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Stripping Run on a Malted corn w/ 4 inch Pot Still- Making WHISKEY
Today I went to Cowlitz River Distillery and did their first run with my 4 inch Pot Still and 450 Gallon Boiler. We got up to around 18 gallons an hour on the stripping run on a malted corn that was 11.9 %. When we tasted it it tasted like candy. Had a lot of sweet notes coming out at 65%. As you can see in the video we had to turn it down to around about 10 to 13 gallons an hour for my parrot, couldnt keep up with the product coming out. I made the parrot to put up with a max of 15 gallons an hour. They overdid it on this one.It was a good thing really. We are going to redesign the parrot and cooling condenser to keep up with minimum of 18-20 gallons an hour. That means money for the distiller. Because he will empty his 450 gallon tank in 5 hours. Ezra stopped by as well.
A stripping run is a distillation which is done quickly without cuts in order to clean up wash before it is re-distilled. The product of a stripping run is often called low wines which are stronger in proof than the wash, but not as strong as the final spirit . Regarding the removal of methanol, some people throw out the first 50 ml of the stripping run, and 50 ml of of the final run while some people say that only the first 50 ml of the final run should be thrown out.=Quote from http://wiki.homedistiller.org/Stripping_run
They are building a facility that will be producing their own malted corn in the state of Washington. For all you microdistillers that are looking for organic malted grown corn grown in Washington, give Chad a call 360-355-5386. Malted means sprouted. Here is a link about malted corn http://www.stillcooker.com/malting-corn.php.
I stayed about two hours and going back tomorrow. He will be there for at least 6-7 hours Getting as much low wines for tomorrow and then we run it through 100 gallon pot on a 17 foot still. If I make another video I will add it to the end of this blog post, so check in tomorrow.’
Distilling Lemongrass Oil, Cleaning Copper and Turning a beer keg into boiler.
I will be giving a free class on how to make Brandy out of old Wine, a 2007 Merlot at Ezra Cox Distillery This May, working on details now, Keep in touch on facebook, Cheers!
Working on a essential oil still with glass tubes so you may watch your products and the essence turn to oils! A guy wrote me about his very successful business making hunters camouflage scent with my still. If you have a good product, things change fast, this is why I recommend the larger essential oil still so you don’t have to come back a year later.
I will have my stainless steel 100 gallon boilers on the website this week. They have a conical top, they’re made right here in USA They can have anywhere up to 3 fittings all the way up to 20 fittings. You can any configuration to your 100 gallon via order. The time frame on these orders minimum 6 to 8 week (remember our stills are made by hand daily, true craftsmanship, I know you are excited to have this and me too. Patience! Please understand we’re not out tinkering- we’re learning and producing everyday)
I’m learning to tigweld a special technique infusing metals, copper to stainless steel. WHAT A CHALLENGE! My teacher is Rusty Oliver from Seattle and we meet every once a month.
Please enjoy this video, she worked hard and is so beautifully pregnant and its a girl!!
I see nothing like this is on youtube, so why not share the knowledge.
LEMONGRASS OIL my friend Roberta dropped off two garbage bags of it for me. Its such a nice lemony smell. I only distilled A grade hydrosol, and threw out the rest. 4 mason jars of hydrosol and about an ounce of oil–watch video and and look to see what my essential oil still produced in about 40 minutes.
LEMONGRASS: Traditional Use: The oil is widely used as an addition to bug repellents, and for its lemony aroma. You know I need that hydrosol in spray bottles, for when I travel to hotel rooms and when working outside with the mosquitos. Also to wipe down counters with it because its strong lemon scent. McKenzie is helping me out with this, she has a passion for it and wants her own oil still for members of her family. We will see whose birthday comes up first. Women love oils, I hear it all the time believe me. Its big business in this area as well, I always see workshops in the local newspaper. I get asked to sell oils for Doterra too from oil enthusiasts. But I just build stills. My favorite Doterra oil is BIRCH.
And Here are some FAQs we are hearing Alot lately…
Q::
Interested in the Troll control. Tell me about the controls for the reflag/cooling and maintaining temp through the run. What is lead/build time? power requirements? 220/110 or 220/220 (one 220 element and one 110 element or would I need two separate 220 elements?
A: The still troll we have is 15 amp You can go 220 or a 110, let us know what you see. ETC 15 amps/ . Runs 2 1500 watt elements. If you are wanting one that is going to run high wattage, we have to build you one that is going to run from a 30 amp plug. The lead time is 4 weeks,
Q: I received your 2″ condenser my question is how close should the umbrella be to the top of the liquid management cone that i’ve made.
A: No closer than three inches. How I do it. You don’t want it any closer than 3 inches because you want to allow the liquid to fall of the condenser so it equalizes itself to the temperature that is inside the tower. When the vapors hit the coils inside the tower the vapors have now turned into a liquid that can fall into the dividing tray.
Q: How much cooling water is used on a 4 inch essential oil unit?
We have limited water…no “garden hose” we can just let run. Is it use a mere trickle?
Cost for a more efficient coil to utilize the cooling?
A: Its up to the user. Measure the temperature of the the product leaving the still, if it is hot to touch, increase the water flow that cools the condenser. Just reticulate water or recycle water from a 55 gallon drum pump through a small Honda civic and let it run through your still. and then it just recycles back into the 55 gallon drum. Your then pulling the water from the 55 gallon drum when the water leaves the still from the top because heat rises. And then you’ll have a pumping through the honda civic radiator cooling down by a fan and then it goes back into the still.
Q: Why do I see a lot of videos of people cutting the tops off of their perfectly good kegs? I’m not sure I understand the purpose of that unless there is something in there that needs to be removed or added. 2nd, do you recommend a “water jacket” pipe in pipe type condenser, or a coil condenser be used with the pipe to keg kit, or is it personal preference.
A: Sometimes they want to put a bigger ferrule on it, OR they are cutting the whole top off so they can steep grain so they can make beer. Its much easier to clean. If you can brew beer you can brew whiskey too. #2 If you are asking what is a more efficient way to knock down vapor, the coil is a great way to turn the vapor into liquid.
Q: I wanted to make sure before purchase that your 2″ copper pipe to keg kit will fit my keg with a 2.5″ diametral spout?? It is just a standard Bud Light keg but the fact that its diameter is 2.5″ and the kits are either 2″ or 3″ is throwing me off. Thanks
A: Don’t worry mate its fine. No worries. Its bud light. The outer edge of the ferrule is 2.5. My ferrules add an edge of 2.5 so when you clamp mine to yours its perfect match.
Q: I have your 2 inch still. How often should I change out the copper mesh inside. Should I be cleaning the still out after each use?
A: Always observe the color of the last copper roll at the bottom of the still and always do a steam purge after every run, full it with clean water preferably hot and run it for 15 minutes, then turn the water on to the condenser then start tasting the water thats leaving the still, You’ll find this is distilled water. Once there is no more flavor to the water your still is clean . If its very dark brown you need to clean it, with citric acid 1 tb to gallon water. Then bathe in baking soda water to neutralize acids. See video Above.
Making Whiskey and Vodka at Distillery
Stills made at RAINIERDISTILLERS.COM. I posted two videos and a photo slideshow of my weekend ” vacation” making whiskey vodka moonshine at a distillery. Ezra Cox Distillery. This was at  https://www.facebook.com/ezracoxdistillery.centraliawa
They make a great legal moonshine and Ezra is a master brewer. He used to work for Dicks beer.
I had a new still I designed, I wanted to test out, its very versatile. It was custom job forÂ
Rick Stillwagon.Â
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MADE FOR LOW CEILING ITS SIDE BY SIDE COLUMN. MOST OF MY STILLS FOR 4 INCH TAKE ALL THE WAY UP 17 feet which he didn’t have so I had to make like this.
AS POT STILL
WITH EXTENSION
THIS PARROT IS CORKSCREW, ITS FANCY YES
Part of his still was used to make the oils I made previously.
It was built to fit in low ceiling. This weekend we make a whiskey which we turned into a vodka. We started off day one doing a stripping run. I went through everything this still can do and took it apart, to a pot still even and with its extensions.
It was a two day job and Rick Stillwagon slept there in the distillery. He was hands on the whole way. The guy didnt move.
We made alcohol for Ezra Cox Distillery using their wash. We made 750 gallons of single malt.
I had a great time, a few people came down from facebook last minute and got a free course on distilling. These courses cost 1000$ dollars in some places, I always do for free.
Just buy and taste the distillery’s legal moonshine!
My still was set up four different ways, All one still, as you see in the photos slideshow. This still was custom design to fit smalll ceilings. It worked beautifully. The 50 gallon boiler is new product I sell. It worked great too. It can be rearranged on how you would like it to be. Some people like sight glasses, some just metal plates for cleanout.
My freind Chad was there. He is opening a distillery as well in Toledo WA. People came throughout the day to watch and taste. I talked to some locals who came in, about the future of distilling. Ezra and I had fun on St. Patricks day drinking whiskey. Please take a look at these videos and photos and tell me what you think. For all those that like drinking liquor, find one made locally and support them. The product we distilled tasted very nice. I really hope you come down to see me next time I distill here. I would love to do a distilling class here or even at Rick’s distillery in Oregon.
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Here are photos
Medical Marijuana Cannibis Oil
want to call it hemp oil, but that is what you buy for your salad dressing at health food store. I am talking about hemp oil with the thc in it. For medicinal uses. For internal or external for massages. They call it hash oil. Me being very green in the industry, I only know how to distill alcohol in micro distilleries and essential oils in my backyard. This is a new thing for me.
I have clients that have businesses in Washington and Colorado State, that would like to make oil for the industry. Where it has been legalized. I do not believe in using acetone, isopropolene or butane and all other poisonous methods of extracting. Why would you want to use them, when trying to heal patients? Those products do leave residue.
I wanted to get into this because I love distilling and I love a challenge. How do you render an oil, in its pure form, with no byproduct. I also see that this oil has effect on peoples lives, a positive one. Also, It is no longer a criminal thing, but good business that helps everybody, with huge profits. People are making money, not smoking it. I have seen overnight success and I just want to talk about it, here in my blog, if anyone wants information. I am just sharing what I have done.
There always was a problem with getting the oil of of marijuana with thc- using steam distillation. Best I have done in past was getting tinctures. But I found a design of a still, that removes the thca out of the plant. I tried different styles of stills to render the oil. I did it and it worked. Eventually I found a way, and built the still. I redesigned this four times and nailed it. It seems to be working well. I seem to have found this. It is not fully ready now, still testing only custom orders.
I build stills, and when a client comes to me I am always eager to help him get what he needs. I do not distill marijuana, I do not even do drugs. I am fascinated with distilling. I know this is good business for people and I just want to help them out. I do not believe in rendering a product using a poison. I just wanted to build a still that can do this.
I am sure there are some out there that think, naw..I am mistaken somehow. But I have some photos, and I have second opinions that tested the potency- and they were very surprised. They did not tell me what they were giving me, until I completed the rendering. I am trying to find a university that will take these studies on. If someone knows, please help me.
When I gave them and they tested it, they couldnt believe. They said this was the lowest grade of product and I gave them back a high grade. So they were telling me that this still I have designed, allows them to create a product from something that is normally thrown away! For there is no way of selling..yet producing something very valuable.
I am not sure completely of the laws. I just want you all to make sure you check out your local laws before trying what I have done. I just build stills. I was approached by a client.
I have not read up on what other people are doing. I wanted to do this without any influence from anybody. I know nothing about this product. I did this for this client. I can take oil out of anything I told him-and this was indeed challenging and I learned alot along the way. For what temperatures that the product stays in good condition at -too.
I have to tell you the honest truth. Do not touch this product even by accident! Your fingers should be covered in gloves. Trust me. It is potent. And if you do try this at home, be sure you know the laws, and have proper permits if needed. It falls on you, to figure this out.
So here it is, that is indeed what they call hash oil.
That is product after it has been rendered overnight. You can use a heater or a rice cooker.
I will only be doing this again with a video at a Medicinal M. farm that wants me to render their product. With my still. They have given me the ok. I have been only doing runs from 3 oz to 3/4 of a lb at a time and have designed my still for this. I think I have got it.
This is what it looks like coming out of the still. You can see it is oily.
Please forgive me for not polishing this section of the still- its a test.
Here is me, what a smell. My god.
I can take a photo of the lower grade leaf I got. I will upload this soon. I forgot.
Just a note: My ex wife died a painful slow death from skin cancer. Back then, there was no easy access to medicinal marijuana. She was so desperate to numb herself from physical excruciating pain. She may have abused pills and morphine injections. Her friends and family were eager to help her. So I do understand. I was there, and seen what I seen. I dressed her woun
ds, and was there with her, so I seen her suffering. For almost a year. She was my love, my best friend. Only when it happens to you, you understand the need for this natural medicine. For some people it is the only relief. When its your wife or your child, and they are sick or in process of dying, you will try to find the best cleanest medicine for them, that gives them relief.
ds, and was there with her, so I seen her suffering. For almost a year. She was my love, my best friend. Only when it happens to you, you understand the need for this natural medicine. For some people it is the only relief. When its your wife or your child, and they are sick or in process of dying, you will try to find the best cleanest medicine for them, that gives them relief.
** UPDATE – a guy who has severe back pain, uses oil for back pain said the oil I made from this still is ten times better than what he was buying. But I would like a university to study to see why this version of still is doing this.
** I talked to a clinic who told me I have to get a patent pending number before doing anything public, especially videos. I have to keep this under wraps the technology.
Also, They said that I have found a way to do this with very little amount of marijuana. Not like Rick Simpson oil where you need a lot, so that it is unaffordable to most cancer patients. I learned alot about this so I am going to take the advice I got.
I told the lady I can put mint vanilla or lemon etc flavor in it. She said not to get into this, not to get into the product, just sell the still. Also to never make medical claims. She was excited, especially in the tinctures…but I think it sounds too good to be true, when I speak of it. One has to see this to believe. But it is. In time all will work itself out. She gave me tons of magazines.
** Great news, the guys I did this for, who helped me, said they got 25% (minimum) return. The dispensary where they sell the oil no longer want to sell Rick Simpson oil but want to only carry mine. Very high remarks. No acetone, no buitane iso propolebe, which all leave residue..He is telling noone how its made. Everyone wants to know. In fact, he doesn’t want to sell herb anymore just the oil. 1 lb of material=128 grams. 7 runs. So he will get this still first when it comes out.
One guy who put it on something to smoke said it was so sweet and smooth, which I guess is big deal. Another guy said he felt the effects the next day.
I am getting this to fit on my Alchemist as an extension. So all of you who have bought the Alchemist can add this on. I do not know if I am ready for this kind of business attention, as it is so big, and I am just small American business. I had hard time getting stills out when I had a rush recently 35 stills a week for a few months. Glad it happened. Taught me new ways to deal with stress. ahaha No, how to manufacture and to show employees
Look I just want to sell stills. I do not want to sell oil. Or pot. I do not smoke it. I thank everyone for helping me design stills. I love distilling. I love Alchemy. I hope this helps people out that really need it. I do not know what I am getting into. I just feel the excitement around me.
14.2grams Rendered from 54 grams equals 26.7%
( this last photo sent to me)
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Here are some studio photos- what I do.
Drilling. Fun stuff.
Here is a peek at a new design for still I want to do. For a Whisky Distillery in Oregon. This can be broken down to a Whiskey pot still and still run as a Vodka still without many alterations, and it can fit in a building that has a low ceiling point. Just a peek at my workshop. What I do. It may help someone or not. I have photos of this still in my last blog entry I think.
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I went on a Seattle Distillery Tour. WA has a lot to offer. Absolutely great home brew beers. Some damn good moonshine that is legal. So, here are my thoughts. It was 3 hours, I tasted and saw the stills. I got this free tshirt. We were picked up in Pike Place Market.
I was very impressed with Steve’s setup in Mischief Distillery. I loved his 8 year old whiskey.
We saw many distilleries besides Mischief.
It was great seeing what the other micro distilleries are doing in Washington State. It opened my eyes- alot – to how much this industry has or hasnt s
tarted. There is lots of room. I couldnt believe. I tasted various qualities of whiskeys, vodkas and moonshines. I liked and disliked. But Mischief- for myself, I loved their stills and their 8 year old whiskey!! Thats just personal. I tell you what I like. I loved their stills too, look at the photos above..
tarted. There is lots of room. I couldnt believe. I tasted various qualities of whiskeys, vodkas and moonshines. I liked and disliked. But Mischief- for myself, I loved their stills and their 8 year old whiskey!! Thats just personal. I tell you what I like. I loved their stills too, look at the photos above..
These tour guide people even do a beer tour. I had so much fun. It will blow your mind. What a fun day. It was very hard to get me away from my work for one day. But I did it. It was a Valentines day gift someone bought me a tour from here:
http://www.seattlebrewerytour.com/
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I just want to say and maybe apologize to some people, this past 3 months has been crazy. I have been getting at times more orders than I can fulfill. I have staff and people in training. Some mistakes have happened, I apologize.
When people tell me they love my still, or send me photos, or call me to say thank you. I AM SO HAPPY. Thank you so much.It makes my day.
Home Distiller’s Workbook by Jeff King- Audiobook Review by Anthony Zaca
Home Distiller Workbook by Jeff King- Book Review by Anthony Zaca
This is my review of the audio book.
I do notice a few distilling companies ask its customers to do basic research on distilling before even contacting them with any questions. So, this audio book is such a great way to learn the basics. You sit down with one of your best beverages, light your cigar or pipe and listen to this and I guarantee you will know what you are talking about, when you contact them, with questions.
I recommend this audiobook not only to the beginner but to those that think they know what distilling is all about. I am speaking for myself. I thought I knew alot, it just goes to show you, you are always learning, and there is alot of room left. For example, I did not know that the word “ZYMURGY”, means the art of fermentation. I do now.
This audiobook is sold on AUDIBLE.com.
If you sign up, you get a free credit for doing that. But its only 3 or 4 dollars to buy and about 2 hours long. You can download to your computer or cellphone. Its the best investment! No reading!! Just listening. Email me, if you are having a hard time buying or downloading this from Audible, I can help, I have done it.
Starts off about distillation history, how it started in Italy and then a year later a Prince taxed the alcohol. Alcohol is what everyone wants, he says, so the authorities want to tax us, saying they are protecting us. He then moves on to the new urban moonshiner, who is not doing it for profit but for a hobby.
Talks about his teens, meeting a man in Kentucky with a still in a barn, who told him the history of moonshine. His three years hanging with him and all he saw.
Then he talks about all his adventures in his life meeting people who make shine like a Grandfathers tequila, and an aunts grappa. Parties where he brought out mason jar of apple pie and what happened.
He talks about the basics of distilling, fermenting and aging. Tells you all the jargon. How it works, definitions, what you need, how it is done, and what with, The new yeasts that are out. Old school and new school ways to distill, all of it he covers. He goes through all the ingredients. Steps to make, in easy instructions. He also has some recipes he is reading out, simple beginner ones. He goes into temperatures and how important this is.
He talks a little about the science, about what happens in distilling. Your relationship with your still, keeping watch over how hot the steam is and how to cool. Teaching you about monitoring. How to run your still, he gives you steps. He talks about foreshots and how they must always be removed and he will give you the basic percentages to the amount of wash. Its a must pay attention to. You learn the rules. He talks about the all the cuts and how to tell where you are. How to smell it, and what it will smell like. Also, how to flavor, filter and age. I don’t want to give away the book, but he has a common sense approach to do your cuts.
Distilling like cooking, is individual taste, and no way is best way. He talks about all the different personalities out there with regards to personal distilling. There are different types of distilling, like steam for example. He goes into each of these.
This audiobook comes with a PDF with all the types of stills, with pictures, you can see how each is built.
He goes into some advanced concepts. For those who want something extra.
He goes into every design of every type of still out there from pot still, thumpers, reflux, lyne arm, slobber box, water jackets, pan or woks from your kitchen and tea pot stills. My favorite is the reflux still! He tells you which still is best for what kind of product you want.
I like when he talks about freeze distillation (alcohol doesn’t freeze so you can separate from fermentation). This is pretty cool. This is a distilling technique used in places like Alaska, Eskimos, etc. You do not have to use a still. You can leave a 20 gallon bucket of beer wort and 90% of it will freeze and you will have a clear liquid on the top. Which will be alcohol.
He talks about abv’s and techniques how to get high proof.
How to make homemade easy stills with diagrams, come with this.
He gives you shopping lists and homework. Where to buy your supplies he tells you also.
Things like dangers, such as proper room ventilation, or fire and seals. He goes into everything in this audio. He says be safe not sorry. Learn the basics well.
I love the recipe section. What exactly whiskey is. All the different types and whats in each. Try them all. This guy uses fans and everything basic to distill. For the home distiller he wrote this.
He talks about legality and laws. He talks about this and why this is. I see his politics here. He assumes this book is for entertainment for you.
I hear all the time, what he says about the myth of moonshine and going blind. Its like the protein myth, you need meat for protein is whats killing us Americans in heart disease. The same thing with moonshine and going blind. This is propaganda. He explains this and talks about the grain of truth in this, the tiny grain.
Moonshine he talks all about next. What is it, how any fool can make. The blue flame test, he teaches you.
The last part is all his recipes. He gives you some books to read, that he recommends. I recommend them too. People ask me all the time for recipes. I can send them here.
I listened to this a few times while I was working. I had a few stray listeners with me who enjoyed it as well. I am looking forward to his next book.
Thank you for reading my book review. Support people like Jeff King that have spent many years adding solutions to distilling and not expecting anything from public. Passionate distiller.
Happy Distilling from ANTHONY ZACA
Works in Progress, in the studio..a raw look
I haven’t written a blog in a while. I have been wanting to do a blog, initially I said every two days. Like a business diary. A place for me to just talk about distilling and stills. To vent and relax. Connect with home distilling lovers. I have just been waiting on professional photos and a video, and well, I have been so busy, too. I might as well write something about what I have been doing with the business. Until these videos and photos come. Just write something small. I can just post cell phone pics.
I worked with a welder to design a 50 gallon boiler. A conical top of a 50 gallon barrel. I haven’t got good photos yet. Just one one my cell phone and advanced preview. It is not polished yet. So you see it raw and before prepared. You can compare the before and after photos coming soon.
The reason its going to be a success is, we can have windows on them, a cleanout, heating elements, thermometers, etc. It can be run on gas. It can come insulated or not. This can be manipulated, everyone can be custom made. To suit any distillers need. It will be functional robust. You are going to get a custom pot affordable.
The reason I am doing this, is because there are hardly if any large boilers made in the USA, American made. Its a long wait to order and you must go through customs. You buy in large quantities in order to sell these. The shipping on these may take 3 months from China. Then you have to get it from Canada. They say three weeks to ship, yeah, after its made…and that takes time to build them too. If I drop ship these from other companies, supply is short and it is never guaranteed to be in stock at any given time or they sell out fast..
This way, I can be sure of this order because its in my hands.
I am working also on a custom still. It is not ready yet, and not polished. I am showing you a preview, You can also see what a still looks like. A BEFORE pic. What it looks like before polishing after its welded. Check back for the AFTER version. I will get beautiful professional photos soon in a few weeks check back our photo account. It will be all shiny when completed. This is what a still looks like before finished. I have 6 more things I have to do. I made a few videos and will do more when testing.
BEFORE POLISHED AND FINISHED-
This still is a 4 inch Alchemist. The man who commisioned me had a special request. He has limited height where he distills. He wanted the ten foot tall Alchemist, with 4 feet pot boiler to fit in 12 foot ceiling. So this still is divided into two units. Thats only 60% of the still finished, pictured. Giving you a raw peek at what it takes to build these. This still is side by side, 5 feet tall each side on a four foot pot.
I have been on the phone with many people. They teach me things and ask good questions. Some questions I get is can you distill rice into ethanol. You can distill a rice wine into ethanol easily. I explained how.
A guy told me his brother has built a generator that runs on ethanol well. I said wow, because you can’t really import one of these from Brazil where they mostly are made. I have people screaming at me for these things. I just want all of you to know this is a good business to get into.
I am moving into my new shed finally. It has a ceiling of 18 feet. I just painted and working late tonight finishing. It is a filming studio so I can help produce a better finished product on filming, on the property. There will be two cameras for youtube. There will be better lighting, I have extra large windows that open into the beautiful woods. Better hearing so people can understand better what I am trying to say. I installed one of the Wiseway wood pellet stoves. 
This is SO WARM. Its so warm in there, and the heat lasts all day, I light it in morning, and when I come back at night, its very warm. I did this with some help from friends.
This is SO WARM. Its so warm in there, and the heat lasts all day, I light it in morning, and when I come back at night, its very warm. I did this with some help from friends.I finished a manual for my stills -with the people who know nothing of distilling, in mind. I call it the old lady version, for fun. So easy to understand, your grandmother can use my still. I will work on one for master distillers and micro distillers soon with advanced techinques. Coming SOON.
People call me and are blown away when I tell them their cars, as it is now, takes 50% petroleum product gas and 50% ethanol. You don’t have to convert your car, only if you use more of your homemade ethanol than 50%. Companies dont want you to know this, its a racket.
Also, I want to talk about rendering oil from Marijuana. Steam distillation from marijuana yields very little oil. But you can do an alcohol run with marijuana. This is what they call either infusion or alcohol separation. As the 90 plus percent alcohol -at a temp of 173 F- passes over the hemp, it dissolves the crystals in the bud. The alcohol and the THC will be homogenized. The only way to separate that stasis is you need to evaporate the ethyl alcohol through low heat. Once all ethyl alcohol has evaporated there will be residue of water and the oil be floating on top of the water. Then you put in rice cooker to evaporate the alcohol on low heat. Some water left behind with oil -sitting on top as oil and water don’t mix. The water is an infusion as well. This is high potency of thc that can be used topically or orally for people with rashes tumors etc..I have seen this process myself- with my still- that a client did for me, who has permit to sell, as also it is legal to have marijuana in Washington State now.
This doesnt mean I want people showing up at my door with garbage bags of marijuana, please! I have to put a stop to this. But I can discuss these principles of distilling with anyone. Its all about Alchemy.
If you ever see clip art cartoon of an Alchemist you always see a magician- looking-dude with a distillation device of some kind on his table. Thats what you will be when you take distillation seriously. When you understand you are changing something plain into something wonderful. Your spirit itself will be infused into your product.
My goal this year is to have a perforated plate. Made of copper. I will be approaching this very differently from what is out there on the market. It will have the sight glass windows, but everything else will be different. Nothing will be copied or stolen. I am not competing with anyone. Its all concepts I come up with through trial and error. I love making stills, have a passion for this. This perforated plate can be attached to all my Alchemists. So customers can add this on, without buying a new still.
I am the only one who packs the stills for delivery. I don’t allow anyone else to do this. I pack these super well. I want you to be assured.
There has been a concern out there, is copper mesh “electro-plated”? You will know if your copper mesh has been electro plated because it will have a black tarnish to it after you run your still. Then you know it is not pure copper. The copper mesh we buy comes from Texas, and is made for purposes of cleaning machines in nuclear power plants. Also used in Micro Distilling industry where all alcohol has to be devoid of any poisonous substance.
So clean a child can play with it.
I cannot wait until someone does a reality show on making moonshine stills. Building them and going over everything. Also- what we go through making them. I have crazy conversations with people. Yesterday, I was talking to an old man, who I couldn’t understand, he was chewing tobacco and spitting and he had an accent. While he was talking to me, I heard in the background his wife screaming, ” You are up to no damn good! ” and on and on.. I get these sometimes.
We do not record conversations or give out any information to anyone, third parties. We may do a blind drop ship with companies who build things for us that we sell, like the control boxes or spare parts. We just ask them to ship it to you.
Someone called me and told me there was a state where its legal to distill a certain amount of spirits. It is seen to be legal by the state -but seen as illegal by the feds. This man who called me up and told me, asked me who do I listen to? The state or the feds. I just told him the feds are employed by the people. I said our state, Washington legalized Marijuana. But it is still seen as illegal by the federal government. I don’t have too much info on this. I will look into this. But times are changing and fast. I wish I coul
d remember more of this conversation. It was a good question. Who do you listen to? It is tough call.
d remember more of this conversation. It was a good question. Who do you listen to? It is tough call.
I can talk about removing oil from shrimp now. I traded a still for a fishing trip. I showed this man how to extract the oil from the shrimp, using my still. By loading the tower with shrimp and removing it with steam. Not only do I wind up with a brine that you pour into surrounding areas of your boat where you fish, but the oil itself, which you rub on your lures. Makes steelhead go crazy. Alchemy again. Never know what you are going to find.
My main goal is to build a still that will do everything. So anyone who bought an orginal Alchemist can have all the applications to take a window, extra modulars, essential oil extension. All for essential oils, tinctures, effusion lamps, hemp, foods, medicine, alcohol, fuel, gas, flavored distilled water..etc. Every farm should have a still. In these times one is valuable. Things are changing and people are more in touch with the land. There is awareness.
I look forward to anyone of a legal age can distill their own spirit, with fathers, mothers and grandparents. To be allowed to make 20 gallons of high proof, a year, is good. To pay a small permit to the state seems to be a win-win. The rules out there are not about safety, but just about taxes and control. Just imagine all the recipes people come up with.
I have been trying out a recipe with a microdistillery for and with them, using bananas, brown sugar, molasses and a coffee bean infusion. Washington state has 20,000 lbs of bananas that are bad, gone bad every month, spotty. The sugars in these are the highest. This can be used for ethanol as well. I had client who made ethanol for his motor bike by bananas.
Someone blogged about me, to the home distilers forum and I was swamped with orders for copper pipe to keg kits. I want to thank you. But it was a surprise. I sold out all my suppliers of a coupling, found more, sold them out, so for about a week, until I got the new order, I tested a different coupling, and it worked fine, so I used that until I got my two inch ones. Its not exactly whats pictured in the photo, but it works beautiful. I am back to my coupling. Its about keeping the production line going and not stopping. These are handmade. Occasionally, the parrots might have different stands, some fancy others plain, than what is pictured. Every piece is a work of art.
Copper Pipe to keg kits
I have been working long time with a college professor. For a course in distillation of ethanol. The students have option to buy my small 2 inch still for the course. Universities can do anything. We are in the last process. I got a copy of the course outlines/syllabus and I will look it over. Kids are now distilling ethanol. I have spent many hours on the phone with him. If this works out it will be so beautiful.
I got a package sent to me, an easy carbon filtration stand. I have to test this out too, in my spare time, fully and many times. If this works, we can sell this retail. I love testing out things to help with distilling.
I want to spread distilling empowerment. Do not be scared or intimidated. There are no stupid questions.
I am not always there- to answer my phone, because I am building stills. The girls in office take care of the orders and emails they can answer.
One day everything will be sorted and I could streamline these orders. We can buy copper in larger and larger amounts for cheaper and keep our prices lower.
I don’t believe at this time from ordering everything from overseas. I still have to, but its a work in progress, will take a while to find cheap suppliers within Canada or USA. “India and China were the top sources of radioactive goods shipped to the U.S. through 2008,” explains a March 24, 2012, Bloomberg article about radioactive scrap metal. And there is no indication that things have improved since that time, according to Ross Bartley, a metallurgist who has been tracking radioactive contamination since the early 1990s. In all likelihood, he says, the problem has remained the same or even gotten worse.
I believe in world trade and all that. But we have to be sure what we are getting.
Along with all this, I have a fiancee, a toddler and another baby coming on the way. Its challenging juggling relationships and work. Lucky I found someone excited about hard work and distilling as me. Who supports, cares and believes in me and is my best friend. Been there when I was welding all night at 11 pm and up at 6 to help me with paperwork.
Thank you for reading and I appreciate all your emails and phone calls.
We are not perfect yet, and always improving. I apologize if an order comes late. Please be patient. All that stuff, is working itself out in our business, we are getting new help. I can now focus on building.
I don’t answer emails or phones on Saturdays. I build stills during the week. I can’t answer all calls, all day. I always return them by that day or the next. If I have a break I always answer. If I hire an answering service, then people won’t get personal attention. They won’t get their questions answered…because, you can’t hire someone to answer technical questions about distillation. You need expertise and experience. I rely on some girls to answer emails about orders and answer e.t.a.s, and they are very good about this.
My girl makes fun and says I should open a full time distilling phone sex line. So many people want to chat about stills. Sometimes I am on the phone with customers for three hours. Have a glass of wine in the evening and make some friends. I know this pays off someday. I enjoy it. I will figure this out.
It takes a lot to run a business. I build stills. That is what I do. It takes alot more than that. My advice to all you copper still builders, you need a team. Customers need lots of attention and you have to give them all you can. There is shipping, driving, marketing, blogs, videos, and suppliers, wholesale accounts, prices on parts, hiring help good, articles, google ads, youtube, secure website, cart, merchant account, paypal, bills for electric, banking, facebook etc. I have to be alot of things.
That is why I made a super easy manual. Why I make videos. Why I write blogs. Cartoons, anything else..This is all to teach. I will be putting up a FAQ part 2 next. (Those are all the types of questions I have been emailed about since my last FAQ).
Please be patient with us. I thank you so much.
Its an idea I have- that some evenings I can have a live stream open -online, an hour each few days or week or something, where I teach about how to distill ethanol, or answer questions. It can be live and people can call in, video in etc..
Don’t get me wrong. I am never too busy for your call or email. I always have time. I just ask for patience. Please. I am not a machine.
Rainier Distillers 