StillSmart

If he's on here, will he put his hands up?

To be honest, I'd have been quite pleased with myself if I'd managed to put that together as a total novice.

I will admit that the products from my first still, around 30 years ago, may not have been of the finest quality, due to there being no internet, and no sites like this one.
Equally,I did use a fair amount of Gaffer tape!

The products didn't kill me,I was young and resilient then.
They made me the person that I am today.
Old and Crocked!
Cumbria,August.
Be there or be square

Robert.

And if you are out of the loop and interested. PM me for details

The cheap stock pot is almost certain to leak from the rivets on the handles, As for the column the design is a poor one, even if it were made in a reasonable size tube. That looks like 22 mm and a packed 22 mm column is virtually useless.

Even as a pot still that would be the minimum size tube I would recommend.

Such a short, packed column in so small a diameter? The maximum power you could apply will be very low indeed. I won't calculate it but it will be only a few hundred watt and probably a lot less.

Compare it to a PDA1 which with a bigger column and a coil reflux condenser is rated at 750 watt and requires high reflux ratios to achieve decent product. You can get vodka from a short column but it needs to be a better design than the one shown.

OK I did calculate it.

Max power for optimum vapour speed of 16" per second, is 167 watts. That assumes you have a reflux condenser capable of providing the reflux ratio that is required to maintain product quality at that speed.

If you don't you need to run slower to maintain the product quality.