How thick does copper have to be for a still?
1/4 ” copper tubing – 8 ft should do.
What is the best material for a still?
Overall, copper is better for distilling spirits because the material removes sulfides from distillate, which produces a better tasting and smelling final product.
What do you do with backset after distilling?
Once done distilling collect 1 ¼ gallons of the left over backset (wash that is left in the still after at the end of distillation). Add the hot backset and 7 pounds of sugar to a bucket (not the fermenter) and use an immersion chiller or an ice bath and cool it to 75 degrees.
What gauge copper is best for moonshine still?
18 gauge copper
You will need the following Materials and Tools: Half Sheet of Copper – 3 ft by 4 ft ( use 18 gauge copper) Amazon has some reasonable priced copper sheets. Roll of Solder – Try to get hold of a roll of 95/5 tin/silver is the best and stay away from anything with cadmium/antimony or lead in it.
Does a still have to be copper?
Without copper, the distillate will smell and taste sharp and unpleasant. However, the still doesn’t need to be made of copper. There is nothing particularly magical about the pot or column itself being made of copper. As long as copper metal is present somewhere in the still, the beneficial reactions can occur.
How long can a wash sit before distilling?
It depends on what type of wash you have but as a general rule of thumb, it is best to distil within 2-3 days after fermentation is complete. The wash will keep for up to a month so long as the fermenter is airtight. The period can be extended if the wash is racked off into a clean airtight container.
How many times can you reuse sour mash?
Apparently one can reuse the left over slop in the still up to 8 times, which begs my first question. 1) If the yeast and sugar reacted correctly then there shouldn’t be any of either in the left over mash.
Can too much sugar stop fermentation?
However, overloading the must with sugar can overwhelm the yeast and make it difficult for fermentation to begin. With small batches (1-gallon recipes), the amount of sugar is small enough that it won’t bother the yeast. In these cases, you can add the sugar all at once at the beginning of primary fermentation.
What ABV should a whiskey mash be?
Again, I recommend 70% ABV for beginners, perhaps a few degrees into the 60’s if you are bold. Save all of the spirit run as good sippin’ whiskey. Most moonshiners keep running their stills long after they are finished with the spirit run, collecting down to about 20% ABV before stopping.
How much will a 13 gallon still produce?
The 8 Gallon will hold about 6.5 Gallons of a distilling wash, making about 1 gallon of distillate, while the 13 Gallon holds close to 10 Gallons. Really, what it comes down to when picking the right Dual Purpose, is how much you’re looking to make.