Copper or Stainless Steel

Pot still design and discussion

Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby richarc » Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:30 am

Hi All,

I'm looking at buying my first pot still with the intention of making Rum. I am looking at a reasonably small still about 30 litre. From some initial research I have heard that copper reacts with the vapour to enhance the end product. Does this really make a difference in such a small still?

Thanks.
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby kiwikeg » Sun Jan 04, 2015 5:44 am

Yes but a small piece of copper mesh in the vapour path will achieve the same thing in a stainless steel still.
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby Urrazeb » Sun Jan 04, 2015 8:46 am

You definitely want some copper in the vapour path, as KK said mesh is good, The mesh provides heaps of surface area
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby Sinerjee » Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:29 pm

How much mesh would be required in the path? I've got some left over from a roll I got from Mac that is too small to go in the 4" packed section. Its about a 2" roll now. Would that be too big?
Last edited by Sinerjee on Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby Andy » Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:35 pm

100% copper will make a difference.
chuck the mesh in, it wont be too big, just don't pack it tightly
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby Sinerjee » Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:51 pm

Andy wrote:100% copper will make a difference.
chuck the mesh in, it wont be too big, just don't pack it tightly


Cheers mate. It'll just get dropped in between the two lower sections of the 4" pot so won't get packed tightly at all.
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30L Keg running on Gas.

Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby MacStill » Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:52 pm

Sinerjee wrote:
Andy wrote:100% copper will make a difference.
chuck the mesh in, it wont be too big, just don't pack it tightly


Cheers mate. It'll just get dropped in between the two lower sections of the 4" pot so won't get packed tightly at all.


Perfect :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby richarc » Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:39 pm

Thanks everyone for the feedback, much appreciated.
richarc
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:20 pm
equipment: None yet... hoping to do enough research to get my first still and batch of rum going. Based in KL in Malaysia so getting a still here is difficult.

Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby Doubleuj » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:49 pm

Wow, looks like you really don't need much copper in the vapour path at all, probably why my stainless bubbler with copper plates makes such great whiskey :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Copper or Stainless Steel

Postby copperhead road » Sun Jul 30, 2017 2:45 pm

Sounds like your well on your way to making a top shelf spirit you can be proud off :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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