[The topics of 'heating the distiller' and 'putting the distiller together'; sounds like a New Years resolution should be made to stop drinking. I always thought the still was the unit making the booze and the distiller was the person using the still. Maybe I'm wrong; wouldn't be the first time.

have been waiting for the hot plate answer!!! thank you. Please advise about the cooling water. I have been able to adjust both the plate and the water to maintain a solid 172 degrees. in fact i shut the unit down when there is barely a drop coming out,after several hours,. I cannot tell if there is a temp. spike indicating i have entered tails? cooling water is warm by that time, about 83-85 degrees. I throw away the first portion of output,turbo sugar wash,. the product is clear, odorous, and tests out at 175/87.5. I am thinking that i could shut the unit down sooner to avoid the tails/oder? any thoughts? thanks, stephen

Elricko:
About the cooling system: Is one 20 gallon bucket enough to cool down the water or do you need a freezer??
I have a posibillity to buy a pump wich pump with about 1100 GPH, but I can't chance the level on it. Will that work???

Niels:

a 20 gallon bucket is more than enough. I use about 6 or 7 gallons total. And yes, the 1100 GPH will work fine. No problems there. If you want to see how I have mine set up go to:
http://tvbeer.com/cool1.htm

Stephen:

I have to be honest with you, I have adjusted my water flow at times, but it is very very very seldom. 99% of the time I just set it at max and let it flow. I do all of my temp adjustments with my rheostat. As soon as I see the first drip I hit the water switch and start adjusting the rheostat. I use a 1500W dimmer switch that has a slider and over time I have learned exactly where to drop the slider to bring the temp where I want, 78dC. Once that is set I just let it run. How many milk jugs do you have at the ready? I think the low flow may cause your water to get warmer. The longer the water stays in the column and condenser the hotter it gets. Keep it at a high flow. Milk jugs are a good idea, I just don't have room in my freezer for too many of those.

I have read the same things that say you don't have to toss the foreshots, but hey we're only talking 50 ml. Why take the chance? I toss the first 50 ml and collect the next 100 ml and throw that into my tails. Like you I can't stand that smell so I keep as low a temp on my heating coils as possible, keep a strong water flow, after three quarts I monitor it pretty close and switch to tails at the first traces of that smell.

As for the column I use the one that breaks into two pieces so you can use it as a fractioning or a pot still. I put copper in the bottom of the bottom piece, then put in rashing rings to within an inch of the top then put in more copper. Then I attach the top half and fill with rashing rings up to the top of where the two cross cooling pipes go through the column then put more copper mesh to fill to where the condenser comes out. Does that make sense? Anyway, make sure you really clean your copper after you use it. Don't just boil it, soak it in vinegar water. Some of that smell could come from copper not fully cleaned.

Good luck on your rum. I enjoyed mine a bit too much yesterday but that's okay.

Cheers!

Hello Cooker,

I also use a 3' column, mine from brewhaus, and I could't be happier. I later ordered from them a 2' X 3' reducer and clanp and gasket, to fit to my half keg. I bought the High capacity unit to save time, and still attain quality. The use of the keg increases both qualities. However, it takes a lot of heat, and it has to be controlled at various points, so I use propane, and from all I've read process start to finish, in half the time. Water issue is magnified with this unit, so would consider Elricko's newest version of cooling, with more ice than he recommends.

This column kickes ass, if you have plenty of cold water. I would recommend you purchase the 2 valved splitter valves to adjust condenser flow, and reflux flow- will save you energy, and time.

As you get more familiar with your still-column, you will appreciate all the more

Elricko:
I was looking at your pics. on how to convert the beer keg. I have a couple questions if you don't mind. 1st. Are the bushings called 1/2 bushings? Also what size is it that is needed for the water heater elements? Also is the thread for the elements a pipe thread?
Thanks Jim

Elricko:
I have another question about the 1/2 couplings. I found a place here in town that has the stainless couplings. They said they are rated at 150 psi. I would think this is more than enough.Would you say this is within the working range? The plumbing supply said that residential water heaters are 3/4'. I would probably just take an element with me to make sure. Just to let you know the fittings are less than $3 each,.
Thanks Jim

Elricko:
I have another question, sorry just trying to get everything together. The dimmer you said is a 1000 watt. You said that the bottom element is 1500 watts. I am assuming that the reason for using the 1000 watt switch is that you don't actually run the lower element at full capacity so it isn't necessary to have a 1500 watt switch. Am I correct?
Thanks Jim

i use an electric motor controller i purchased from w.w. grainger...seems to work great for me...and less then $25
thanks, scott from texas

Elricko
I have almost everything together, thanks for being so helpful. I wanted to ask you something else, what a surprise huh. I know the kegs will still have pressure in them, my 1st question is, can I just leave the tap open to relieve the pressure or what? As far as the fitting on the top from what I understand there is a valve involved, I know there is an adapter to attatch the column but what do I need to do before I can do this? And last of all ,at lest for now, when I weld the couplings in are they inset slightly or flush to the outside of the keg. Sorry to be a pain but I don't want to mess it up. As far as the elements, does it matter say on the 4500 watt whether I use the longer say 14'' or the shorter sort of double type,that is a 5500 as far as efficiency?
Thanks Jim