beer keg ,found at the back of a local bar,2inch copper pipe for the tower.1,inch out let in out pipe on reflux 1/4 inch kicks arse,50 leter keg is best.go to building a world class still at the moon shine address above i used it as did many others. by looking at the history of rum.whiskey,vodka gin and so forth you can often find a recipe or at least get some idea of what you might like to try i like rum and whiskey and to say the leaqst why buy it if you can alter other people's recipe and make it the way you wish it to taste or make fuel for your car or so on good luck, let the buzz be with you!

I agree with Jimbull that the column mounted to the pan would seem flimsy, that's why I cut the original tap out of my keg and had a 2' ss nipple welded on in it's place. Granted I can't reach my arm inside to clean it up, but I do use some cleansers that I use with my wine bottles ,B-brite, I think is the name, and it seems to be working fine, and the column is very sturdy when screwed onto the pot.

Also if It does help any I will be using a 1/2 barrel as my pot. Not sure if this will help with any ideas on how to be able to make it break down easier for storage. I have also been thinking about how to connect the column to the keg. Any other ideas on this? I would love to hear how people did this. I was also thinking about maybe a rubber gasket instead of a cork gasket. Or is that not a good idea?

-The New Guy

Um, 'The NewGuy' I think that's what both Jimbull and cfd0145 are trying to tell you. Look at their posts again and you'll notice that Jimbull describes the first way he attached his column and then a better way to do it. Actually, it's copper that gives you the odor/off taste that you are concerned about, not the ss! So, you might want to rethink using all copper in your still. Necertheless, I have read on this and the homedistillers.org forum, where several people prefer 'all copper' to ss, but it seems that most prefer the latter. That's why I would say that a better system might be a ss pot and lid with a copper column ,for a reflux still, or lyne arm ,as with a 'pot' still,! You DO want SOME copper in the vapor path though, but not in direct or prolonged contact with the wash. The wash contains alcohol, a very good solvent which tends to be somewhat corrosive even to copper, causing it to give off a 'sulpher' smell/taste ,not something you really want in your end product, when exposed directly to the hot liquid wash. It does wonders however, for the 'vapor' that passes quickly through it. Just out of curiousity, how many gallons/liters does your 'half barrel' hold?
I use a 20-liter ss stockpot, and was just wondering about your setup.
Thanks and good 'stilling' to ya!
Spiritmaker

Spiritmaker: As I siad I want to build a copper still. And when I was asking for more info I was curious about other peoples setups not just thiers. I'd like to get as much knowledge and ideas on different setups and see what has worked for/against people. I belive a half barrel is 15.5 gallons.

FreeBrew: Thats a nice idea. How easy is it to clean this type of setup? Where can you pick up the triclamp and ss adapter? Anywhere with more info on this type of connection and maybe some plans?

thanks for all the feedback

-The New Guy

All the items can be purchased from Brewhaus, this is where I got mine. I love the systemt and clean up is a breeze. I remove the column from the keg by loosing the tri-clamp and set it aside to cool and then empty the keg and rinse and sterilize with san star ,a cold sterilant, then clean the column. I have not had any problems with this system in cleaning or running. I have seen different operations and by far this is the best, you can be up and running in no time.

I put you address in my address book and I will take some pictures of my still and email them to you. I will also explain my system to you in the pictures. You must understand that individuals in this forum like to remain annonymous due to our hobby. Give me a few days and I will get back with you with the pictures. This system is very simple to use. You start by heating the boiler with whatever source of heat you want to use I currently use propane. I start with the heat low and then increast until the my reflux column starts getting really hot to touch. Then I will cut back the heat and the tempture will shoot up the column prett fast. I keep my cold water circulating through the column and condenser all the time. When the vapors come up the column which is alcohol because alcohol will condense quicker than water the vapors go into the condenser and the cold water converts the vapors back to a liquid with is alcohol. I usually take the first 50ml and through it away very strong with unwanted chemicals. I then collect the alcohol until it goes to about 80 percent this first collection is my heads. I then start collecting the middle until it drops to about 60 percent then I start collecting the tails until it get to about 40-50 percent and that is the tails. I keep the heads and tails seperate from the middle and only use the middle. The middle is the best stuff. This is how I do my collection I would love to hear from others. All you need to keep in mind is keep everything clean and keep the cold water flowing through the condenser or you will loose alcohol do to it going up in a vapor. You must remember too that every system is different and you will need to experiment with you system and see what works best for you, no two systems are alike.
Happy brewing and I will get you some pictures.

i just gotb my still attchments today from brewhouse the clamp and the stem for a skenkle keg there is no other reson to buy or build enything else if you have a american stle keg you want to use for a boiler it has a clamp 11 somting and a stemm with a 2inc male end 30somting just ad 36inc copper colm 2inc female end your stlye cond. ad reflux pipe into the colem to use or not use and done i can take this fiting and move it to my 3gal keg 5 gal and 15 gal win win sorry for speling geting high on my own sapply tonight

The SS adapter screws into the 2' female coupler on the bottom of your column then there is an O-ring that goes between the SS adapter and the keg then the two pieces are connected together by the tri-clamp. Very easy to do. If you need help you can email Rick at Brewhaus and he will give you aparts list of what is needed to go to a sanke keg so you get everything you need. Brewhaus is very good at answering questions and helping with any problems.

About the couplers, I"ve seen the words "sanke" and Sankey". Google search show both as keg types. Are these the same type of connection?