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Awoke | 05-21-2009 10:22 AM
Stainless steel case I want to build a small distillery about the size of a large coffee thermos. I have the design in my head, and know the parts I need, but I want to find the proper stainless encasement to use. Something similar to this time capsule: http://daddytypes.com/archive/disney_time_capsule.jpg However, not from Disney because they charge an arm and a leg. Any ideas for a case? EDIT - I should add that my intention is to build something that I can basically throw right into an open fire. Just FYI.

goldsilverman | 05-21-2009 11:01 AM
Re: Stainless steel case ....................

Awoke | 05-21-2009 11:11 AM
Re: Stainless steel case I'll PM you. Remember that I'm trying to keep this small enought to strap to the side of a back pack. Roughly the size of a coffee thermos.

Ash_Williams | 05-21-2009 11:16 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Everything I can think of has a rubber seal at some point ( don't throw it in a fire), that includes a beer keg. If you're ok with that, you might be able to save a few bucks and have something a bit smaller by using a fire extinguisher. I have a couple at home that are stainless with a twist-off top (large enough to fit your hand in... a beer keg has a comparitively small opening). I used them as pressure washers... picked the up for a couple bucks each at yard sales. I think a new one wouldn't be too costly, or just look for a used one on craiglists or something.

Awoke | 05-21-2009 11:23 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Great idea! Fire Extinquishers.... A small-sized one would be perfect.

hypervel | 05-21-2009 11:30 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Pressure cooker?

StrawMan=Corporation | 05-21-2009 11:37 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Have a look for "Tri Clover" on ebay. I have purchased large canister size / shape peices. What I have is basically a large 6 inch dia ss tube with TC flanges and caps on each end. Things of this nature are also made of Monel and Inconel at a higher cost. Its the kind of plumbing that the breweries and food processing plants use. IT uses a seal and clamp assembly that is reusable and easily cleaned. I believe that this company was the first to design it and market it. http://www.alfalaval.com/Pages/default.aspx http://www.homebrew.com/articles/ima...over_clamp.gif http://www.equipnet.com/mp_data/imag...9_196638_1.jpg

Tn...Andy | 05-21-2009 12:27 PM
Re: Stainless steel case You're over thinking this folks...... Hunk of stainless steel pipe whatever size you want, with each end weld capped, then a hole drilled, tap for 3/8"-1/2" NPT, screw a pc of copper line in....you could valve the line, but be careful you don't make a pressure bomb.....or just make a traditional cooling/condensing coil out of the copper line for "whatever" is coming out of the cooker...( called "the worm" in this neck of the woods )...I didn't ask......

Awoke | 05-21-2009 12:38 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Haha. Actually, I friend of mine brought up a valid point: Stainless will warp and fatigue after with exposure to heat, so that opens up my options a bit. I could use cast iron, or whatever. The pipe with caps is a good idea, if I can find something light-weight enough, and clean enough. Maybe some high-temperature paint would be prudent...? Maybe not.

Ag_man | 05-21-2009 01:20 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Quote:
Originally Posted by Awoke (Post 1732179) Haha. Actually, I friend of mine brought up a valid point: Stainless will warp and fatigue after with exposure to heat, so that opens up my options a bit. I could use cast iron, or whatever. The pipe with caps is a good idea, if I can find something light-weight enough, and clean enough. Maybe some high-temperature paint would be prudent...? Maybe not.
I think cast iron would react unfavorably with whatever you're trying to distill and you can't easily weld to it pressure-tight.

Ash_Williams | 05-21-2009 03:01 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Quote:
Haha. Actually, I friend of mine brought up a valid point: Stainless will warp and fatigue after with exposure to heat, so that opens up my options a bit. I could use cast iron, or whatever.
It will take a lot of heat to damage it. I think an extinguisher or keg will hold up to whatever you're throwing at it. Just don't use WTC steel and you should be fine. If you want to go the welding route, the cheapest stainless tube I can think of would be from an exhaust shop.

Heads_Up | 05-21-2009 03:24 PM
Re: Stainless steel case There are designs out there for making distillers out of 5 gal food grade pails using a low heat source. I'm sure they could be modified to use battery power of some other low level heat source. http://www.amazingstill.com/ It's a free download (this one), so I have the pdf if you need. I've also seen tabletop plug in types. http://www.moonshine-still.com/ http://www.brewhaus.com/EasyStillSUP...ler-P1031.aspx :coolbeer:

Awoke | 05-21-2009 03:27 PM
Re: Stainless steel case I already know how to make a solar distillary, and collect water naturally from the earth/trees, etc. This project is stricty for distilling swamp or lake water, and I want something extremely portable that is tough enough to be thrown on a fire. Ash - Thanks for the LOLs regatrding WTC steel. :cry1:

mtnman | 05-21-2009 03:59 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Distilling is a little more complex than filling a container and throwing it in the fire. Do some more research and I think you'll find a filter that works for swamp water to make it drinkable. Or you can just boil water in a pot to make it drinkable. What are you REALLY wanting to do?

Awoke | 05-21-2009 04:18 PM
Re: Stainless steel case I don't understand it to be complicated. Boil water in a contained vessel with only one port for the steam to escape, into a tube. Direct steam through a cooling tube. Collect condensed water. Let cool. Drink. Is it not that simple? *I'm not being sarcastic*

Jimfrancisco | 05-21-2009 04:25 PM
Re: Stainless steel case MOONSHINE! :)

Vendico | 05-21-2009 05:28 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Consider removing your "tough enough to be thrown on a fire" requirement, and you will have many more options to choose from. Cheaper too, I'm sure.

mtnman | 05-21-2009 05:36 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Boiling dirty water separates the solids and minerals, which will clog your condenser and turn the whole thing into a grenade! Like I said, there are filters that will make swamp water drinkable. If you want to distill a certain compound out of a mixture the heat needs to be regulated as different liquids boil at different temps. Another thing if there are chemicals in the swamp water and you boil it in a closed system the escaping steam contains all the chemicals.

Tn...Andy | 05-21-2009 10:09 PM
Re: Stainless steel case I'd agree....if all your are after is drinking water, it's hard to beat a Kadyn filter....backpack models right on up.

goldsilverman | 05-22-2009 12:48 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Quote:
Originally Posted by Awoke (Post 1732564) I don't understand it to be complicated. Boil water in a contained vessel with only one port for the steam to escape, into a tube. Direct steam through a cooling tube. Collect condensed water. Let cool. Drink. Is it not that simple? *I'm not being sarcastic*
No, over filling the vessel is a major cause for priming. You'd be surprised how high solids can jump from the surface of your boil to the condenser coil, then they get pushed up with pressure and cause a huge mess. I learned this all from steam boilers and engines. Also, there are different stills for different purposes, pot still, reflux stills, fractionating column (a pure type of reflux still)

Jimfrancisco | 05-23-2009 08:36 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Any ideas how I could clean out a copper hot water cylinder? Say when TSHTF I am living in New Zealand, where home distilling is legal. I have a 50 year old copper cylinder which has been out of use and empty for 25 years. So, in order to set up a legal and safe still, I need to make sure it is clean inside before I start distilling. I'm sure it would be very tarnished inside, but the openings are too small to get a hand or scrubbing device into it. I have plenty of clean water to rinse it with, and would use lead free solder to make the still if this situation were ever to occur. All thoughts welcome...

goldsilverman | 05-23-2009 08:51 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimfrancisco (Post 1734964) Any ideas how I could clean out a copper hot water cylinder? Say when TSHTF I am living in New Zealand, where home distilling is legal. I have a 50 year old copper cylinder which has been out of use and empty for 25 years. So, in order to set up a legal and safe still, I need to make sure it is clean inside before I start distilling. I'm sure it would be very tarnished inside, but the openings are too small to get a hand or scrubbing device into it. I have plenty of clean water to rinse it with, and would use lead free solder to make the still if this situation were ever to occur. All thoughts welcome...
Acid, try vinegar

BellevueBully | 05-23-2009 08:53 AM
Re: Stainless steel case If I had a still, there is no fucen way I'd be run'n water thru it.

mtnman | 05-23-2009 09:53 AM
Re: Stainless steel case Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimfrancisco (Post 1734964) Any ideas how I could clean out a copper hot water cylinder? Say when TSHTF I am living in New Zealand, where home distilling is legal. I have a 50 year old copper cylinder which has been out of use and empty for 25 years. So, in order to set up a legal and safe still, I need to make sure it is clean inside before I start distilling. I'm sure it would be very tarnished inside, but the openings are too small to get a hand or scrubbing device into it. I have plenty of clean water to rinse it with, and would use lead free solder to make the still if this situation were ever to occur. All thoughts welcome...
Fill it with tomato juice. Leave it for a couple of days, empty and rinse. It will be clean.

Jimfrancisco | 05-23-2009 10:23 AM
Re: Stainless steel case The acid from the tomatoes would clean it I guess? That amount of tomato juice would be pretty pricey though, the cylinder is a 50 gallon one! I do have 38% hydrochloric acid though, I presume it would perform the same job once diluted? Just need lots of rinses afterwards?

Ag_man | 05-23-2009 10:52 AM
Re: Stainless steel case For cleaning copper, dilute HCL should be pretty good. Follow with a basic solution to neutralize the acid, then rinse repeatedly with water and you should be good to go. Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimfrancisco (Post 1735049) The acid from the tomatoes would clean it I guess? That amount of tomato juice would be pretty pricey though, the cylinder is a 50 gallon one! I do have 38% hydrochloric acid though, I presume it would perform the same job once diluted? Just need lots of rinses afterwards?

Jimfrancisco | 05-23-2009 04:06 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Well, I know what'll be happening next time I spend a few days at my BO place... HIC!

Awoke | 05-26-2009 01:38 PM
Re: Stainless steel case Thanks for the info in this thread. You have deterred me from making the portable distillary, but that's obviously a good thing. I assumed that by boiling the water and condensing the steam, I would remove all impurities. Seems I was wrong, so thanks.

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