Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi All

I have lurked for some time and thought it was about time to say hi

My distilling history started in high school. Being a science minded person I decided at the age of 15 that making alcohol would be a good project. being underage I didn't ask for help, I jumped in and modified a pressure cooker, constructed a copper worn and began to make some terrible rot gut. at the time I thought it was great and was very popular as I was the one person how had access to alcohol.

After a few terrible hangovers this still was discarded as well as the hobby.

I started brewing beer in whilst at university and quickly became bored of coopers tins and proceeded to make Ag beer. Not being a much of a beer drinker ( generally hot summer days, spirits after dark ) I looked for a more fulfilling hobby.
I purchased a coffee urn mounted reflux still and made some neutral and started adding essences, although popular with my uni friends, it was some terrible sweet cordial. I occasionally made some vodka however, I was not very active in the hobby.

Few years back, at a work conference, I meet a guy who was hobby distiller and made some of the nicest whiskey I had tried. he explained that if I could make beer, I could make great whisky.
My brew bags came out of hibernation and I made a 2” copper pot still head for my coffee urn boiler.

At this point I decided that this hobby was one for me and I have not looked back

Stills were upgraded over time, as money and free time allowed with a 2”LM (bokakob) VM combination still with 4” inline thumper being with me for the last few years

I have recently purchased a 4" neutraliser from Mac

I will post some pics at some point

Cheers

JM

Welcome to the forum mate, great intro seems like you have been studying hard and you have bought the best still the country has to offer well done. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Welcome mate good choice in stills :handgestures-thumbupleft: do you currently do ag?

Hi Big D
yes and no

I have made AG brews but am currently updating equipment and hope so start again soon... although I have ordered a drum (200l) of molasses that will arrive next week so AG my stay on the back burner.

200l of the black stuff that should keep you busy :text-lol:

:greetings-waveyellow: g'day mate welcome to the forum. If you can get ag beer right your most of the way there :handgestures-thumbupleft:running the bubbler will be the easy part. There's plenty of blokes and threads here that can help teach you that. Goodluck and let us know how the new still goes.

Welcome mate :greetings-waveyellow:

Fuckin hell. Neutralizer and a 44 of mollasses. I like this bloke already.
Welcome aboard. :greetings-waveyellow:

Welcome mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

A rough location in your profile will help us help you find things easier ;-)

Welcome :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks Guy for the kind words

Although I got the drum of molasses cheep, I will not buy another. 350+ Kg is not easy to deal with. I spent a day with a mate and a block and tackle to decant, and was left sticky with sore muscles.

about time I posted some pics

bok head

old controller


New controller almost finished

THAT BOILER!!!

Hi Andy
I like to build things , the still is a FSD, I had to give it my flare

Its a beauty. Id love to hear about the insulation on that pot.

this boiler is done with pine 40mm thick
see pics


wrapped in thin ply wood then angle pine slate glued and ratchet strapped


the split in half and piano hinge added for ease of removal around elements


Top an bottom added


the insulation properties are amazing
I can out power the reflux condenser in a single element
I now run as pm not cm lol

cooler closed circuit radiator form a split system air con can handle everything I throw at it :-D

Good stuff Meaty, and thanks for the pics :D I'm thinking of doing something similar to insulate Agrajag's boiler.

So you're only using a ~250L cooling circuit, and it handles a neutral run no worries? This will be good news for those who don't have room for an IBC (Like myself!)

the wheelie bin capacity is 220L and I run apporx 200l
the split system was from a 9kw system thus has an enormous dual core radiator and 3 stage fan.
as I have a max power of 4800watts this cooler is wonderful