3m but same size pipe as yours. Puts out about 7L hour stripping with a 3 burner. i want to do the swan/ pelican neck to!. Good luck, dont forget the finished piccies :D

by **Greg1234** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:08 pm

I will try to find long bend 90 this coming week, it would look nicer... But output capacity depends more on type of condenser. I will start with simple one but will take a shot later with shotgun ;)
So far I soldered parrot and right now will have to clean copper, pics will follow, I noticed that silver solder is very temperamental, needs just right amount of heat :)

by **bt1** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:59 am

Hello,

yep silver solder does require a fair amount of heat. Unless you've got a good Mapp Pro gun say Berzomatic TS4000 or TS8000 it will be a struggle from exprience. Even with the TS4000 for larger work like 4" copper i need to throw it on a 2 ring lpg burner to get to temp/ keep working temp then use the gun.
But it has some wonderfull charateristics

It flow or does not flow based on heat applied= it can span small gaps/take up space
It's strong
It's great for but type joins
It doesn't de solder when working on tight configs like a shotgun condenser core
rarely needs flux
It's easy to machine/grind/shape

Hope this helps
bt1

by **Greg1234** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:45 am

Took me some time but today I finished my first project !!! I am so happy run water in keg to test it found one small steam leak and redid connection it was on 1/2 pipe just before union no big deal. Had my heat at max and condenser was knocking it down without problem next tomorrow will be vinegar run and got 70 l of rum wash to go. Will try to post pictures tomorrow as well. Now got some time to work on reflux column.

by **bt1** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:06 pm

Hello greg,

all good news wd!

look forward to the picies...

cheers
bt1

by **Goldie** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:36 pm

Sounds gnod mate, post up some pics if you get a chance

by **Kimbo** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:36 pm

glad its working out for you mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **Greg1234** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:10 am

I was debating should I polish my still or use it first, decided on second :) wanted to see how it performs and I was shocked how well it went. I stripped two runs about 8 l each ranging between 65-20% and output was easily between 8 to 10 l/h my only restriction was cooling water which I had only about 170 l in the barrels and when I was pushing it harder was getting warm very quick. But no puffing or any steam coming out of the end of pipe. Took small video sample of tuned down run:

http://youtu.be/eMXBBRO0tag

by **Kimbo** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:27 am

thats the shit mate, well done :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **Goldie** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:17 am

:text-imwithstupid: pissing out.

by **Greg1234** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:50 pm

Did my first spirit run today and was so happy about taste and smell of rum it is so much better that what came from stripping run. Got some oak sticks ordered and will try ageing game :)

by **NotBenStiller** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:55 pm

Nice one 1234GREG,
But i did read that some posters politely requested pics of your kit... you have yet to provide....

:smile:

by **googe** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 2:06 pm

Good stuff mate, well done :handgestures-thumbupleft: now try to resist drinking it all the time cause its very adictive :))