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Asante
Omnicyclion prophet
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: blackout]
#5206154 - 01/21/06 11:24 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Whoa!
I bought a bottle of cheap ass-wine, 0.75 ltr of 14% vol alcohol. (105ml pure alcohol total) I set up the Olliver still using 2.5 liter of icecold water in the wok, letting it sit on a very low fire for 1 hour. I changed the water twice.
I retrieved a little over 200ml. The liquid has a density of d 0.905 which gives it an alcohol content of about 45%, and I got 85-90% of all alcohol out, all in all quite good.
The unavoidable taste-test proved it was absolutely stronger than the 40% vodka I'm used to, but also it had some aroma from the cheap ass-wine and some sharpness of what I think are the fusels. Still it didn't nearly taste as crap like the wine did.
All in all I'm pretty jolly. Using a cooking pot, a wok and a small bowl I have turned 14% into 45% with over 85% yield in an hour. It took an hour because I kept the temperature below simmering. With a bit of steeping w/ herbs I would drink this, which I wouldn't do with the cheap Spanish wine.
It's a very crude setup, and it might be damn difficult to arrive at 190 proof (if not impossible) but without any effort to mention and no apparatus whatsoever I got half a pint of 90 proof on my first try
If I do this again I will definately put my Petanque balls into the freezer and then put them in the water of my wok. The freezing cold metal will assure I don't have to change the water during the process.
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Konnrade
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: blackout]
#5206891 - 01/21/06 03:25 PM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
blackout said: There is no real way to make good "cuts" with that still, you would want to carbon filter it. It is a poor design. The "amazing still" is far better. You can buy mini table top stills with fans for cooling. They look like normal kitchen appliances. get them at www.partyman.se for europe www.brewhaus.com sell good stills in the US, I would recommend modifying their design once you get it though. They also sell the mini stills
the stills I see shown do indeed look nice, but they are units of over $200 US (when you factor in shipping and taxes).
What kind of results do you think I would get if I merely used a 1L Ehrlenmeyer flask with a water-cooled graham's condenser? (shown below)
The length of the cooling section (overall length, not accounting for the coiling) is 300mm. Would I have to fabricate an upwards-oriented coil coming from the flask that later connected to the downwards-facing graham condenser?
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Anno
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: blackout]
#5209271 - 01/22/06 07:04 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
My still was extremely simple. A 50l beer keg full of 30l of 18% alcohol, a 3.5m length of 1/2" copper tube. It points up for 1.5m and then slopes down at 45 degrees for 2m into a glass gallon jar. It is heated with a power controlled element. I run at about 400-550W, this is the tricky bit the power control. You want it so the end of the tube is warm to the touch, meaning all the power is lost through heat loss from the copper tube.
I would like tu build something similar: A thicker copper tube(~2 in diamter) of 2ft lenght filled with steal scrubbers as a rectification column and a thinner spiraled copper pipe as an air cooler.
Some similar designs are here http://homedistiller.org/photos-sm.htm
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ohmatic
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Anno]
#5209320 - 01/22/06 07:30 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Anno said: I would like tu build something similar: A thicker copper tube(~2 in diamter) of 2ft lenght filled with steal scrubbers as a rectification column and a thinner spiraled copper pipe as an air cooler.
Some similar designs are here http://homedistiller.org/photos-sm.htm
the results would be desastrous, hoooray to liquor peace ohm
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KaptKid
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: ohmatic]
#5209535 - 01/22/06 09:24 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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This has been a very educating thread. Thanks to all.
-------------------- Child of the 60's, Tripping ever since.
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blackout
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Konnrade]
#5209693 - 01/22/06 10:30 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Konnrade said: What kind of results do you think I would get if I merely used a 1L Ehrlenmeyer flask with a water-cooled graham's condenser?
Not great it is just essentially a pot still with a nice looking condenser.
Quote:
Konnrade said: Would I have to fabricate an upwards-oriented coil coming from the flask that later connected to the downwards-facing graham condenser?
That will help, so will the low power. but if you go low power like I did there is no need for a forced condenser.
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blackout
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Anno]
#5209715 - 01/22/06 10:37 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Anno said: I would like tu build something similar: A thicker copper tube(~2 in diamter) of 2ft lenght filled with steal scrubbers as a rectification column and a thinner spiraled copper pipe as an air cooler.
your 2" column should be at least 1.5m, I would recommed 2m, mine is even taller, it allows you to use higher power, and draw off quicker. Are you planning on drinking the alcohol? if so a full on vapour management system may be what you want. You need a lot of tools and skill to make a decent still. If it is just extraction alcohol you want I would go with the spiral stills.
If people are experimenting, a cheap source of alcohol can be mouthwashes. It usually says the % on the back. I can get 600ml 15% for ?1.50
Edited by blackout (01/22/06 11:03 AM)
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Konnrade
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: blackout]
#5209737 - 01/22/06 10:43 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
blackout said:
Quote:
Konnrade said: What kind of results do you think I would get if I merely used a 1L Ehrlenmeyer flask with a water-cooled graham's condenser?
Not great it is just essentially a pot still with a nice looking condenser.
Quote:
Konnrade said: Would I have to fabricate an upwards-oriented coil coming from the flask that later connected to the downwards-facing graham condenser?
That will help, so will the low power. but if you go low power like I did there is no need for a forced condenser.
Right then, I'll just go with a properly designed peice of tubing work... hell of a lot cheaper.
-------------------- I find your lack of faith disturbing
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Asante
Omnicyclion prophet
Registered: 02/06/02
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: psychedelic_sam]
#5216798 - 01/24/06 05:56 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Wow! The "Amazing Still"http://files.shroomery.org/files/06-04/810598240-amazingstill_dotcom.gif>
If you are even remotely interested in stilling then get the free eBook at amazingstill.com !
If you want to make tinctures then the Amazing Still looks like the best way to go; One haul gives 35-40% and two hauls 55%. It's extremely simple and damn near foolproof! I notice how those submersible heating elements are also used in double-tub incubators, so shroom growers could buy two food-grade buckets and put out a liter of vodka-strength alcohol in a day
Definately a good find, but getting to 95% = 190 proof would still require a traditional still.
Blackout - can you tell us more about coil stills and what are your thoughts on prepackaged Turbo yeast? (6kg sugar + 21 ltr water + baggie --24 hours--> 25 ltr 14% alc)
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blackout
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Asante]
#5221458 - 01/25/06 11:48 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Turbo yeast is excellent, very cheap for what it is. You can get 18% stuff. The highest % I got in a brew was 21-22% which is very difficult and not worth the bother. If you want taste there are special potstill yeasts. I have reviewed them in the past for yeast developers, they send me prototype yeasts they are working on and ask me to brew and distil them out. They give a fantastic clean spirit, if distilled correctly they are drinkable immediately with no carbon filtering.
getting to 95% is difficult with a traditional pot still, getting to 90% is fairly easy and is probably ok for most people. The step from 90 to 95% is large, check out the interactive calculators at www.homedistiller.org The best book on still design is "the compleat distiller" available from www.amphora-society.com they also sell extractors. To say these guys know their shit is an understatement! they will really help you out in emails but I would not mention any illegal activity (other than simple distillation!) Their extractor design can be copied and I have always intended on making one myself.
I used to email the inventor of the "amazing still" quite a bit, he is a swedish guy and has come up with some amazing inventions and techniques for distilling. I was toying around with aircooled stills at the same time with just theoretical ideas, he was first to actually put air cooling theories in practise and came up with the spiral stills. We helped each other refine the ideas and a few others came up with more elaborate designs with engine cooling fins and fans in tubes.
The amazing still can get to high %. Many disregard it as a simple toy, it provides no real separation at all (needed for good drinking alcohol). Many use them as a "stripper", i.e. to initially bump up the % prior to putting it in a low volume high tech still to get out 95%. Stripping runs are a good idea. I used to brew direct in the still, heat the water up with the element and dissolve the sugar, brew to 18%, then distill quickly to get about 50%. Save 3 of these batches and have a 50l keg 3/4 full of 50% (hence the name blackout ) Then you do a one off slow distillation of this and get top quality drinking alcohol out.
Johan who invented the amazing still would probably advise to go for the spiral instead. If you have a large AA PC it is easily converted into a spiral still, it is actually perfect for it. Most would like to use them in distilling circles but they are too expensive, many have them here already. All your holes etc are already there! very little mods, the fittings and copper can be got easily.
In saying that many here would have most of the equipment already needed for the spiral still. If distilled once 18% gets to about 41%, put this in and it comes out about 60% with each step the increase is less and less.
Edited by blackout (01/25/06 11:56 AM)
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blackout
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: blackout]
#5229890 - 01/27/06 03:39 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Found a great link on the spirals, by the guys I mentioned already click on this link and in the third box down click on "build a spiral still" http://distillers.tastylime.net/library/Listings2.htm#Books%20Listings
other great links too.
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Prisoner#1
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Asante]
#5238174 - 01/29/06 11:08 AM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've used something similar to this for several years, it;s a crude cold finger extrator by using a large beaker and a candle holder similar to this
http://www.garden-accessories-tools.com/gifs/glass-candle-holder.jpg
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Asante
Omnicyclion prophet
Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 87,226
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Prisoner#1]
#5269832 - 02/06/06 03:11 PM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Here's an update y'all likely want to read: using an Olliver Still (aka Wok Still) to convert 1.5 kg of sugar into two bottles of decent-tasting 42% Vodka using nothing other than supermarket ingredients and kitchenware
It's half the proof I'd like it to have (84 proof) but a nice trick nontheless.
The Spiral Still papers are *very* promising.
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mr_minds_eye
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Prisoner#1]
#5274421 - 02/07/06 06:07 PM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Prisoner#1 said: I've used something similar to this for several years, it;s a crude cold finger extrator by using a large beaker and a candle holder similar to this
http://www.garden-accessories-tools.com/gifs/glass-candle-holder.jpg
Forgive my ignorance, but how exactly does a cold finger work?
-------------------- Our quest for discovery fuels our creativity in all fields, not just science. If we reached the end of the line, the human spirit would shrivel and die. But I don't think we will ever stand still: we shall increase in complexity, if not in depth, and shall always be the center on an expanding horizon of possibilities. -Stephen Hawking
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mr_minds_eye
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: mr_minds_eye]
#5285736 - 02/10/06 12:34 PM (18 years, 1 month ago) |
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bump
-------------------- Our quest for discovery fuels our creativity in all fields, not just science. If we reached the end of the line, the human spirit would shrivel and die. But I don't think we will ever stand still: we shall increase in complexity, if not in depth, and shall always be the center on an expanding horizon of possibilities. -Stephen Hawking
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hightimesreader
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Asante]
#12329095 - 04/04/10 01:06 PM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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Wiccan, you said that you changed the water twice? So you changed it when the ice melted and water became hot or what? Im trying to completely understand the cooling idea.
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Cactusdan
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! (moved) [Re: Asante]
#12330606 - 04/04/10 05:16 PM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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This thread was moved from The Ethnobotanical Garden.
Reason: This is better for the brewing section IMO, although, it is 4 years old...
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Asante
Omnicyclion prophet
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: hightimesreader]
#12331117 - 04/04/10 06:39 PM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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4 years old, this thread is practically obsolete, there are far better ones by others & me in Chem & Pharm.
"Wok Still" is a good Search phrase as is "Turbo Yeast"
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Yacub
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: Asante]
#12356861 - 04/08/10 05:46 PM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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How do you seperate your heads, hearts and tails with that set up ?
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Sleepingstar
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Re: The Olliver Still -- distilling your own alcohol... without a still ! [Re: blackout]
#27170749 - 01/26/21 11:40 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
blackout said: “The spiral stills can get 95% in a single pass with very little lost to the outside. They replicate what happens in a fractional column.
I know this is a very old thread and apologize if anyone gets upset.
I hope Blackout or anyone can tell me more about the spiral still and if it would work for essential oils?
I am wanting to learn how to make the oils and would like to know more about this setup. I would really like to get a glass alembic one but am not sure if that’s something that I really want to order off the internet.
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