My build is modular as well, and similar. 24" x 2" column, triclamp connected to the "middle" of the tee, second tee end going to a thermometer, and third tee to my 48" 1/2 with 3/4 jacket liebig. Very easy to take completely apart and store different pieces in different places so unless Im actually using it, I never have a functioning still on site... This is my second still. 1st one was picked up from a swapmeet market (lady thought it was a butter churner !). It was small and couldnt handle stripping runs very fast. When I decided I wanted something bigger and faster, I didnt want a paper trail, so decided to build my own. New one will be tested next week for the first time, but fully expect it to knock down everything my 5500w can throw at it.

Incredibly helpful Jessie. Thanks for taking the time to go over that. Still trying to decide between straight pot still or go ahead and add the t piece so I and several triclamps to switch it out later.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I hear you man. Nice to have but sometimes the little extras bump things into the "its not going to be ready until next month/year/etc category".

Thank you so much for all of your advice and help in making a decision about my build.

I used a gate valve for my VM co!umm following Mike Nixon and Mike McCaw's design. Really liked the results. I could let the column equalize without drawing anything off and eliminated stripping runs.

Hey Jessie, thanks for the vids, they've been super helpful for someone getting into the hobby. I'm working on setting up a ccvm still, similar to yours. Do you have a video in which you talk about how you run the ccvm still and things that you look for while running it? I've read some people on the HD forum talk about managing temperatures, others say it should be more about maintaining a good flow rate. Curious to hear how you like to run your still. Also, how the hell do you 'fraction out' a run?

watching this in 2021, its amazing how far you've come Jesse! Keep up the great work!

Thanks for all the great videos. Do you have any vids where you talk about your cooling water setup? Curious what size tubing you're using into the RC and PC and is one looping into the other or do you have a split from the same water faucet? What do you use to control the water flow rate?

ahhh... working my way back to the past. now i know what a ccvm still is. kept looking for an affiliate link. lol. pipe collection begins!!! PS... your sheep likes the cleaner spirits, got excited when you pulled out the coil

I love hear that lamb in the back ground lol!! I have chickens 🐓👍

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+charlie knight yeah they get all pissed that they can't get to me haha. Our chickens are chill .

Lovely, action packed video. Beard was much less a distraction this time. Love the lamb sound effects too, though I'm not sure test feeding baby sheep alcohol is a good idea. Thumbs up!

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah . . . probably . . . definitely a bad idea!

OK this looks like my future build I was looking for a still sample and it works I like that😎👍

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Its definitely easier than others and effective :)

I like the idea of retractable / adjustable dephlegmator coil. Does it give you a better reflux control than a water controlled dephlegmator?

Great video, do you use 2 separate water sources, i mean one for the shotgun condenser and one for the coil condenser or do you have a splitter to split the water from one to the other?

@patrickryan794

4 жыл бұрын

Depends how much cooling power is needed for your system. I have to run sepreate lines but mine is also a 3 inch tower on a 55g drum.

Awesome videos!!! A question about your condenser water supply. Would you know how many gallons per minute the condenser uses? And at what water temperature would be ideal? I am assuming you are using a domestic water supply. I am toying with the idea of a large cooler with ice water and a submersible pump to cut down on wasting water. Please keep up the great work!

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Hmmm sorry I have never actually taken not of flow rate. But I can next time!

Great vids mate, we’re did you get your ferrule, blanking plate and tri clamp on the top of the boiler please Matt

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

Sorry for slow reply dude. Most of it was off AliExpress

Hey Jessy. First of all thanks for all the kickass videos you've shared. I'm about to build still like yours(hopefully :) My only worry is building a shotgun condenser. I can get hold of pretty cheap pre-made stainless steel shotgun condenser. My question is will that effect cooling efficiency or perhaps product taste? Thank a bunch for all the help :)

Awesome build, and I love your channel. Do you leave the column packed when in pot still mode? Cheers.

@lawsonbrysen6889

2 жыл бұрын

instablaster.

hey mate, love watching your videos, would there be any noticeable difference between making it from all stainless rather than copper? I'm a stainless fabricator so its easy for me to get my hands on stainless, copper not so much (also in NZ)

Hello Jessie, stumbled across your inspiration a while ago and had an old keg sitting in the shed, so on my way of trying to replicate something similar to your setup. What I would like to know is the tube size of your top reflux condenser, I’m thinking 3/16 would be fine but thought I’d reach out to you for that info. Thanks for your channel bud you are an awesome inspiration and I have directed a few people to get simple clear info on the distilling craft here.

Dude been watching for awhile just brazed up my ferules last night building a ccvm similar to yours. If you get some spp (spiral prismatic packing) you would not have to make your colum any longer as that length of column that you have would be equal to about 20 hetp with the right spp. And would make azeo no problem. I spent some time researching and made my own spp read up on dad300 posts regarding making your own spp.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Adam Lynch awesome...... Thanks for the tip. Will have to look into that!!!

so when you install your home made top cooling coil or condenser, how do you seal the pipe between the tubes and two inch pipe? I have seen guys use a rubber stopper with holes that you fit the tubes threw. also it holds the coil in set positions. and with another stopper you can install your thermocoupler to run your temps.

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

There is no need to sell it when you are using the reflux condenser. The condenser itself stops any vapour escaping. When I run it in pot still mode it's capped with a ferrule blank.

@stevealexander8010

3 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt Until the condenser water stops or the the feed tube springs a hole - then you have an excellent fire hazard.

If you were to control the amount of flow of your cooling water that goes through the reflux coil, could you simulate the "moving up/moving down" of the coil without actually moving it? What I mean is, if your coil cools less, you get more vapor going up and less reflux going down . You could stuff a copper scrubby in the top to make sure you are not losing vapor out the top but get it to move into the Tee? I was listening to Chase the Craft podcast recently and was really intrigued about the PID control you suggested for your reflux coil. Where would you read your vapor temperature in CCVM mode? Would you read the vapors coming through the Tee?

Hi Jesse, just about to start my build. Looking at doing pretty much the same as yourself. Any suggestions what to use for reflux condenser, would you change what you did if you started from the beginning again? Love the channel btw John

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

Not really man. I did a bit of a crappy job with the coil. But that was before I was showing all that stuff on video. The main problem I still need to solve is a decent plan/set up for plumbing when in reflex mode.

Sorry if this question has been answered- In potstill mode do you remove the copper mesh from the column and in reflux mode do you run water in the reflux condensers and SG condenser both?

Jesse, firstly thanks for the videos they are great. Can you please talking about the different runs you mention stripping runs and ???? Does that mean you distil twice?

Hey, hope the lockdown is treating you well! I'm thinking I'll build a CCVM but i'm confused - when it comes to a reflux still, as the vapour is going through the reflux process, I would have thought the various chemicals that would normally vaporise first (methanol/foreshots/heads and the rest) would be mixed and muddled - Is it still the case that you should discard the first amount to get rid of the methanol, etc? I can't get my head around how the various chemicals aren't mixed by the reflux process rather than distilling in some sort of order due to temperature increase in a pot still.

@kedarsingh5348

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Chris methanol's boiling point is lower so it will escape from the pot earlier.

I'm curious why you put a triclamp right above the tee instead of on top of the 8" copper tube where the reflux condenser goes and just brazing the tube right to the tee. Would that extra height disrupt pot still operation somehow if you tri- clamped it shut at the top?

Finally I’m back online good job bro! Quick question? When you run in reflux mode do you run your shotgun condenser to? I don’t think so but I’m not sure here!

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+1FrenchConnection1 welcome back friend! Yup I still run the shotgun as the PC the coil as the RC.

Good day! I have a CCVM still that i have literally JUST finished. Just cleaned it and was doing a "testrun" with water. So my question. With the reflux coil in and cool, and my still running warm enough to produce heaps of steam, there's nothing coming out of my product condencer. If I take my reflux condencer out and cap my column, there's product (water) coming out. What am I doing wrong?

@StillIt

4 жыл бұрын

Ayyyyeeeeee awesome! Congrats on getting a build togeather mate! Sounds like you have the coil set a little to low in the colum. To get a 50% reflux ratio you are going to want the bottom of the coil to be just above the top of the opening to the line arm.

I've built mine very similar. It's inch and three quarter copper so the shotgun is three barrel of 15mm (knocks 3KW down no bother).. I've not made the reflux coil yet so i run as a pot still with a blank in the "T" with a thermocouple in it to measure temperature at the top of the column. I turned the 11 Gal keg upside down and put an elbow on the 2" out for a drain tap. then put a 4" hole in the new "top" with a reduction to my 1.75" X 44" copper column packed with stainless scrubbers.

@whiskeywookie2758

Жыл бұрын

That's a hell of a good idea mate! I've been trying to work out how I wanted to put a drain in my kettle and the top has enough stand off I wouldn't need to worry about the drain pipe being in the way! And the bottom is domed slightly so I would have a domed top to the kettle and wouldn't need to add one.... Thanks!

Hey Jessie, I've bought a 50lt keg still with a 4" stainless 4 foot tall column . I can attach either a s/s condenser and marbles for reflux or a pot still copper dome to the top of the column. This dome has the traditional condenser coming off it plus condenser coil inside the dome. My question is, how do I use the pot still condensers in conjunction with each other. Would photos be of help? Thanks Murray Bain

Awesome videos! Thank you so much, for all this informations. Could you tell where you got those ferrules and tri clamps from, cant find them in my country. Greetings from germany!

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Glad you are enjoying them mate :)

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

If your finding it hard I would suggest Ali Express.

@niri7043

5 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt Thank you so much, great advidse :)

I'm so jealous of your guys. Living in Melbourne now for almost 2 years in a flat and all my gear is in Perth.

Nuther question, sorry. If the Reflux Condenser, and the Shotgun (Product Condenser) are so efficient, why do you want such a tall column? And can you avoid needing a tall column by having a column that is bigger in diameter? Since area of a circle quadruples are the diameter doubles can a 102 mm 60 cm column do the same as a 51 mm diameter by 150 cm tall column? But maybe column of the column isn’t the goal but distance from the boiler?

Hi Jessie. I really enjoy the channel and watch as often as I can. I wanted to comment on the copper pipe and elbow you picked up from the seconds store. My guess is that 2" copper with the elbow attached to it was used as a drainage fitting. Copper drainage fittings were used in the 1960's and were typically soldered with a high lead content. I would bet that piece of copper was removed from and old house and was used as a sink or tub drain. I doubt that those two soldered joints on your still would contain enough lead to have any long term effects. What are your thoughts on the matter.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

How's it mate, thanks :) So seems like New Zealand didn't use high lead solder as much. But I wanted to test it anyway, so I got a little plumbing test kit. Lead is a funny thing. There is pretty much no such thing as lead free anything now (thanks leaded petrol/gas). But at the same time you really don't want to accumulate more than you have to.

@benstacy6226

6 жыл бұрын

Still It , cool let me know how your testing goes. As a plumber I know that everything we install now has to be less than 2% lead content by law. So in fact led free isn’t really lead free. Keep up those awesome videos.

Hey man, if you are not running it on reflux mode ie in pot still mode, do you have to take the packing out? Or will the packing only have an affect if you run it in conjunction with the reflux condenser?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

You don't have to take it out. But yeah it won't really have much effect without reflux running through it. The still will create some passive reflux, but not really enough for the packing to make a whole lot of difference.

Where do you put your temp probe for your pid? Or are you running it in manual ?

Hello, what did you use for the can? Great video btw

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry, what do you mean can?

Hahahahaha i swear at 3.47 i can hear a sheep in the background. awesome videos mate!! especially your series on buccaneer bobs. Thanks heaps for shareing mate

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

haha you probably can. I think this was before the sheep went off to greener pastures!

@tj323i

5 жыл бұрын

Don't be rude, that's his wife.

Where in the world did you find your 1.5" to 3" reducer for coming off of the pot. I'm looking for part to make a 3" column and boy I'm having troubles

I hope for someone's answer! I use a 1.5 inch vm column, distill 10 liters to a maximum of 30 liters with electric heating. Can I switch to a larger column? Up to what maximum diameter? Thanks to anyone who answers.

Bro! Really stoked that I found your videos! Especially as you’re a Kiwi as well. Where are you based? And where did you source the copper piping from? I am in Putaruru where we have some of the best water in the world. Our town supply is sourced from the Blue Spring Aquifer. Cheers, Daniel.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

Nice dude. Always good to find another kiwi! Welcome my man :)

Amazing vids bro! So I'm wondering about the ccvm...hypothetically, how long do you think it take to run 40gallons (50g boiler) with a 4" by 5foot ccvm head? Has 4"x4"x3/4" T, so my vapor outlet is smaller but I could, again theoretically, neck up to 2" . You converted my idea about Boka to ccvm, strong work. Thanks! Keep up the great work!

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Hmmmm mate I dunno. My still is 2" but I am considering moving slowly over to 4". So not too sure on run times for a 4" yet.

Don't you lose some vapor out of the top where the reflux condenser goes? It didn't look even close to being air-tight... or is it negligable?

How is it you don't have to seal the top of the column when you have your ccvm condenser inserted into the column? I totally get the idea and workings of the reflux still/column I just don't get how your not losing vapors when the top has no sealed cover also with no seal you have no back pressure to push the vapors out the vapor/product condenser. Or did I miss something in the video

If your just planning to make whisky/eys, do you need the reflux side of it? Or is that more for making your vodkas and gins?

Great description of the very boring CCVM reflux column still. I mean this design is so easy to operate it is boring compared to the stress and trauma of operating a CM or VM. I’ve had all three and the CCVM is simply the best most boring neutral machine, 👍🏽 TIP, put a sight glass immediately below your tee to watch out for condensate flooding at the top of your packing!

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, yeah I hear you. I must admit something like a flute is kind of tempting me!

Using the reflux condensor while packing the column, where you able to get neutral product in one run ? Also, do you think using a dehplegmator with a valve while packing the column could work like a CCVM ?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

I wanted to fit more than one boilers worth of wash in there. So I did a couple of stripping runs then added back in to the spirit run. Yup you can for sure. Only down side is it can be pretty hard to be accurate adjusting a valve, especially seeing as water pressure fluctuates during the run.

@maximecarpentier4595

6 жыл бұрын

Still It thanks for the answer. How long do you recommend the column to be for a neutral spirit run? Also how long do you pack it ?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

My column is a bit short. After about 1m you get fairly diminishing returns. Pack it all the way man. Having empty column dosnt help much.

@maxischerr

5 жыл бұрын

@@maximecarpentier4595 The lengh of the column is very difficult to say. My is about 1,5 m tall @ 42,4mm outside/ 38,4 inside. This is great! At my cleaning run, i need only about 2 hours for 1,5L 95%, but it was not as neutral as I want it (I had a cold and did not smealed anything, but it was only the cleaning run). I recomend this calculator: homedistiller.org/calcs/reflux_calc

How are you holding the coil condenser in place, with the adjustment of positions?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

I use a scrap piece of copper. It sits in between the coils and rests on the pipe. It takes a wee bit of jiggering sometimes. But the resolution is pretty good.

@robertdalling5143

4 жыл бұрын

K

interesting build! I followed the links great info... but I didn't find anything that said how tall the column should be for reflux mode ... how tall is yours and what kind of proof are you getting out if it in reflux mode?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

How's it mate :) My one is about 1m. But I want to extend that by perhaps double. Right now I am getting 92ish percent abv.

@chuckhenderson1337

6 жыл бұрын

hmmm 1m @ 92% sounds good enough for me !

@gerritpitout1215

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for making the video. Very helpfull👍👍

Thanks Jessie , as i am new to the craft ,what keeps the vapors from excaping where the 1st stage condenser is?

@davebarlow8373

3 жыл бұрын

Nobody’s answered this, but just in case you haven’t found the answer yet, it’s because there is no vapour! The condenser is doing it’s job turning the vapour into liquid, and gravity does the rest! Hope this has answered your question.

@markgarmon100

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the reply, but I have it under control now ! I figured it out!

Hello mate Im confused as to the coil how do you cap off the end of the tee once inside? What stops the vaps just going up rather than down the the tee piece? Have I missed something?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Nah you didn't miss anything mate, I was super confused about this as well. You don't need to cap it. Any vapor that gets up past the tee is going to condense and drop back down the column. Just as long as your coil is big enough in relation to the speed of the vapor.

@rsa420

5 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt Nice one thank you. First run of malted popcorn is doing well but think next batch needs better crack and boil time as og was not to my liking

@rsa420

5 жыл бұрын

Working on a corn meal recipe as is really cheap here(experies working well) Dont want to add amalayse as malted barley is available yeah pricey but cheaper than ama and get extra flav and sugs

Hey great channel! just a question did you use lead free solder?? I have just finished building mine with lead solder but am now worried to use it.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Josh Longland yes! Definitely lead free solder dude. lead is one of those things you don't want to mess with. Ah no how much work have you done?

@rcdiscos

6 жыл бұрын

Still It thanks for such a quick reply! It’s finished! 😫 but there are only about 6 solder joints, no big deal, I will head to the shops get some new joints and some lead free tomorrow. Also done some reading into it and it’s a big no no, it’s just not worth the risk, it’s about to get chopped up!

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Josh Longland good plan man. Yeah if your going to do it, do it safe! What kind of still are you (re) building?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Josh Longland and that sux you had it all done haha

@rcdiscos

6 жыл бұрын

Still It hey hey so all sorted now with lead free solder! Have you got any idea why my heads were clear as anything but after the first 50 mil The distilit Went brownie in colour?

What size copper pipe do you use here in NZ?

Wouldn’t the shotgun condenser be better going straight down than at an angle? To avoid pooling.

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah it would be slightly better.

Can you show us how you made the reflux coil?

If I understand this correctly, the reflux condenser is a sort of temperature controlled valve at the top of the column. If the coil is down all the way no vapor passes through to the outlet because the reflux condender turns the vapor to liquid sending it back down the column to be remixed with the uprising vapor in the packing. Some vapor will rise from the packing and some will be condensed in the packing to fall into the boiler to be re-vaporized. When the RC is above the outlet some vapor exits and some vapor returns. When the RC is higher, effectively all the vapor is allowed to exit the column and enter the product condenser. But my question would be, is the RC so efficient that none of the vapor exits the top of the column? Thank you for your insightful and entertaining YT.

@oddjobbobb

4 жыл бұрын

I just read your answer two comments down. Thanks again.

@niklashultkrantz603

4 жыл бұрын

The condenser separate the water from the alcohol to make the distill stronger. Since water have a higher steam point then alcohol alcohol about 80C water 100C. The water steam will condens back to water at a lower temperature then the alcohol. When water is condensed by the condenser it will separate from the alcohol and turn back dripping down the pipe into the pot. Because of the different steaming point. Steam rise liquid run down. That's why a pot still will get about 50% alcohol and the refux about 96% alcohol.

Jessie, Did you ever pack your column? (It will increase your reflux abv numbers) If so which medium? Scrubbies, marbles, SPP, lava rock, rings?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+BigEdsGuns sure did. Copper mesh ;)

@BigEdsGuns

6 жыл бұрын

Nice! I am so behind on videos! Too much home brew NEIPA beer!

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+BigEdsGuns haha, nice man! That's a good excuse ;)

@jbrunson1949

6 жыл бұрын

Jessie, now it's been awhile since you packed the column, do you know how long the mesh will last before you have to do a re-pack??

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+jbrunson1949 I took it out as I have pretty much just used it on pot mode since then. So not too much experience on that one yet myself.

What keeps the vapors from escaping out the top when in ccvm mode?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

The coiled re-flux condenser. Any vapor that gets near the opening is condensed so it falls back down.

@rayfox212

5 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt oh ok thank you

@JohnDoe-jq1mi

4 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt that reflux condenser cool the vapors to send them back down but for what purpose higher alcohol content or what

where/ how do u get the ferrules on the pipe?

Just a thought for you to get some experience with something else but keep that simple and cheap they have stills SS/copper ones for around $100 would also give you a vid or 2 and maybe they have on amazon so you can get some kickback like you talked about before 😁 they have on eBay more than likely have on amazon. Great vids awesome info

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Paul Blaney thanks my man :) You mean like those little mini pot stills etc? I actually have a Ali Express one. I really need to bust out haha.

What does CCVM stand for ? How does it work ?

Fun fact, Popcorn Sutton used a shotgun condenser with over 50 copper tubes. This caused more vapor to condense and make more liquor

Hi me again , any idea where i can buy this equipment in the Uk im not a forum sort of person this may be an alternative to the turbo still 500 at £399 or £500 with fermenting tubs and filter system but i need to price things up to find out and searches re not helping me

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah can be tricky. And tends to be super regional. Probably the best bet is to hit up aliexpress

I built a ccvm designed still and vapor passes through the coil and out of the top. What am.I doing wrong. It's a scary deal. This happendd with my vinegar clean out run.

@StillIt

4 жыл бұрын

Your vapor speed is more than the coil can handle if its blowing past it. In terms of design/alterations fix it by making a longer coil, if it is not a double coil think about moving to that. In terms of operation you need to do one or more of the following. Use colder water, increase water flow or decrease the energy going into the boiler.

@ThomasShue

4 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt ok, I'll try app that stuff

Any reason for not using a shotgun condenser for refluxing?

@StillIt

4 жыл бұрын

As the reflux condenser you mean?

Does it matter the material, if so what is the best material to make a still from?

@StillIt

4 жыл бұрын

It definitely matters. For safety and also for effectiveness. Really you only want to use stainless steel and copper, or just copper.

@shbsuri

4 жыл бұрын

Ok, thanks!

If that reflux coil can achieve 100% knock down on the uncapped pipe, could you use a similar coil as a product condenser? It would be much more compact.

@bigredlevy

3 жыл бұрын

I should have googled it first; the coil is called a Dimroth condenser, and you can also use it as a product condenser.

Hey bro just wondering if you've considered the move to a bubbler? I'm sitting on the fence for a pot or bubbler build?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

I definitely have! I tink I will always want a basic pot. But a bubbler will be nice too haha.

My dad had goats, they hear your voice, hell let them ✌️

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

haha, yeah I have not had a lot to do with goats!

Catching up on the videos, Thanks

Found it!

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Beet me too it ;)

Hi what prevents vapors escaping out the top when using the adjustable coil?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+larry baker good question. I should have mentioned that! The coil itself. Any vapor that makes it up that far will condense. And then fall back down. It doesn't have to be sealed because of this. It's weird at first to think about. But I after seeing it work it makes sense.

@reesewawarosky1058

6 жыл бұрын

I've been wondering how that worked.

@BeardedBored

6 жыл бұрын

The first time I saw you run it I was really surprised how well it knocked down the vapor. Physics is awesome!

@larrybaker404

6 жыл бұрын

Could this be a wood-be safety device(valve) knocking down vapors n preventing over pressure of the containment device also known as the boiler or still? #2 question how does the vapors pass the coil when in different depths to make that tee of a turn?

@larrybaker404

6 жыл бұрын

Doing a blind test on heads &tails is so difficult with a head cold

Is the top of the still sealed and is it recommended you seal it when it in ccvm mode

@BigEdsGuns

6 жыл бұрын

No. Alcohol vapor is heavier than air it would make its way over to the "T" and fall down through the shotgun condenser. Think of alcohol vapor as if it were water, it would rise up the column and over to the tee and fall out. The only way it would come out the top if Jessie had an enormous amount of heat put into the boiler. If he was running more than 8,000 to 10,000 watts on full blast and both cooling water systems stopped, it would flood out the top.

@BeardedBored

6 жыл бұрын

Nope. The cold water in the coil draws all the vapor to it, cools and condenses it which makes it rain back down the column. It doesn't seem like it would catch it all, but it really does. It's neato:-)>

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Ambrose Ratcliffe these guys have you covered ;). Sealed when using as a pot, just the open extension + condenser for ccvm.

@Bobbywolf64

6 жыл бұрын

It is worth stating that it is a serious safety hazard to seal the top of a reflux still. Many of them are of valved design, and if you were to put it into full reflux, you would have a bomb on your hands if cooling were to slow or stop. To the uninitiated it seems strange that boiling vapors get 100% knocked down, but they do, eliminating the need for a top at all with reflux stills.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Bobbywolf64 yup yup!!! Yeah thanks for putting that down man. I feel like I say this stuff all the time. But forget that it may not be in each individual vid. And someone may just watch one video etc.

great vid. 3 questions. 1. Why insulate the column? 2. When its in ccvm mode and the coil is in. Do you have a cap on the top of the still to minimize venting of vapor? what do you do? 3. what would be your ideal length for column in ccvm mode? Thank you! :)

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

cheers mate, 1 The fractioning inside the column is fairly delicate and the copper is a kick-ass conductor. So the insulation stops any rapid change outside (big gust of wind etc) from collapsing the fractioned gradient inside the column quickly. 2 Nope, The condenser stops anything getting out the top. It doses not need to be airtight. 3 I would say 1.5m would be heaps for me

@theartfulfamily200

5 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Thank you. We are building a ccvm still as our first Still. Keg is ordered and I am designing the reflux portion. Essentially our still will be very similar to yours including the shogun condenser. woohoo! :) Have a good one.

How does the vapor not come out the top where the coil sits?

@FrankEgyed

Жыл бұрын

Same question here - surely the cooling alone is not enough to reflux THAT much that none leaks out the top...?

Damn straight those copper reducers aren't cheap here in N.Z. You front up at the plumbers supplier retail desk and announce you'd like a 2" to 3/4" copper reducer, the sales guys all suck air in thru' their teeth and then one reaches into his desk for the rubber gloves and the lube ... :o)

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+LemmingHerda that is pretty much exactly what happend to me. He didn't even have the decency to act accordingly when I decided to not spread my cheeks!!

@larrybaker404

6 жыл бұрын

Why is copper more expensive in New Zealand?in the middle of paradise,oceans away from supply?

@AngryParrotDistillery

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah "tyranny of distance" and all that - but also N.Z. has been rooted by rampant globalist interests and crony politicians. Population here are fast becoming vassal sheep on a country owned by a monied few and corporations. Cost of living is completely out of wack with the regular wages which haven't risen in ages.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+LemmingHerda if I didn't agree with all that I would be tempted to assume it was a mad mans rant hahaha 😂

@AngryParrotDistillery

6 жыл бұрын

Oh I would never deny being mad as a hatter and given to ranting, ... tend to spew truth when I do tho' ... don't get invited back a second time most places! :o)

I have a dumb question. What is a stripping run?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

You run the still fast. Not to make a drinkable product, but to cut some of the water out then add back to the still for the spirit run.

@hoglundh

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Love your vids!

what are the gaskets made of?

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

The ones for the column? PTFE.

@cliff0weird0

6 жыл бұрын

I just saw you made a video about it. I am watching it now. Cheers

How long should you let the steam come out till you turn on cold water? I feel like I have my water on too early.. is that possible?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

When doing a normal run? You don't want any steam to come out. Turning the water on early just wastes water.

Using the copper coil to reflux, can you get 100% reflux? NO vaper passes the copper coil at all.

where do U put thermometer jesse?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

I still do not actually have one on it yet, slack! But it will go on the horizontal line arm.

@peterbignell2911

4 жыл бұрын

Jesse the horizontal line? Can you please be more specific and also what temperatures are you working with, please

Soldering copper to stainless is easier but the flux is nasty stuff so you need to give it a thorough cleaning before you use it.

@StillIt

6 жыл бұрын

+Larry Dyke thanks man. Yeah I really need to give it a try just to compare. Yep I would do the acud bath, vinegar run and sac run again for sure!!

the reflux makes no sense to me, how do you seal the top so the vapor doesn't just escape through the top of the reflux

Sorry I have a problem with this design. The reflux condenser needs to be in tube under t at top. A valve controlling flow to coil for temp. Better. Promises.

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

No dude, thats just a different design. This is specificly set up to NOT need a valve. The coil is the valve and is adjusted by its position not the water flow. If you are going to follow your sugestion you may as well just use a deflagemator (or how ever you spell that thing haha)

might find this info helpful.

Wouldn't there be escaping vapors for that?!

What does CCVM stand for?

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Coil Controlled Vapor Management Sorry should have that in there lol. Basically it just means that you are controlling the reflux ratio through how much vapour is coming in contact with the coil by moving the coil. As apposed to other stills, say a boka for example. That controls reflux ratio by controlling how much liquid is aloud to flow through a valve.

@petermcfarlane6911

5 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt Thank you! Still (it) a minnow in this hobby but just ordered a 50 litre boiler and controller from China (Oakstills) and hope to make a combo column myself.

@petermcfarlane6911

5 жыл бұрын

Also, love your show, if you're ever on the west coast of Canada, well I hope I've made something drinkable!

i Have a chanel too, about destiling and brew beer. By the way sorry my english. We are a comunity with youtube chanel, facebook group and we have 5 or 6 whatsapp discution groups. i share all the time your videos, congratulations.

@destilart

5 жыл бұрын

sorry, i forgot to say, i am portuguese but the comunity is almost from south america, Brasil in the top. They are really moonshinners, they do what ever the law. Visit us, our chanels. Can you make a video about Mezcal? only a tip... congratultions again, stiil it was and still is very importante to my devolpemant. Sorry my english again. the words are all in red.... kkkkk

@StillIt

5 жыл бұрын

Cool man! I just subbed :) Dont stress the english mate, reads fine to me!

@destilart

5 жыл бұрын

@@StillIt Tkz Bro :)

yea buddy one kiwi on youtube