Basic pot still head design

[Timmsy]

Hi all..
Ive looked and looked and for the life of me i cant find any basic pot still head designs... Probably not looking hard enough.
Anyway thought id put it out there and ask on here as im sure i will get some help
I have access to material copper and stainless at work and tradesman who will help with building it.
Im just after a easy still design so i can fit to my T500 boiler and run some easy mashes....

Any help will be much appriciated

[JayD]

have a look t thislittle 2" pot still copy it and then make an adaptor for your boiler and your in business...your welder mate will be able to sort this out for you. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Timmsy]

Ok i will get onto it...

What i dont understand is the still just one continues tube or does it have another tube going through it for the cooling... I should and will do more research on how to run a pot still (i know how to mash as i mash home brew beer)...

[Frothwizard]

In that picture, the long bit that slants away from the still is the condenser. That one in particular is called a liebig. The Vapor travels up the column and gets pushed into the liebig which has a water jacket that condenses the vapor. The distillate then pours out the end.

[Timmsy]

nice...

Speaking to tradesman at work he said easy as to make so i will get him to show me how to make it so i learn some new skills We have all the material here also to make it

So the cooling water enters the top or bottom? and does the flow need to be controlled?

Thanks guy.

[Zak Griffin]

Water in at the bottom, out at the top. Doesn't need to be controlled, it just needs to be enough to knock down all of the vapour to liquid...

[bac206]

:text-+1: to Zak. Must of been typing at same time. Cooling flow in opposite direction to vapor path. You'll be glad you made the switch to a pot :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Timmsy]

amazing what you get when you ask...

Ive been pondering on asking and i wish i had ages ago.

So it seems basic to me...

Just one more thing. Will a T500 boiler be suitable?

Thanks a heap fellas

[Frothwizard]

I don't know what the T500's heating element is rated at, but I run my 2" Pot on 2400W and it does a fine job. A single run will usually heat my 200L of water upto about 40C when starting at about 20C.

[bt1]

What I don't see here why you want to go to a simple pot head and the corresponding quality drop.. Is this just for stripping runs prior to a full spirit run?

bt1

[Timmsy]

I basically wana make some corn whiskey and bourbon...

I know how to mash and i can see i can get recipes from here. basically want try some real flavour rather than essences

[Frothwizard]

...and if you want it quick, building a pot will be quicker than anything else.

[bt1]

Quicker again as it's a single run and great flavours...

have a read

http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1648&hilit=+hybrid+pot

A little attention to some nice cara or crystal malted crushed grain added to a UJSM and bang your on the money :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Carahell, Cara Aroma, medium crystal or a one off for blending a dark roasted Carafa Special 1 or even 2 ..Yum....

Still without doubt some of the best corn and grain/UJ's I've ever done.

enjoy!
bt1

[Timmsy]

hay first day back at work and my mate had startered to make the head over the break like. Well 2 actually one for me and one for him..... The still is simalar to the post Jayd poosted up on this thread.

Question is should it be fine to run on the t500 boiler or should i source a keg and run it of that. Its just mate wants to machine the bottom conecting lug on the bottom

Will try and get some pics up when i can

[Mr Four Square]

If you are ready to double your quantities and your operating costs then step up to a keg. If you are happy distilling 25 litre batches for now then stick with the T500. Your mate should be able make an interchangeable connector so you can retain the lid and switch between the pot and the reflux.

The T500 boiler is 1800 watts. You'll need a power controller whichever way you go. If I'm running my T500 with the pot head on then the controller is dialled back to 700 watts or less while I'm cutting the hearts.

[SBB]

For my money a T500 boiler is fine for stripping runs on a small pot still head, but runs too fast for a spirit run.
You may need a voltage controller or similar to get a good clean spirit run. For what a controller is worth you can probably by a keg and 3 ring burner.
Having said that if you only want to do smaller amounts the T500 boiler and controller might be the way to go.