Downs - How to make a simple pot still : [a step by step guide]

Introduction

Distilling of alcohol and essentialoils is something humans have done for centuries. If it wasnt for folk like us (and I amincluding you in this because if the thought had not entered your mind to tryyour hand at distillation you wouldnt be looking at this book) who like to experimentfor our own fun and pleasure to see what is possible, life would be prettyboring. Any way before we go anyfurther, this book is not about how to distill, there are plenty of books andinformation on the web about the fine art, this book is a simple straightforward step by step guide on how to make a simple and cheap pot still.

Is this book for you? If your interest, like me, is about having ago for fun, finding that boutique flavor, or scent then yes this is a goodstarting point. However if yourinterest is maximising the amount of alcohol fromyour wash in a single distillation, then probably not, you want a reflux orfractioning still not a pot still.

OK so you are still reading,and want to try your hand at distillation or are looking for a step by stepguide to making a really simple and cheap but effective pot still. To ensure I am not breaching any state,federal, or international laws, I advise if you decide to go ahead to producealcohol or oils from your still, look up and read your countrys federal andstate laws on the legalities and tax requirements for operating a still. If owning a still is illegal where you areREMEMBER it can be used as, and called an evaporative water purifier.

Although this book is a step bystep guide to making a Pot Still, and not a how to distill book, there is somebasic information that is handy to know to better understand the whys and howit works. More detailed information as Isaid earlier is available on the internet.

Distillation Basics

At sea level,alcohol boils at 78 C (172 F), while water boils at 100 C (212 F). Duringdistillation, the vapour contains more alcohol thanthe liquid. When the vapours are condensed, theresulting liquid contains a higher concentration of alcohol.

To distill alcoholyou start with a fermented wash.

The simplest washconsists of sugar, yeast and water. This is fermented in a container until all the sugar is consumed by theyeast, anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days depending on how the sugar iscontained (refined or in fruit or as starch in grain) and the resulting wash isusually around 5 to 7% alcohol. Some of the specialty yeasts designed for wineand alcohol brewing can produce up to 14% in 24 to 48 hours.

When fermentationis complete you put the wash in the still and heat it. The vapour thatboils off rises to the space at the top. The evaporation process increases the pressure inside the pot forcingthe vapour into the swan neck and then into the condenser. As it cools, because alcohol boils at alower temperature than water, the resulting liquid coming out of the condenseroutlet contains a much higher concentration of alcohol than the initial wash.

Still Types

There are three different typesof still, pot, reflux and fractioning stills.

A POT still collects andcondenses the vapours given off by boiling thewash. In thepot still, the alcohol and water vapour combine with esters and flow from the still through thecondensing coil. There they condense into the first distillation liquid, called"low wines". The low wines have a strength of about 25-35% alcohol by volume but plenty of flavour (essence)is retained. Passing the Low winesthrough the still a second time will produce the colourless spirit, collected at about 70% alcohol by volume . Colour is added through maturation in an oak aging barrel , and develops over time.

A REFLUX still does thesemultiple distillations in one single pass. Packing in a column between the condenser & the pot, and allows someof the vapour to condense and trickle back downthrough the packing. This "reflux" of liquid means only the purest vapour raises to the very top and increase the % purity. The taller the packed column,and the more reflux liquid, the purer the product will be. The advantage ofdoing this is that it will result in a clean ethanol (clear alcohol), withlittle flavour to it - ideal for mixing with flavours etc.

A FRACTIONATING column is a pureform of the reflux still. It will condense all or most of the vapour at the top of the packing, and return 90% of the vapour back down the column. The column will be quite tall- compared to the boiler, and packed with a material high in surface area, butwhich takes up little space (something like steel wool). It will result in analcohol 95%+ pure (the theoretical limit without using a vacuum is 95.6%), withno other tastes or impurities in it.

Note that both reflux andfractionating stills can still be used to make whisky, rum etc ,as they allow a very precise "cut" between the heads, middle, andtail runs.

Parts of a still

Thereare three main parts to a pot still, a sealable container (the Pot), aCondenser (Cooling Coil) and the pipe (the Swan Neck or Lyne Arm) linking thepot and condenser.

For thepot I am using a pressure cooker, and for the condenser coil and swan neck some inch copper plumbers pipe.

Parts List

NOTE:These are the parts I have used because they were available cheap. If you want to try something else, doso. Also dont get too pedantic aboutthe sizes, the important thing is they fit together and work. I used the parts to fit the copperpipe. Had I used 3/8 inch pipe insteadof 1/2 inch, I would have used fittings to suit. This list and book are only a guide, notrules.

Parts Used

Part Description Qty

NAMCO 6 litrePressure Cooker 1ea

20 litre metalbucket 1ea

15mm FemaleCompression Union 3ea

15mm MaleCompression Union 1ea

15 mm Couplerfemale to female 1ea

15mm threadedplug 1ea

15mmFlangedBasin Nut 4ea

15mm Rubberseals/ washers 4ea

15mm threadedbasin pipe 150mm

inch (13mm)copper pipe 4m

15mm cistern tap Female to male 1 ea

NAMCO seal setfor pressure cooker 1set

A NAMCO six litre (or a NAMCO 16pint (9 litre)) pressure cooker is best, however any pressure cooker with onlythe pressure release bell and a single safety seal in the lid will work. NAMCO cookers are easy to find, cheap, andeasy to get replacement seals for. Ifthere are other openings they will need to be sealed. Threaded holes can besealed with a bolt and rubber washer/seal. Non threaded holes with nut bolt and rubber washer.