water boilers

[Magnu420]

ok guys been looking at water boilers,such as burco,swan,cygnet
just wondering if open element which heats up is safe or should look into
concealed element,could i put a false bottom and make it concealed type
whats your thoughts please

[Uber]

I have one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cygnet-MFCT1030 ... B004EAERSS

Concealed element and constant rolling boil when turned to full.
Really happy with it so far. 3k element too. Have only done stripping runs so far but it does the job well..

I'm still waiting for the slow boat from china to turn up with my Voltage Regulator so I can do a spirit run.

[YHB]

Open elements are fine unless you are intending to distill on the grain.

The advantage of the concealed element is that you can boil a small amount of liquid. I have a Burco with an exposed element and have to calculate the amount/strength of wash I use so that there will always be 1.1/2 gallons of liquid left in the boiler after the run to ensure that the elements are always covered.

My Burco has a stainless removable cover over the element I believe that they are available as a spare part. This cover does not make it a concealed type, as such, but does reduce the amount of solids that are able to settle on the element.

[Magnu420]

cheers guys
i dont think il be doing a distill on the grain just happy with the vs neutral
now im just debating with either to make a vm colum or lm colum but im swaying
more to this which yhb sent me a few months back http://wiki.homedistiller.org/images/Mini_explained.jpg

could i do a stripping run with this colum

[YHB]

could i do a stripping run with this colum

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To do a true stripping run, which is done at high power and high speed to preserve tastes, you would need to remove the packing and probably the needle valve as well.

However if, as you say, you are only going to produce neutrals and therefore not interested in maintaining flavour, you could just double distil with the reflux in place. The first run would be slightly longer than a stripping run but the end product would be a more neutral neutral.

[Magnu420]

@yhb,what would be the best type of colum for what i need
ive seen various types and what they capable of doing,but atm its fraggling my head,differant styles and sizes and that

[YHB]

yhb,what would be the best type of colum for what i need?

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The unanswerable question.

Do you mean

The best as in the easiest to build.
The best as in the strongest that will last for ever.
The best as in the cheapest to build
The best as in you can make it with materials you already have.
The best as in it is the easiest still to run.
The best as in it will make the purest spirits.
The best as in it will make a lot of spirits in a short time.


I went through the same process as you and ended up building a 2" Bokakob, it is cheap because it has few fittings, it has relativly few soldered joints, there are lots of builds documented for guidance and as it turned out, it makes good high strength spirits. It is not the fastest design out there and if you want a high capacity machine then this is not for you.

Firstly, do you understand the process and differences between CM /LM / VM and condenser controlled stills? I would suggest that you choose the process that you are most comfortable with and start from there, then look at the various methods and materials for building your chosen system.

I am sure that you have looked at pictures of hundreds of stills and I am equally as sure that you will not have seen two the same, that is because there is no "best" still.

[Runningman]

+1 on that Brian. With the exception of a Harry Jackson designed Proportional Splitting Head Still. The beast for all occasions. By adjusting the proportions of Reflux and Product take off valves you can almost achieve any % alcohol you want. In my opinion the best still around for all jobs.
Regards
Runningman

[HairyB]

I have one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cygnet-MFCT1030 ... B004EAERSS.

Hi Uber
I wonder if you would tell me what you did to convert this into your working still ? ie did you use the original lid - if not what did you use ? What size hole did you drill ? Did you need to re-enforce it ? etc etc

Sorry to ask, but I really want to build one myself, but have all the diy skills of a 10yr old so need all the info I can get.....
I have the plans for the "Basic Pot Still design" by one of the guys here (sorry forgot the person who was kind enough to produce the excellent drawings) which I "should" be able to build with some help from my friends ;-)

Hope you don't mind me asking
Cheers
HairyB

[Curmudgeon]

apologies for bumping an old thread. I plan on getting one of these boilers and need a simple cheap pot head and condenser.

[Icefever]

No apology needed, that's what a forum is all about.

Back to your Q....start at the lid, you'll need to fix clips or some way of making a seal between boiler & lid.

2....The column/PC will you build it?? The cost of the parts alone will be £40 maybe £50. You will have to sort a way of fitting the column to the lid.
Then you will need the basic tools to cut/solder the part.

3...I've seen posts from guys who use these Baby Burco type urns that the controller is not up to keeping a steady boil. When you dial back they cool down to much, so your up & down like a fiddler's arm..

4...In the same posts some guys bypass the thermo and fit a home built controller, so this could be another expense.

Just my 2 cents on it..