Jonny Digital, No! you don't need two lids with the simple method, just the one modified lid that sits UNDER the inside bucket ,slows down the re-evaporation of the alcohol back into the primary ,,inside, bucket,! Yes it is worth the seemingly troublesome task of insulating the system, but it does seem to help shorten the distilation process somewhat and gives you a higher proof earlier on. Just be extra careful that your internal ,aquarium, heater is shut down long enough to cool sufficiently to avoid burning it out before opening the system. Even if you do however, they will sometimes burn out anyway, but this is such a simple system that it makes it worth the trouble.
Spiritmaker

Jonny Digital, You are welcome. I appreciate your reply too ,sometimes I wonder if anybody still reads these postings! As to your New Years Bash, even if you just started your 'wash' tonight, if you use something like 'Prestige Vodka Yeast' ,from Brewhaus, you will likely be able to finish the ferment AND distill enough with your 'simple version' to enjoy a good ,more than just a 'warm glow', holiday. Course, if you aim to share it with a whole lots of folks, then ya might wanna put up a coupla batches and run two stills at th same time. Ya know, when ya consider just how cheap this thing is to build, thats not a bad idea!
So get on-line now an order some yeast. I just finished putting up a 5-gallon bucket of 'prestige Vodka' this evening but I don't think I can promise to save you a drink though. This usually makes some pretty good stuff and you can still add other flavors if you want to. But I find that if you simply run your product through a common 'Brita' water filter syslem ,available at Walmart for about $20.00,, it will make a vodka loke beverage that will mix nicely with ginger ale or anything else you want, and with no off flavors to spoil it! So enjoy th fruits of yer labor mate, ya deserve em!
Spiritmaker

Hey Jonny, I think I'd wait then. You know what yer gonna get this way an you can always make those mods after the holidays an ya sobered up! ,jis kiddin, I think you will be more than satisfied with your choice of yeast an there's certainly nothing wrong with your home-made filter system either. So as I said before, enjoy th fruits of yer labor ,an mebbie share a little too, huh?
Have a great day jonny
Spiritmaker

Hey Whitewater. Thanks for bringing up this question. I read the same thing right on the package and while 'Prestige Vodka Yeast' is formulated for an all grain wash, the same package says that it is especially good for making a 14.5%abv wash in just 7 days from a pure sugar/water wash. You can find this at 'Home Distillation Supplies from Brewhaus of America' website. Just type in the name and do a search and you will see what I mean. They also have a good selection of some other really good yeast too. Whatever ya need, you can probably find it here! I know, I know, you may think I work for Brewhaus or something, but I don't! In fact, the ONLY connection I have with them is, I have always been satisfied with their products and service. I agree that bakers yeast will also make some alcohol, but 14.5%? I don't think so!
For me, this makes a very good optimun vodka and it is VERY clean with virtually NO OFF TASTES. So try one packet and judge for yourself. I think you will agree, it's that good.
Spiritmaker

Whitewater: Not yet but if you say it's good then I'll try it too. Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained huh? I have been introduced to some great new things by being broad minded, so here goes. I'll let ya know when an how things turn out. Right now I'm waiting for an order of 'Pot Yeast' to arrive from Brewhaus ,I'm gonna make sum Brandy, with which I'll make wine, then didstil it.
Thanks for your comments,
Spiritmaker

Hey Whitewater, i'm impressed. I'm outa my league here but then I'm rubbing elbows with some real pros and where else can I do that and enjoy the same interests at th same time? And I'm still fairly new at this, that's why I ask for advice! It's nice to draw on the experience of people like you, Grayson, THM, Doc, LCB ,thats short for Louisana Country Boy ,Whoee, that's a mouthful,, and a host of others. Since I have been reading this forum I have learned more than just about alcohol and distiling. In just a few months I have progressed from a jar filled with grape juice and a toy baloon to asking some really dumb questions, but still I get more helpful answers than I ever expected. Like most folks here, I started with making a little wine, then I got interested in beer but then I stumbled onto this forum and whoa, here i is! This is a really neat hobby and th rewards are great too!
Thanks to all of you,
Spiritmaker

The deep South! Where they still fly the Stars and Bars an th only grapes we can grow here are Muscadine grapes, which leaves me kinda short on local resources.

Thanks for the well wishes Whitewater, I can still make a pretty good, albeit a rather 'fruity' wine from muscadine grapes though, and this makes a darn good brandy too! I envy anyone who can afford to live ANYWHERE in California! I've only seen the northern part, but man, what beautiful counrty that is! I kinda 'hole up' back in th ole Okeefanokee swamp ,or where it drains out, lotsa 'skeeters', 'gators' an 'possums', a little south of South Carolina by a hundred or so miles. Hope y'all get the opportunity to come East for th holidays, if'n ya do, I hope ya have a great time.
Thanks again,
Spiritmaker

We actually developed a method for dramatically increasing the speed of fermentation to take a 4-week wine kit down to 7 days, with a marked improvement in fruitiness and bouquet. The Pot Distiller's Turbo is not what I would use for this particular purpose, but more importantly, if you are working with full fruit or pure juice, then this will require an extended aging period after fermentation, which actually will be entirely independent of fermentation time.

I recently saw plans for a 'spiral' still from sweden. It is actually a variation of an amazing type still using a plastic pail and submersible heater, but adds a copper column and condensor coil. That opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for stronger hooch. It is listed under 'Build a Spiral Still' at the following website.
http://distillers.tastylime.net/library/Listings2.htm#Books%20Listings