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Home craftsmen make distillers from any available containers, from enameled buckets to beer kegs.
One of the easiest ways to make a moonshine still is to remake a milk can. Buying such a container is not difficult: many have preserved old flasks from Soviet times, some manufacturers still produce them today, and the Internet is full of offers for the sale of used containers.
The alteration itself is quite simple: the only thing that is required is to cut suitable holes and decide on the package.
Capacity selection
If the farm has an old can, then the question of alternative options is removed by itself. If you plan to buy a tank, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
Material. It is better to give preference to stainless food steel. Stainless steel cans are produced by Chinese and European manufacturers. The former are more affordable, the latter are of better quality. Within the CIS, aluminum options are more common, but such containers have many disadvantages: they are less durable and have a bad effect on the characteristics of moonshine. The only advantages are cheapness and lightness.
Volume. Among the assortment of metal flasks there are containers of different capacities ranging from 10 to 100 liters. It is better to dwell on the “golden mean”: 20-50 liters is the optimal volume for a home distillation cube.
Benefits of a can distiller
Availability and durability. If you use a used container, the cost of acquiring it will be minimal. The service life of such a device is practically unlimited.
Spaciousness. You can choose a tank of absolutely any size in accordance with your needs.
Possibility of installation of factory equipment. Factory columns and other elements are easily attached to cans. There are even special lines of components produced for milk flasks.
Convenience. After a pressure cooker, a milk can is considered the most optimal basis for a home-made moonshine still. The lid of the container fits snugly to the neck of the vessel, thanks to a special gasket and a reliable lock. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill the mash and wash the flask.
Instructions for making moonshine from a flask
Make a hole in the lid of the container with a pen drill.
Insert a fitting into the resulting hole, clamp it with a nut from the inside, providing the connection with a silicone gasket for tightness.
In the side of the can, just below the lid, drill a hole for a bimetallic thermometer, fix the device with a nut with a silicone gasket. You can install the device at the top, but then the readings will be less accurate.
Attach a stainless steel gas hose to the fitting on the lid, connect it to a dry steamer (you can do it yourself or buy a ready-made one).
Attach a hose / tube to the steamer, connect it to the refrigerator (you can also buy or make it yourself).
Additional recommendations
The lid of each milk flask is equipped with a special gasket made of silicone or rubber. The first option is ideal. But it is recommended to replace the rubber product so as not to get moonshine with a specific aroma. The easiest option is to wrap the gasket with fum tape: it will serve as a barrier and strengthen the base. After wrapping, it is recommended to boil the product. You can also cut the gasket out of a single sheet, pour silicone sealant (best aquarium safe) into the groove on the lid, or use a regular silicone hose, cut it lengthwise and put it on the rim of the container.
A distillation column can be connected to the can. In this case, the hole on the cover must be larger so that a special adapter enters it.
It is more convenient to purchase a dryer and a refrigerator as a set, then you do not have to connect them. Instead of / together with a sump, you can use a reflux condenser for better purification of the drink.
If the volume of the can is more than 20 liters, it is recommended to equip it with a drain cock to remove the stillage (remains of used mash). Smaller containers can be removed from the stove without problems, thanks to convenient handles, and such an addition is not required.
It will not be superfluous to install a safety valve on the lid of the flask. A pressure relief device can be purchased or removed from an old pressure cooker/slow cooker.
Optionally, the can is equipped with heating elements for using the apparatus outside the stove and a steam pipeline for distilling thick wort. They are cut into the bottom of the tank, just above the bottom. Joints are sealed with fum tape or heat-resistant putty.
Relevance: 12.02.2019
Tags: Vodka, mash, moonshine, Moonshine stills and accessories