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Showing results for tags 'still building'.
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So for better or worse I have undertaken to build my own still. I thought about starting a thread a ways back but decided not to. As I am not a professional builder posting details about my plans on a forum of professional distillers and builders is, to be completely honest, somewhat intimidating. In the end my posting details and getting feedback will hopefully lead me to have a better, more functional and safer piece of equipment, even if I have to suffer some negative feedback or display my ignorance in certain areas. Hopefully some of you will find this thread interesting and it will either inspire you to build your own, or discourage you from what is honestly a daunting task. The design I came up with is modeled on the German builds, and the plan is to end up with a still that works, and looks, just as good as as any professionally built machine. Bootleg style stills are great, and I have no criticism for ones made from 50 gallons drums, but when another distiller visits my distillery I would rather them ask "is that a Vendome or Carl" rather than "where did you source your barrels from?" Time will tell if I am going to be able to pull that off, but hopefully its presents an idea of what I am going for. Basically built a still for under $15,000 that looks like $60,000. So the design is a 150 gallon, steam jacked still with a dephlegmator, four valve plates and big 6" sight glasses that stands 12' 6" tall overall. The base of the still is a 150 gallon commercial kitchen kettle that I purchased used back in October. Most of the still body is .093 copper plate that I have slip rolled into various pieces. The column and dephlegmator have an 11.25" inside diameter and are 4 feet and 2 feet long. The current issue I am working on is how to seem-up the pipe sections. I have gone back-and-forth and forth again on weather to but-weld the seem directly, or place a 1" strip of copper on the outside of the seem and rivet and soft solder that in place. Last week I did a test of wet-soldering (some people call it tinning I think), riveting and then heating and sealing a small disk. This technique worked really well and I could not have been more happy with how the rivet sealed, and how strong the connection is. Tonight a friend and I welded two scrap pieces of .093 plate. I am really happy with this test section and now I think I am leaning towards welding all the external seems. If anyone has input I am open to hearing it. Basic idea of what we are going for.. Sample seem options. Rivet and wet solder / welded.. dephlegmator - dry fit and waiting to be placed in a seemed-up pipe! More details and pictures to follow!
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Copper tubing for sale. I have a large quantity of copper tube that I can offer at below wholesale prices. All copper is in good condition and I can polish it upon request. 3/4" $2.00/Ft 1" $3.00/Foot 1.25" $5.00 1.5" $6.00 3" $20.00 No minimum Shipping by fed ex at cost any length up to 8 feet. Will ship anywhere , Cost will include actual shipping and cost of box No minimum and Tube polishing is available and an additional charge. Please email with any questions. No charge for cutting to length needed. I have several hundred feet and this is limited to material on hand. When its gone its gone. I accept PayPal or you can sent me a check or pick up in person I am located in Nevada near Lake Tahoe We Also do custon fabracation on anything Stainless Steel, Boilers from 25G up to 200G, Columns, Condensors and just about anything else you can thing up.
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- Still building
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