14 replies to this topic

[lyqwyd]

I found the instructions for a reflux still in the old archives, but i remember seeing something around here about building a pot still. anyone know how to do that or have other recommendations as far as making `shine goes? my boss wants to start his own still and well, shit, he's the boss... thought i'd drop some knowledge on his ass. i like the idear of the reflux still since its almost fool proof, but it doesn't get the high alc contenet this dude is looking for.

[boots420]

so ya wanna build a still huh? check this out site out......

http://www.stillcook...obuildmain.html

[lyqwyd]

sweet link holmes!! copies nicely into word processor too... shanks

[karmadiver]

http://www.moonshine-still.com/

thats the site my foaf's dogs 3rd cousins aunt Sally's husband Pickle Pete uses. :eusa_shhh

[boots420]

no worries:hippie:. let me know how that moonshine goes.:)

[akoutdoors]

the best stil U can make is out of a pressure cooker, It has the spot to put a temp gauge, its made to take pressure and heat and it just looks nice.

[lyqwyd]

two questions about the pcooker method... 1) got plans? 2) can u still use it for mushrooming when ur done? i don't even have one right now, but if u can use it for multiple applications (not including cooking and canning) i might have to break down and get one.

[Jaeger]

homedistiller.org the best site :)

[TheSource]

nice links guys. might be a cool hobby to check out when ya have a house.

[CY81N]

I believe you are mistaken. A reflux still is for high alcohol content, a pot still isn't. Whiskey can be made in a pot still and come to ninety to one hundred proof whereas the same wash could be distilled in a reflux still and achieve one hundred and ninety proof..... the whiskey would look brownish from the pot still and completely clear from the reflux... do some more research before you "drop some knowledge on his ass" :D

[Burger]

As CY81N has mentioned a reflux still will produce MUCH purer alcohol than a pot still, ie: much higher alcohol content.Some like to use a pot still as it imparts certain desirable flavours into the mix, but a reflux still imo is the way to go.I have used a store bought reflux still with pretty good results but the capacity is a bit small.Currently I am making a reflux still using the plans from the site karmadiver mentioned http://www.moonshine-still.com, but instead of using a beer keg for the boiler, I am using a large 50L S/Steel stock pot.

[Japanster]

An interesting tea kettle still.

http://www.dangerous....org/moon1.html

[siam_jim]

humm the last person that asked about building one from a beer keg disappeared and had never heard from since?



siam

[eternalfrost]

A pot still works great for making flavorful drinks(wiskey rum etc.), the 'flavor compounds' are alowed through fairly easily. a reflux still, will strip out almost everything but the alcohol (high end vodkas etc), much much higher proof but little to no flavor.

pot stills are incredably simple to make with a trip to a hardware store. basicly you just need a container hooked up to a condenser coil and your done.

reflux stills are more complicated. in a nutshell, the vapors condense while still inside the tower on 'scrubbers' then are re-vaporized(boosting the alch. content) and travel up the tower, only to condense and repeat continously inching up the column. by the time it gets to the top its the equivilant of being pot-distilled 'infinate' times.

so basicly its a pot with a tall tube full of something with alot of surface area, then a collection cup and spout at the top. the top is often cooled to help with the final condensation.

just make sure everything you use is food-grade. and NO LEAD SOLDER.

homedistiller.org is the best site IMO