Nowadays, having a moonshine still in an apartment is a rarity, but some half a century ago, when alcohol was inaccessible to the general public, it was the moonshine still that was an indispensable item and saved the population from holding alcohol-free holidays.
It was illegal to use such a device in Soviet times and you could end up in prison. The moonshine still produced the purest alcoholic product, which cannot be compared with store-bought vodka. The basis of good moonshine is mash infused with yeast, wheat, sugar, and beets. It was also possible to add other ingredients: prunes, various herbs, mint, and others, all these components added flavor to the final product. Due to the fact that it was not possible to buy a moonshine still in the store, people had to make this still with their own hands.
The most common manufacturing option was a moonshine still made from a milk can. But not every can is suitable for such production - an aluminum can cannot be used, as it reacts with all elements. Moonshine must undergo several purifications, since the very first contains harmful components. Frequent use of an aluminum can will render it unsuitable for any use.
So, let's take the can. The optimal can material is stainless steel. The volume of the can should be from 30 liters. Now a coil is needed. The coil performs the function of improving heat transfer. It is this that is the basis of the entire moonshine still. To make a coil you will need a copper tube with a diameter of 12 mm. The straight tube must be bent; for this you can use improvised means such as a mop handle or broom. If there are no available means, you need to take a pipe, fill it tightly with sand, and make a couple of turns around it. Then you need to remove the resulting turns and cut the pipe. In this case, the pipe should remain level on all sides.
After this, the curved coil must be placed inside the pipe; for this you can take a sewer pipe of a suitable diameter. Place in the pipe, it is necessary to step back from the curved coil, 3 centimeters on both sides.
Now, adapters for exchanging hot water for cold must be attached to this tube, which will play a cooling role, on the outside. It is necessary to first think about how the water will be connected to the device, and make an adapter in this place. To close all possible cracks that are difficult to see, you can use dough; after it dries, not a single gram of liquid can spill out of the device.
After this, it is necessary to close all the holes in the pipe with plugs. The plugs can be made of tin, copper or other material. Before attaching them, do not forget to make a hole in the center of the plug for the coil. After this, treat all cracks and joints with dough.
Using a metal pipe rather than a plastic pipe as a refrigerator, the plugs can be welded and then further treated with a mixture of epoxy resin and silver. This design will last for decades.
The pipe can also be connected to a steam tank. This action is optional, but by performing it you can achieve better quality moonshine. The steamer acts as a protection and prevents fusel oils from getting into the final product.
For the steamer you will need: a glass jar with a tightly screwed lid. You need to make two holes in the lid. The end of the pipe from the can will enter the first, and the second will go into the pipe (refrigerator). Let's take two adapters (fittings), apply them to the lid and outline them, then cut them exactly according to the drawing, install the adapters and tighten the nuts tightly.
The connection points, just in case, need to be treated with a test. Now close the jar with a lid and cover the joints. After this, we cut a tube into the sealed can lid to connect it to the steam chamber, and connect the steam chamber to the refrigerator tube.
After all these manipulations, it is necessary to connect the refrigerator and two hoses for inlet and drainage of water. The cold water pipe can be connected to the tap or an additional tee can be made in the sewer pipe. The tube from which the hot water will come out can simply be placed in the sink.
Before starting the process, it is necessary to test drive the entire system. To do this, you just need to boil the water in the apparatus for several hours. To independently make such a moonshine still at home, you do not need drawings or diagrams.
You can also make an electric moonshine still. To make such a design, you will need a drawing and diagram and preliminary calculations of the required energy and power of the heaters that are installed in the tank.
In addition to a large moonshine still, you can make a small still. In this case, instead of a 30-liter can, a tin can of any drink and a regular 3-liter can are used. This mini design will be a wonderful and creative holiday gift.
There is another simple moonshine still, the manufacture of which requires a minimum of cost and time - this is a apparatus in the form of a pan, into the bottom of which water is poured. You need to install a stand for the container at the bottom of the pan and cover everything with a basin. The joints are treated with a test. The mash is poured into the pan and placed on the fire.
Under the influence of high temperature, the mash begins to evaporate and cool from the bowl of cold water and drip into the container. The net product will end up being 1:4, that is, 4 liters of mash will yield 1 liter of moonshine. Why buy low-quality alcohol that is unknown how it is prepared, when you can prepare an environmentally friendly product yourself, and at the same time surprise all your friends and acquaintances.
Video: Homemade moonshine still and how to assemble it yourself.
Unfortunately, the statistics of poisoning with vodka and other alcohol make us think. Sometimes counterfeit goods that are very dangerous to health end up in stores, so some people have a question about how to make a moonshine still at home. With proper production, you can only get a high-quality product.
The circuit of the moonshine still is simple, like everything ingenious. In design and operation, it is not much different from the distiller used in many chemical laboratories.
Device structure. The main components are the following:: container for raw materials (mash); refrigerator with coil; tube to connect them.
To obtain higher quality moonshine, the device is sometimes supplemented with: a steamer; bubbler; carbon or wood filter.
You can buy a ready-made device. However, many are more interested in assembling it themselves. They even do electrical installations using automation.
The raw material is mash based on sugar or starch. Yeast is also added here. The composition is optimal for the growth of the necessary microorganisms - fungi.
In the process of life they will release waste- alcohols in concentrated form, of which only ethyl is of interest. During distillation the following happens:
It is worth considering that even if you carry out this procedure several times, using additional devices (filter, bubbler, steamer), harmful impurities will remain. The quality of the product depends only on their volume.
There is a method that allows you to obtain alcohol with a minimum amount of impurities. This is rectification, in which alcohols are divided into fractions in several stages. To carry it out, you will need more complex equipment, which is difficult to make yourself.
The rectificate can be found at the pharmacy: this medical alcohol(95.57%). Moonshine is also called distillate based on its production method.
The following drinks are prepared using rectification:
In the process of obtaining rectification properties are lost required for some drinks. For example, the aroma of cognac appears due to fusel oils, so this drink is best made from distillate. It is usually obtained in a professional industrial way. As an option, flavorings are added to the rectified product.
The opinion that rectified alcohol is safer than moonshine is erroneous. The purer the alcohol, the its intoxicating effect is stronger. Molecules move from the blood into the nervous system faster, and harmful products take longer to be eliminated. The poison is better absorbed and comes out harder.
Distillation cube. Any container with suitable qualities is suitable for a distillation cube. It is often heated on the stove.
The main requirement is tightness. Some weld the container themselves from regular or stainless steel. This option may be unreliable for the following reasons:
Fridge. The quality of the refrigerator as part of the distillation unit determines: operating speed; quantity of product. Refrigeration structures are divided into two types:
In running water, the water moves, so it does not have time to heat up. The design includes tubes.
Storage refrigerator- closed container with water. Inferior in quality to flow-through: the amount of condensate and the volume of product are reduced. Cooling is not as effective, which is why there is 15-20% less moonshine.
You can find many drawings of a storage refrigerator for a homemade moonshine still. The simplest design is regular plastic bucket with holes for draining and collecting water and a coil inside. In winter it is especially convenient, as you can collect snow and ice.
In storage containers, the hole for draining should be at the top, for collection - at the bottom. It is advisable to keep the temperature in the distillation cube as low as possible. This will result in less steam and more product.
The moonshine will come out through another hole. To control, try on the wrist. If it’s cool, the cooling system is excellent, if it’s hot, it’s bad. In the latter case, the product will be about a third less.
Coil - tube, placed in the refrigerator and connected to a cube or, if available, to a steamer. The longer, the better the steam is cooled. The following simple manufacturing options are common:
The steamer is an optional part of the design of a moonshine still, made at home with your own hands.
He is needed for removing fusel oils. It is located between the still and the coil. With its help the following happens:
The drink itself is often called fusel because of its characteristic taste and smell. Fewer amounts of these oils make the product safer for health: The hangover is not so severe.
It is not possible to completely get rid of them during moonshine brewing (distillation). In many well-known drinks, these oils are necessarily left in a certain amount (whisky, rum, etc.). Such products are “advanced” analogues of moonshine. Three steam steamers are often used in a cascade. The advantages here are:
Three containers - the optimal number: if it is less, then the effect will be insufficient; a larger number plays almost no role.
The volume of one steamer is approximately 10 times less than that of a container with mash. It's easy to make. Usually a glass jar of the required volume is taken, and the lid is “modernized” to it.
The lid must be screwed on. Two holes are made in it, for example, with a knife or screwdriver. You need to try to avoid burrs. Fittings are inserted into the holes and secured with nuts. Next, the tubes are put on.
Periodically, the water is drained to avoid it getting into the coil, and then into the moonshine. The steamer is also used for flavoring. Add something to taste, for example:
Feel free to experiment with scents. They will be barely distinguishable, and more by smell than by taste.
The bubbler is used for the same purposes as the steam steamer. The differences are more related to the design. In the bubbler there is usually liquid, through which the pairs are passed. The supply tube is lowered much lower, almost to the bottom of the container.
If flexible hoses are used for connection, it is better to choose silicone ones. If you use PVC pipes, toxic substances will be released upon contact with hot vapors. Externally, these materials are sometimes confused. You can distinguish by some signs:
Filters for purifying the finished product are made, for example, like this:
Moonshine is passed through the resulting device. Before filtering, the drink must stand in a container with coal.
In Soviet times, it was widely believed that the best material for a direct-flow distiller was copper. It was easy to find and inexpensive.
However, when alcohol vapor interacts with copper, ethers and aldehydes are formed, which remain in the system. There is always vinegar in the mash. When interacting with aluminum, harmful salts are obtained - alum.
Glass has neutral qualities and does not react. However, this material has a significant drawback - fragility. Food grade stainless steel- perhaps the most reliable option:
Although, in terms of thermal conductivity and ease of making coils, copper is much better. In terms of accessibility, other materials may benefit. The harm from their use is usually not significant. Therefore, a design made from various suitable materials often pays off.
A moonshine still of the simplest design can be made from available materials. The main thing is to follow simple rules and use your imagination.
Moonshine still from a saucepan. Even a regular five-liter saucepan is suitable for the device. It is better to use a pressure cooker as it is more airtight. In addition to it, you need to find: a 5-liter plastic bottle; copper tube: length - approximately 1 meter, diameter - 4-5 mm.
Often a large milk can (flask) is used for production. It is initially quite airtight.
The rubber gasket must be removed. The mash will absorb its smell. Instead, it will do food grade silicone gasket.
You can make it yourself from aquarium silicone:
Further, a hole is made in the lid under a tube or a long coil. The thickness of the latter is about 12 mm. As a refrigerator, you can use, for example, a specially designed plastic bucket with holes at the bottom for water to flow in and moonshine to come out.
To submit hose used connected to the water supply. Draining occurs through a hole in the top of the tube.
If done correctly, it may well compete with store-bought products. He also has clear advantages: low price and comparative safety.
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Home moonshine still
The myth that moonshine is only for the Slavs is, to put it mildly, disingenuous. The production of strong alcohol by distillation is part of the culinary and everyday culture of many peoples living in different parts of the world. It is enough to name such drinks as:
to make sure that our domestic moonshine is not alone in the list of products obtained by distillation.
Homemade moonshine will be no different from factory-made drinks if you follow the recipe for preparing the mash and strictly follow the distillation technology. We’ll talk about the raw materials for fermenting mash another time, but in this material we’ll talk about the distillation process and, based on this, we’ll tell you whether it’s possible to make a simple moonshine still at home, and what you’ll need for this.
Distillation process
This chemical process is extremely simple technologically; it is not difficult to reproduce it at home. The bottom line is that substances dissolved in water (mash) have different vaporization temperatures and are released from the solution sequentially - first lighter, then heavier, and only at 100C does the water itself begin to actively evaporate.
If the solution is not brought to a boil, and the vapors entering a separate container are cooled, then individual substances will condense in it, separated from others that differ in boiling point. The process was invented a long time ago; it is difficult to say who invented it first. The primacy is attributed to Arab scientists, but this is a rather controversial statement.
Braga, at its core, is an aqueous solution of alcohol resulting from the activity of special fungi - yeast, well known to everyone who has seen bread being baked at least once in their life. In the process of vital activity, yeast converts the sugar in the wort into ethyl alcohol and related substances - acetaldehyde, methyl alcohol, and various esters.
When the concentration of ethyl alcohol in the mash is 13-14% of its volume, the fermentation process stops naturally, and it becomes completely ready for distillation - the extraction of alcohol, of which there is about 1.4 liters in 10 liters of starter.
The difficulty lies in the fact that when the mash is heated, along with the alcohol, its companions - aldehydes and ethers, which are completely undesirable in the composition of moonshine, evaporate. They begin to evaporate at a temperature of 65C and accompany the alcohol to T = 73C. After reaching this point to T=85C, only alcohol evaporates. At higher temperatures, heavier components appear in moonshine, popularly called “fusel oils.” They spoil both the color and taste of the drink, so you should get rid of them as radically as possible.
You can find many recommendations for this case on the Internet. Drawings, instructions, tips, recommendations should be studied, but choose from them only what is consistent with the theory of moonshine. A moonshine still at home should ensure not only high-quality distillation of the product, but also safe operation. We should not forget that alcohol burns very well, its vapors are explosive, a decent pressure is formed in the distillation cube, and the mash is heated almost to the boiling point.
A home appliance must consist of several required parts:
How to make them correctly at home? There is no single recipe - that’s why they are at home. Everything that more or less corresponds to the required parameters in terms of material of manufacture and dimensions is used. But, nevertheless, there are certain limits and restrictions - what can be used and what is undesirable.
Any metal container made of aluminum, stainless steel or enamel pan with a volume of 25 liters or more is suitable for this purpose. It should be noted that it should be filled with mash no more than 75-80% of the volume. The distance from the surface of the liquid to the inlet of the pipeline must be at least 10 cm.
During the heating process, the mash may foam. If the inlet is too close to the surface, then some of the mash may fall into the pipeline and, consequently, into the moonshine. This leads to cloudiness and a significant deterioration in taste.
The second requirement is an airtight lid. The container must be tightly closed so that light vapors do not escape through the cracks. The pressure inside the cube, with a working pipeline, is not too high, but sufficient for the lion's share of alcohol vapor to escape into the atmosphere through seal defects.
A can is perfect for a cube
For this reason, it is very convenient to use an aluminum milk can at home. It has a conveniently closing lid with a clamping device, a seal, and you can buy it at a very affordable price. Making the necessary changes to the design at home is also easy.
The changes concern only the lid. You need to make two holes in it - for a pipeline fitting with a diameter of at least ½ inch and for installing a thermometer. Some craftsmen also provide a pressure gauge, but, I repeat, the pressure inside the cube is not so great and there is no special need for this device.
Thermometer is a necessary attribute in the device
But you need to install a thermometer. It is very important to control the temperature of the process. This is directly related to the quality of the resulting product. To brew moonshine at home, instead of a pressure gauge, you can (even preferably) insert an adjustable steam valve into the lid of the cube, which is set to a critical pressure level depending on the design features. But this is done as an option. If the distillation process is constantly monitored, there should be no threat of explosion.
Holes in the lid can be made using a drill and a suitable size drill bit. If there are none, which rarely happens for a home craftsman, then you need to remove the cover and find a mechanic with a lathe or drilling machine. The hole for the steam line should have a diameter of ½ - ¾ inches. Practice shows that these are optimal sizes in terms of throughput.
The standard gasket-seal under the lid in the can is rubber and is not designed for high temperatures. Its qualities can be improved by wrapping it with FUM tape. This is used to seal threaded connections in plumbing. To improve the quality of the gasket, it, already wrapped with tape, is immersed in boiling water for a few seconds.
The tape can withstand temperatures up to 200C and such an operation does not threaten it in any way, but the density of the winding increases. If technical capabilities are available, the seal can be made of high-temperature rubber or silicone. You can buy them in sheets measuring 50x50 cm or so. These materials are easy to cut, and anyone can make a gasket out of them at home.
Stainless steel or copper is suitable for the steam line. The best option is a corrugated stainless tube, which is used for gas supply. You can buy it in gas equipment stores. If this is not possible, then you can use a regular pipe with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the fitting.
Steam outlet for the device
The difficulty here is that the finished gas pipe is equipped with union nuts, the threaded fitting for which is easy to select and hermetically install in the container lid. In the case of a rigid tube, threads will need to be welded to its ends, which not everyone can do at home.
Brass or ordinary steel cannot be used - in an alcohol atmosphere they oxidize and form compounds that have not been fully studied, but their effect is clearly not aimed at improving the quality of the drink. It is also undesirable to use plastic pipes - many types of polymers, when heated to 80 degrees or more, release toxic substances with an unpleasant odor, and they are even more dangerous in contact with alcohol.
The steam line is bent in a “P” configuration. One end is connected by a threaded fastener to the outlet of the cube, the other - to the inlet fitting of the dry steam filter.
Technically, this device is extremely simple, even primitive, however, it works very effectively, eliminating up to 60-80% of heavy fractions of harmful impurities from moonshine. It consists of a vessel with a volume of 1-3 liters, depending on the performance of the device. For a home-made apparatus with a cube with a capacity of 25 liters and a steam line with a diameter of ½ inch, a steam steamer of 1-1.5 liters is sufficient.
Steamer from a glass jar
The filter housing can be an ordinary glass jar with a screw cap. In the lower part, if possible, it is advisable to drill a hole at a height of 1 cm from the bottom and install a tap to drain the filtered liquid. A little later we will publish an article on making a steamer.
The housing can also be any sealed stainless steel container, which can be made from a pipe with a diameter of 100 mm, if it is possible to work with argon welding.
The most important part of the steamer is the lid. Two tubes with threaded tips are embedded in it. One enters the jar to a length of up to 1/3 of the height of the container. A steam line from the distillation cube is connected to it. The second extends no more than 1 cm below the cut of the lid. It is connected to the outlet pipe, which goes to the refrigerator. All connections are threaded, the filter cover is screwed on tightly.
The filter works like this: vapors of alcohol and heavier fractions of impurities, which have a slightly higher boiling point than alcohol, enter the steam chamber and are cooled there to a liquid state. A new portion of steam constantly heats up the liquid in the filter, the alcohol evaporates and goes into the pipeline to the refrigerator.
The thermal energy of the steam is not enough to evaporate the heavy fractions, and they remain in the filter in the form of a liquid (quite poisonous, by the way). The sludge is periodically drained, which is why a tap is needed, and poured into the sewer. Different lengths of the inlet and outlet pipes are necessary so that the vapors do not mix before the condensation process begins. There is no need to cool the steamer.
A very important part of the moonshine still. Making it at home is very simple. For this, a piece of any pipe about 1 m long with a diameter of 50-100 mm is used. The pipe is closed on both sides with hermetically sealed caps with holes through which the steam line passes. With a steam line thickness of ½ inch and a refrigerator length of 0.6-1 m, a coil or other device that increases the contact area with running water is not required.
Running water is used for cooling. Two fittings are mounted into the refrigerator body for a regular rubber hose - inlet and outlet. They are installed at opposite ends of the housing, perpendicular to the axis, so it is more convenient to connect them. You can also install fittings with a threaded connection. The connection method, as well as the material of the refrigerator body (steel, plastic, aluminum) are not regulated. Running water comes into contact only with the outer part of the steam line and does not affect the chemical composition of the product.
The dimensions of the refrigerator are approximate. They can be established experimentally. It is important that the outlet liquid is cooled to a temperature below 40-50C.
You can reduce the size of the refrigerator by installing a coil inside of a copper or stainless tube with a diameter not lower than the main steam line. In this case, the contact surface area increases and the cooling efficiency increases without increasing the dimensions of the refrigerator. Drawings of a spiral cooler and other types (Graham, Dimroth, Allin) can be found on the Internet. Any laboratory cooler circuit that can be implemented at home using improvised means is suitable for a moonshine still.
At the outlet of the refrigerator, under the pipe, it is recommended to install a glass funnel filled with birch sawdust or tightly packed shavings, into which you can add several crushed tablets of activated carbon. The fusel oils remaining after the reflux condenser, mechanical impurities from the steam line, particles of mash, and foam settle there and the moonshine acquires crystal transparency and a unique aroma.
All that remains is to assemble the apparatus and light the fire on the stove.
And here is a video on assembling a moonshine still:
Hi all! I promised to write this article for a long time, but I kept putting it off. The time has come to fulfill the promise. Today I will tell you how to make a moonshine still from a pressure cooker with your own hands.
Let me first briefly remind you what a home moonshine still consists of and how it works. The simplest design includes a distillation cube (a container for boiling mash) and a refrigerator (direct-flow or coil). The diagram is shown in the figure below.
I will make a still from an old Soviet 6 liter aluminum pressure cooker. She is almost the perfect option for this.
I say almost, because... it has a significant drawback - its volume. You can pour no more than 5 liters of mash into such a container, which will yield approximately 1 liter of 45% moonshine.
I won’t tell you much, but it’s quite enough to start distilling moonshine and understand whether you want to do this business. And the activity is very exciting, believe me.
So, we have this pressure cooker.
I got it from my parents, but it won’t be difficult to buy it. I just found exactly the same one on Avito for only 400 rubles.
The first step is to cut a nipple into the lid to connect the distillation cube to the refrigerator. I will insert this one, with a ½” thread.
The lid already has two holes for pressure relief valves; we will not touch them. Let them perform their function. Let's make a new hole with a size 20 wood drill bit.
Why wood? It’s just that it’s much cheaper than a metal drill, and it cuts aluminum very well.
First you need to mark the center and drill a hole for centering with a small drill.
And then drill it out with a large drill.
If you get sloppy edges, they need to be cleaned with a finely notched file. Now you can insert the nipple.
After using a size 20 drill, I get a hole well suited for a ½” nipple, I even had to use a wrench to screw it in. It fits so tightly that no additional gaskets or seals are needed.
Tighten the nipple with a nut from the inside.
A fitting for attaching a Ø12 mm hose is screwed onto it.
If your pressure cooker still has the gasket, then the distillation cube for your home moonshine still is ready. I didn't have it. Therefore, we will make it.
Any kind of rubber will not work here; when it comes into contact with moonshine vapor, it will give off an odor and ruin the entire product. Here you need silicone, and not just ordinary silicone, but food grade silicone.
You can buy a ready-made gasket or, if you don’t find the right size, buy a sheet and cut the gasket yourself. They are sold in moonshiners' stores and in stores with laboratory equipment.
I will make a gasket from liquid silicone for aquariums. It can be bought at pet stores, construction supermarkets and plumbing stores.
It is needed specifically for aquariums, it is definitely safe and does not give off any foreign odors.
Fill the groove for the gasket on the lid with a small heap and let the silicone dry. After a day you can start distilling.
Let's move on to the next step.
Now all that remains is to connect the distillation cube and the refrigerator. For this I use a silicone hose with an internal diameter of 12 mm. The hose should also be made of food-grade silicone. No rubber or PVC!
Now the moonshine still is ready. This is enough to make your first drink.
That's all. The process is very simple and not long. If you have ideas or comments, please leave them in the comments. I always welcome constructive criticism. Also subscribe to the news, I plan to add mash recipes soon.
Bye everyone. Dorofeev Pavel.
Moonshine– this is a whole wonderful world. You only have to try a drink made with your own hands once and you will understand that store-bought drinks do not evoke virtually any emotions. But, as in any business, without some knowledge in the area, not even the first pancake can come out lumpy.
Beginners who are just starting to take the first step in making their own alcohol ask themselves a thousand and one questions:
What's better - purchased or homemade? Which device will work smoothly for decades, and which will require constant attention and constant maintenance?
We have prepared a number of articles for you, after reading which you will become a real ace. Everything related to the design of moonshine stills, a description of physical and chemical processes, technologies and, of course, detailed information.
Try to start small - by reading an article about. The simple and intelligible language in which our authors write is aimed at ensuring that all the nuances of moonshine brewing are easily understood by people far from the technologist profession. Following tips and tricks In this section, in a few days you will understand all the important nuances of production.
This section will also be useful to relatives of people who are passionate about moonshine brewing. We will help you choose exactly the right one gift a moonshine still that your loved one will appreciate.
And, believe me, the most difficult thing is take the first step. But we have done everything to make this step a little easier for you.
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