Mk1 pot still

Pot still design and discussion

Mk1 pot still

Postby taffy4x4 » Thu May 23, 2019 6:36 am

Hi guys, just thought I'd post a photo of my first attempt at building a still. It's a 10lt stainless steel boiler connected by 12mm copper pipe to a coil in coil heat exchanger with a reticulating cooling water supply utilising a pond pump and a bucket filled with iced water. I get around 1lt of spirit per run, it's not much but it's fun. Cheers
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
taffy4x4
Site Donor
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:54 am
Location: Tasmania
equipment: T500 reflux and home made stainless steel and copper 10lt pot still

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby Professor Green » Thu May 23, 2019 12:59 pm

Hi Taffy,

Interesting pot still. How are you going to seal that stock pot when you run it?
Professor Green
 
Posts: 2483
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2015 1:10 pm
Location: Victoria
equipment: FSD 100 litre milk can with 2 x 2400W elements
FSD Neutraliser
FSD Carter Head
12 litre double boiler with 2400W element

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby taffy4x4 » Thu May 23, 2019 2:47 pm

I ran a bead ov rtv silicone around the lid, smeared food grade grease around the pot top until it set and I just clamp bulldog clips around to hold the lid in place. As long as I line up the lid in the same spot it's air tight.
taffy4x4
Site Donor
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:54 am
Location: Tasmania
equipment: T500 reflux and home made stainless steel and copper 10lt pot still

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby The Stig » Thu May 23, 2019 3:26 pm

Sorry but that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Bulldog clips :angry-banghead:
The Stig
Site Nerd
 
Posts: 18192
Images: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:37 am
equipment: Only the Best will Do.
Mac4 SSG Bubbles of Joy

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby bluc » Thu May 23, 2019 5:14 pm

Is that a wort chiller condenser :think: im with stig your.asking for trouble..
At very least drill holes round lid and use bolts to clamp.
Last edited by bluc on Thu May 23, 2019 5:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby taffy4x4 » Thu May 23, 2019 6:20 pm

Ok this is where my lack of knowledge shows itself, what is wrong with bulldog clips as I only use three. If there was a pressure build up they would open up slightly which I thought would be better than bolting the lid down. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
taffy4x4
Site Donor
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:54 am
Location: Tasmania
equipment: T500 reflux and home made stainless steel and copper 10lt pot still

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby The Stig » Thu May 23, 2019 6:23 pm

You just described the problem, leaks x_x
The Stig
Site Nerd
 
Posts: 18192
Images: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:37 am
equipment: Only the Best will Do.
Mac4 SSG Bubbles of Joy

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby bluc » Thu May 23, 2019 6:25 pm

Leaks and flames...
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby woodduck » Fri May 24, 2019 11:13 am

Yeah mate that idea is not a great one at all.

There should never be a build up in pressure in a still. You should check every time you want to run it by blowing through it, sometimes bugs get stuck in there of wasps build nests in them so always check.

So in saying that if that lid leaks and you have flame under that pot the heavier than air alcohol vapor is going to head straight down to that flame and wooshka you have a fire ball that will more than likely burn down your shed and heaven forbid you or a family member with it.

Please, please, please don't believe everything you see or read on the internet 90% of it is rubbish and down right dangerous. I will guarantee the info on this site is 100% ligit and you won't go wrong following our advice. You may need to spend some time in the newbies section and read up on some of the fundamentals of stilling especially the safety threads just to get your head around some of the science.

Please don't take any of the comments here to heart mate we all started somewhere and we are only looking out for you.

My suggestion is go find a keg and use that, it will be the best decision you will ever make. They are cheap and easy to get off gumtree and the like.

Best of luck mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:
woodduck
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 3497
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2014 5:54 pm
Location: Good old country SA
equipment: 4 plate 6" copper bubbler, 6 plate 4" glass bubbler with 500mm packed section three way thumper sitting on a 50 ltr keg boiler with 6000watts, 2" pot still and a 2" boka.

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby taffy4x4 » Fri May 24, 2019 11:43 am

Thanks for the feedback wooduck, I was more concerned with pressure build up than vapour leakage and that appears to be my mistake. I have a ring clamp for the lid that I will use for my next run as unless there is a blockage in the condenser there will be no excess pressure. I appreciate the time given to a rank amateur by all of the experienced people on this site and hopefully if I don't blow myself up I can progress with this hobby, although my liver may complain. Once again thanks for the help. Cheers
taffy4x4
Site Donor
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:54 am
Location: Tasmania
equipment: T500 reflux and home made stainless steel and copper 10lt pot still

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby dazzerthemighty » Sat May 25, 2019 12:12 am

looking at the pic of your rig, have a look at the easy flange http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=76&hilit=easy+flange that you could add to the bottom of your column as an alternative and attachment for a Keg
think you liver could handle that :dance:
dazzerthemighty
Site Donor
 
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:52 am
equipment: 2"Nixon Head, 2" Pot-Head & 2" Condenser on a 50Lt keg boiler with 2x 2400wt elements, Power controller

Re: Mk1 pot still

Postby taffy4x4 » Sun May 26, 2019 5:03 pm

Hi bluc,
It's actually a water cooled condenser from a soft serve ice cream machine.
taffy4x4
Site Donor
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:54 am
Location: Tasmania
equipment: T500 reflux and home made stainless steel and copper 10lt pot still


Return to Pot Stills



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests

x