Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi guys,

I'm looking to build a dedicated still just for gin.

I have an 8L urn, 1300w, I can tame that with a power controller. I'm planning on cutting a hole in the lid to take a 2" tri-clover
bulkhead adapter, and using some of the parts from my 2" pot still on top of that.

I'm thinking about making a 600mm (approx) liebeg condenser to run off it.

Will 600mm be long enough?

This will only be for small batch gin, I have the 2" pot for stripping and other flavour runs, and (for now) the T500 copper reflux
for neutral.

All thoughts and suggestions welcome. Thanks.


Best regards
Mark

600mm is heaps, you will only need about 5-700 watts for that boiler at spirit run speed, sounds like a solid plan :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks for that RC AL :text-thankyoublue:

How are you planning on sealing the lid on the urn to ensure no vapour escapes where it shouldn't? Most urns I've seen don't have lids that form an airtight seal.

Hi Professor,

An excellent question, and I'm still working on that.

I'm kicking around a couple of ideas at the moment, either find an O-ring the right size and wrap it in PTFE tape,
or run a thin bead of silicone around the top that the lid can seat in to. I have some clips for the T500 boiler on the
way, I was going to either bolt them on, or if I feel ambitious enough, TIG weld them on.

Leaning towards bolting, not sure I can TIG the thin walls of the urn.

you might split some silicon tube and slip it over the urn top under the lid?

Hi atec77,

That's a good idea, thanks.

I'm going to look into that. I was thinking of something along those lines, but hadn't considered silicone tube.

Thanks again.

Whatever you end up doing you do need make sure it is leak-proof.

Is there any reason you can't use the T500 boiler instead of the urn?

I hate the word Urn

Hi guys,

Thanks Professor, I'll make sure. I wanted something smaller that the T500 boiler for small batches, was looking at
your bain marie idea for a bit. I thought a small urn... um, boiler (sorry Stig) would be better.

If it doesn't work, at least I'll have learned something.

Thanks for the input guys, it's very much appreciated.

Teach me to post late at night lols

Im with PG, just use the t500 boiler, its element is concealed yes? If so, zero difference to the urn in function.

You guys have talked me into it, I'll use the T500 boiler to start with. Elements are concealed, yes.
I'm still going to work on the small boiler for small runs though.

The liebig condenser is still in the works, want to build it as much for the experience as anything else.

I do small batch’s in a T500 boiler.
I can do as little as 1 Liter

Thanks Stig, I do like the look of that.

Do you put the botanicals in the boiler, or do you macerate for longer and strain?

I macerate in a demi for 24 hours at 90+% then water down and dump the lot into the boiler
I like simple :laughing-rolling:

Ah cool, thanks. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Ok, got the liebig built (pics when she's pretty), no leaks, very happy.

Going to give her a bath in 5% citric solution, how long does it need to soak for?

Also, does it need to be hot, warm, or just tap water?

Thanks

Cold tap water for an hour is plenty

Cheers for that BigRig

Well she's finished, and I'm pretty happy with my first attempt at a build, and my first go at soldering pipe.

Total length is 950mm from Tri-clamp fitting to tip, water jacket is 650mm. There's a wire inside the water jacket.

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated.