I want to start building my first still, and would love any advice, suggestions, concerns etc.
This might look a little extreme for a first build but I figure it might as well also be my last. My logic is there’s no point fucking around.
I want to make a 3 inch vm/lm combo. The build will be all stainless except for the top condenser and the packing, which will be copper, and the water lines which will be plastic. I’m using stainless because I can buy it cheap and have access to a good workshop to get all the work done easy. Also I like the lack of maintenance of stainless, and I’ve never really worked with copper much.
We will plasma cut a 3 inch hole in the top of the keg and weld on a 3 inch male connector.
The column, t piece and head will be 3 inch 316 grade stainless.
I will get 6 inches of 3 inch 309 grade stainless turned down to male and female thread. These will be cut into 1.5 inch lengths so that a male coupling can be tig welded to the top of each section and a female coupling to the bottoms. This way all sections can be separated for packing and cleaning. Also the head can be attached straight to the keg for a pot still or stripping runs, and the VM section can be left out if I don’t want to use it.
The colmn will separate into 2 pieces in the centre. Packed column length of maybe 1500mm (59 inches)?
The take off line will be 309 grade stainless ¼ inch hydraulic line with a compression style screw on connector which can easily be moved from ball valve to needle valve as needed. I don’t think I will ever want to use both at once. This will have a liebig type condenser.
For the VM take-off, 1 inch threaded pipe will be welded to the side to make a threaded T for the stainless ball valve. I know this sounds difficult but the right tools are there. Would I be better off with larger diameter, like 2 inch? Also, would this be best to come off horizontally or at an angle?
The head will be a typical Boka dual plate style with either a bought neddle valve or one made from a small stainless T piece using the motorbike spoke design. The top condenser will be the usual dual coiI type. I am not sure what diameter copper pipe to use for this nor what length I would need to make it.
I will put the thermometer inlet below the bottom slanted plate.
I will put 2 centreing rings in the column, one above the packing and one half way up at the join.
The heat source will be a large propane burner.
I hope this makes some sense. I’m still very new to all this. Thanks for any advice.