How To Safely Run a Moonshine Still

[@alaskamike3577]

Thank you. This is an outstanding tutorial for any of us. I was hesitant at forking out $3 or $400 dollars on a Chinese still for the first time. This pressure cooker idea is great. Thanks so much.

[@joechilds9448]

Brother make one! If you can sweat copper that's all you need to know

[@mnpd3]

This reminded me of 35-years ago when I rode my then new Super-Glide from Tennessee to Paw Paw, West Virginia to see an old 101st Army buddy. He introduced me to some of the locals and their habits. One of them was swimming in a local creek with his friends. These guys were pushing a floating corked jug across the water and it became my turn. Being from Tennessee and familiar with Moonshine, I showed my expertise by properly elbowing the container and taking a judicious sip. I knew something was up when one of the guys whistled as I did it. It was Moonshine which went down without a problem. But, the fumes left in the air was so strong that when I inhaled, I felt like my lungs were scorched and had a severe coughing bout. That was the strongest drink I ever had in my long life.

[@b6schilke996]

PGA

[@jameschartrand7962]

mnpd3 elbowing?

[@IngeBall]

@@jameschartrand7962 Yeah, you put the jug on top of your arm towards the elbow and tilting it smoothly towards your mouth. Palm down, hook the jug with a finger and tilt.

[@jameschartrand7962]

IngeBall I’m not following. Is there a video on it?

[@IngeBall]

@@jameschartrand7962 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWqygKGtiaeHbtE There you are.

[@cottonedge]

Thanks for the Vinegar cleaning suggestion. I'm just starting out with this and am perhaps a bit too paranoid about goofing something up. You set my mind at ease. Thanks :-)

[@reshairo]

Video older than 8 years but u still replying in the comment, very impressive as your content, thanx a lot learned a lot of things

[@wcemichael]

No bad alcohol. That's the point. You can get your first "hands on" experience running a still, without the same risk as distilling a homemade mash. Then run the wine to give you a little more experience. After you've done this a couple of times, your ready to move up to making sugar shine. This is the same way I started. I would bring my mini still to a party and we would slam shots of freshly distilled wine.

[@wcemichael]

@@AppophustYou mean from the vinegar cleaning that you mentioned before, that you throw out?

[@wcemichael]

@@Appophust...that doesn't have vinegar in it. That was your point.

[@ken48827]

Not true. The first alcohol is actually toxic. Bad alcoyol is methyl alcohol and can make you go blind. If you see an old jug with 3 x's on it, it is supposed to mean triple distilled to assure it is all ethyl alcohol.

[@wcemichael]

You can. Trying to grasp the whole understanding of moonshining is a lot to take in all at once. This lets you get some practice on running the still before you try distilling a homemade mash, that way if something goes wrong, you can more easily figure out where the mistake was made.

[@rvfiasco]

This is freakin Genius. I think I can actually pull this off.

[@nevercertain]

Be careful and make sure everything is properly sealed, and don't have the open flame so close to the alcohol how this guy does, all it takes is one error and your still will explode and your house will be done for

[@sinori008]

Great instructions. You make a great teacher/coach.

[@jamesmccready2148]

BAD ASS VIDEO THX4 GOING OVER THE SAFETY TIPS AT THE END. I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THE METAL CHIPS FROM THE COILS. PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING!!!!!

[@jonakerlund7939]

Your videos are by far the best I have seen on youtube on this subject, I learnt Alot. Thanks you very much Sir.

[@wcemichael]

We aim to please.

[@aspektx]

Thank you. This was a clear, thorough explanation of the basics. I learned a lot.

[@tracewithaview6731]

Very good info, even if one wants a bigger set-up. One can learn these basics on the pressure cooker still.

[@mimib6253]

Love your vids, helps take the what I call "the intimidation factor" out of making stuff at home brewing

[@wcemichael]

Thank you. It is a lot of info to process.

[@davidmedeiros2359]

I get the concept . I'll look up your vids and make my own . I'll send you the result ! Never made anything like this before but I always like to try an adventure . Thanks a lot

[@wcemichael]

It is a pressure release valve. Sinse it's there, it serves as a emergency valve. Just in case. The thing about aluminum is alcohol will slowley eat away at it. People think it is in your final product, but it will go down the drain when you dump the pot. For those still worried I have a stainless steal pot you can look at. I still use this for the cleaning stage.

[@ilikedogs57]

Thats why the guys in moonshiners got blue liquor

[@psyolent.]

who knew :)

[@starman2671]

GREAT VIDEO ! ! ! the part about tasting as you go is the mark of a real craftsman. I haven't run my first batch yet, but will put dye in the heads immediately so I can store it and always know what it is.

[@stylesisdaman]

One thing I would recommend is a temp control or a thermometer, granted you DONT need it...but it makes it a hell of a lot easier because the ethanol burns off first at the lowest temp, followed by grain alcohol, then water. its absolutely perfect at 177F then when it rises to around 190 its time to toss it. the first stuff comes off at 165F Youll probably have to throw out at least two ounces of liquid before ethanol comes out

[@tiffanyhouze1886]

It would depend on how much grain or by volume to figure out how much to throw out also not just temperature. And yes a reflux or controlled temp would be necessary yes

[@zrtfreak]

Ok thanks..I'm new to this so thought I'd ask...I should be cooking my first batch of mash this weekend...and thanks to your videos I'm pretty confident that's it's going to turn out awesome. Thanks again

[@wcemichael]

This is the second set up I have like this. In my first set up, the coil sat right on top of the cook pot. This put the catcher right next to the pot. Your not making rocket fuel. The only time your going to have a problem is if you forget to put down a catching container or let the catcher overflow.

[@spiritwings4592]

Just plain stupidity

[@wcemichael]

@@spiritwings4592 Just plain label throwing

[@GetUrPhil]

VERY INFORMATIVE on the separation of heads, hearts, tails..Thanks.

[@wcemichael]

1 yes you can and I have even made rice whiskey with this. I would recomend that you find something made from stainless steel. I do have a SS soup pot demo to watch, the taste is much smoother. 2 You can fill up an average water bottle with 1 run, enough to impress people at a party, but you can also refill the pot if you have a larger quantity of mash and and go again.

[@keithwilson9378]

this is the best basic video i learned more on this then all others

[@wcemichael]

Yes. The first still I ever made was used many times, with an aluminum coil. I never cleaned it, and my alcohol tasted similar to tequila. I had this still for many years before I decided to clean it like this. After that, it started to taste like the finest gin.

[@shanethomas772]

Thanks so much for this video... after months of research finally something straight forward and basic for a beginner.

[@skoalbandit97]

Thats the simplest best working still ive seen yet great job man, ive been home brewing using apple juice and sugar and yeast to get about 10-25% wine but im more of a drinker to get messed up so now thanks to this video im gonna start distilling to get 100+ proof shit haha thanks man

[@wcemichael]

Find a stainless steel pot. It'll be smoother.

[@discgolfer78]

thanks so much for being honest and spending time teaching me how to distill....... have a great day and appreciate your time

[@wcemichael]

You're most certainly welcome. Make sure to check out the other videos

[@discgolfer78]

yes I have watched many of your videos.

[@SomervilleBob]

When the SHTF, I want you on my team. Really appreciate your videos. Thank you from Boston.

[@wcemichael]

(taking a bow) My pleasure.

[@onesilentarrow]

Copper corrosion is not only harmless it’s an essential nutrient for proper zinc absorption in your body

[@sieblerelfable]

Your channel is Very helpful to all the do it yourselfers out there. Thanks for the videos!

[@wcemichael]

You're welcome

[@seanmcguire7974]

You'd be lit just from tasting it every other minute

[@robleeandroid]

Very informative and straightforward! Thanks for this it answered alot of questions I had left after reading up on the subject.

[@wcemichael]

At first, I didn't. I just took a taste and went YEA! THAT WILL DO IT! I later found a cheap proofing meter on ebay and found it to be 130

[@rjhills7982]

You forgot to mention in 7:00 like commercial beers and wines if the beginner makes it with the same yeast it prevents heads but it’s most likely not going to happen it might though

[@sprungmonkey6inches]

dang, i like ur filtration system. u've got me real stoked about my first hooch coming up

[@wcemichael]

There is no heads. It was removed when the vodka was made. This lets you try distilling with "training wheels" so to speak. Next step. you distill wine and learn to remove the heads.

[@Jim_Snape]

If you are using 40 proof (weak) vodka as your "mash" there won't be any methanol. It was already removed at the vodka factory. If using normal person mash, and you don't want to use your body as a measuring device for methanol, just use a metal spoon and light it. If it burns yellow its methanol. If it burns blue, its ethanol.

[@Bloodysbuddys]

I was literally running that wild Irish rose line at work yesterday same size and flavor

[@diggydice9041]

Good advice about cleaning your copper...... lol, I don't even drink but I fell into a bunch of these videos & you are the ONLY One who suggested cleaning the tube. Go figure ? thanks for the entertainment

[@wcemichael]

Thank you. I discovered years before the internet. My shine went from tasting like tequila to tasting like gin

[@diggydice9041]

@@wcemichael ~ Ewww, I drank full ON for 30 years but Gin wasn't my thing....lol, I have a setup to distill water that I use copper tubes & with tap water we know the minerals & other particulates will be displaces thru the process. Coffee makers are a big one & I use vinegar on it. Stainless might be better but you can't bend it to fit & Copper/Silver both have anti-bacterial properties. Brew On

[@sbeckett91]

The most down-to-earth and accessible video on the subject I've seen.

[@wcemichael]

Thank you very much.

[@doyourbest.9554]

Amazingly the best video! The only one ibe seen that adds filtration! Thank you so much!

[@mikebatty9632]

My first "still" was a SS pressure cooker. Made some great peach whiskey with that old girl!

[@ocazey]

Matthew Govig watch George on barley and hops brewing on KZbin. Aluminum is ok to use But stainless and copper are better choices. To get aluminum to pit to the point where it is un safe you would have to run a lot of product more than any home distillery would . It is an old age argument what is better then you get into still design and the argument starts again 😂😂😂🤷‍♂️ you use what’s best for you just keep your equipment clean and sanitized

[@wcemichael]

Double distillation for one. It would be the easiest with basic equipment. Another way is being able to maintain a perfect temp on the up tube would work. If the temp can be maintained just above alcohol's evaporation point, yet below water's evaporation point, the water would condense and run back down the tube into the pot. You can add heat sinks to the up tube to help with this. A good example is a reflux still. It has a long up tube that allows some heat displacement.

[@BrainDeadVampire]

more Brandy distilling Please. Awesome videos by the way 🍻

[@chumowski]

simply AWESOME! great upload and has given me a new sense of determination to do things the right way not the calibrated way!

[@wcemichael]

Exactly what I was aiming for. Those automated coffee pots don't teach you anything.

[@joehibb1]

If you were to keep your heat source at precisely 173℉ couldn't you technically avoid the tails all together and the liquid would just stop flowing because the water simply wouldn't evaporate? Not trying to be a smart ass or anything I was just wondering if it would work.

[@joehibb1]

You know what forget that I just said that.

[@wcemichael]

joehibb1 No that's ok. I'll answer it. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Water and alcohol will always evaporate at any temp above freezing, at their boiling points the evaporate much quicker. So even at 100℉ you will still get water and alcohol. You get tails because the percentage of alcohol is dropping close to zero and water is still evaporating along with the alcohol

[@dalesinclair7299]

Yes , but it’s still going to pick up a few water molecules as it goes along, that’s what the thump keg is for , to lose some of those few water molecules that hav gotten picked up

[@EricReitzel]

Thank you for your videos, Im gaining knowledge before I take the plunge.Lots of good tips in your videos.

[@descolero1]

Just keep tasting this lol

[@adamgm130]

I wish I had watched this channel first, great video cheers

[@MrMisanthrope1RBjr]

if aluminum is so bad why do they make cooking vessels out of it, aluminum foil is used in cooking and in its packaging of foods, id be more worried about the copper. alchahol aint so good for you either.

[@Robc2064]

Aluminum is bad for you, including aluminum foil.

[@93corvettebaby]

Robc2064 Almost all restaurants use aluminum pots and pans.

[@zarquon5957]

Aluminium is not chemically tolerant with ethanol, even in cooking it is not tolerant to the acid found in some foods like tomatoes. Aluminium should never be used in a still.

[@mountainrover3119]

it's acceptable in restaurants because, by federal logic, people don't eat in restaurants everyday, so it's considered a matter of acceptable levels.

[@robertlee8400]

If there’s not much yield then go bigger or do more runs . Maybe find a bigger/deeper pressure cooker & use a 5 gallon bucket with a bigger longer worm or do small runs & mix each run together .

[@wcemichael]

It's just for hobbie or for basic survival and this tells you the basics of what is needed. I have gone bigger since this. Having a leak proof heating pot is essential above all else

[@archer97862]

can't really tell from the vid but i hope that cooker is stainless

[@mr-salty6145]

It is in earlier video he Couldn’t stressed out enough about how you need to get a stainless steal one

[@JaredLil2000]

I have a pot exactly like that. Except mine is aluminum. 👀

[@Dollapfin]

Fletcher Isakson doesn’t really matter

[@iamreallyright]

@@JaredLil2000 Aluminum can give alzymer with prolonged use. What was told to me, donno how true.

[@Hell_Smoky_Squeleton]

Really cool man thanks for the info

[@YouMockMe]

The vinegar was a GREAT tip!!! Thanks!

[@stevendavies8496]

meny thanks, by far the best video of how to make shine, and even better I won't kill anyone,,,,or myself lol,.

[@wcemichael]

Just where did say this was an aluminum coil? Does it remotely look like an aluminum coil?

[@brianlosingya1053]

Fantastic! Thanks for the excellent and well documented simple instructional video! I will let you know in about three weeks how it turns out! I have a bunch of mash distilling this second!

[@wcemichael]

No. You can, but once you get the heads separated, keep it separated. I always pour the tails into my next run. If you want to keep everything together and separate it on a second distillation, you can do that. Most big distillers do that. Once, I forgot to check things and a lot of the heart ended up with the heads. I just poured it all back into the rest of my mash and re-separated it on the next run.

[@clintonmisner3010]

I love this guys little still its perfect

[@wcemichael]

A friend of mine said he can get as much a cup of heads. I've personally never get the same amount twice. If you think your brew is strong enough (at least for your first try) then leave it. Next time turn the heat down just a notch from your normal setting and you'll get stronger stuff. I'm thinking of making some T-shirts and coffee mugs for sale with my country hammer man logo. I can't legally sell the main hammerman logo. What do you think?

[@MrMixmaster2009]

wcemichael j

[@docblair935]

Outstanding, thank you!

[@Michael-Mulcahy]

"but dont stop tasting this" Im gonna be drunk by the end of 55 gals xO

[@sprungmonkey6inches]

i figured out why not bothering iwith a temprature probe.l methynol mixed with other fluids has a verying evaporation temprature. the taste test method is the best. u rock, i totally made an awesome 1st batch of rum. a bit of the grog spilled into the rum at the end, and gave the rum a flavor tha was lovely. i got 110 proof

[@Lenny8679205]

Have you ever used the flame test to determine the presence of methanol.

[@wcemichael]

Len S No, I haven't. I might have to look into it sometime

[@icebergmike27]

wcemichael it's a trap (KABOOM)

[@cadetrenew]

methanol burns invisibly

[@wcemichael]

Shaun Renew It's only invisible in well lighted areas. If it's dark enough you can see it.

[@derekfrost8991]

There is a slight risk of methanol with apples or berries because of the pectins. Best thing is 2 drink a glass of cheap vodka after your glass of homebrew.. Ethanol is the antidote for methanol.. Or just make mead instead, it's easier and safer.. :)

[@Candy_Gal]

This is sooo helpful!!!!

[@shonamagouyrksaffold4109]

You FREAKING ROCK! THANK U, I think even I CAN MAKE THIS!!

[@wcemichael]

The pressure valve itself acts like a safety. Since we use low temps there is only a pound or two of actual pressure, and the pressure is allowed to escape into the coil. Very little call for safety but it is there.

[@tomlangley8852]

WRONG! The first thing you do is toss the aluminum pot out and get copper or stainless steel one!

[@wacko234456]

+Tom Langley it is stainless

[@chrisdmanreynolds2589]

What if alliminum is all u have

[@jacobcamm7604]

ChrisDMan Reynolds than buy stainless or copper. Never use aluminum

[@daffyduck6169]

In his other tutorial on building the still...he mentions the stainless steel aspect.....so there's that.

[@cookielover189]

That blue stuff is copper sulfate and can cause a lot of health problems. Also the heads cut is VERY important if you're using your own mash

[@davidbranum5042]

You are so funny Michael!!! I love your videos if I built a still I'd become an alcoholic because I would keep tasting it!

[@boofert.washington2499]

Let's make a combustible liquid 10 inches away from an open flame! Genius!

[@wcemichael]

The bad alcohol is made along with good alcohol, It's in ALL types fermented alcohol. When distilling, your condensing the alcohol, you're also condensing the bad stuff, but it comes out first so you can seperate it before the good stuff comes out

[@thomasthuman2800]

Popcorn sutton was the best😁👍

[@mikebatty9632]

Best damn likker ever!

[@bryanwilliams7858]

Thank for that put.. always clean your pipes.. and all your pots..👍

[@coopnhtown]

What are your thoughts on adding ice to the coil?

[@patillo56]

Yea how about ice?

[@rbowlin7]

Well, how about dry ice instead ???

[@phuketbungalowinfo2757]

i guess you can throw some handfulls of ice into the water to keep it cold. Good job here, i learned a lot THANK YOU

[@wcemichael]

Ice is a waste of time, because that get's hot enough for mom to make a pot soup that takes all day to simmer

[@wcemichael]

You know. I invented a wood pellet stove that was compact, only had 2 moving parts, and no computer to keep it going. I sold those plans for building it for years. People love them. Only TWO people ever hated the plans, know why? Because they were engineers and I didn't have fancy, expensive program to write the plans with, I used the windows drawing program. If there is one thing I hate worse than ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKS, it's you high educated asses bitching to the self taught people!

[@jeremyrock9305]

wcemichael well said they were just jealous you made a better design than them engineers egos are sometimes bigger than their brains! They forget for the most part backyard engineers have built this nation. Thanks for the video and your wisdom some people would not be willing to teach

[@windfriend4159]

Informative video, I think I understand the process of distillation better now. Watching this makes me want to distil my own alcohol. Too bad it's illegal to do it where I am without a licence that's not too easy to get. Here's hoping the law changes in the not-too-distant future.

[@wcemichael]

If your still is simple and small, and you only brew enough for say a party, just for bragging rights, and you don't tell EVERYBODY and their cosine "Hey guess what? I'm a moonshiner", then you should never have a problem.

[@jonnydavidson1086]

The way I know heads is if it smells like nail polish remover

[@miketo5828]

Once again, wcemichael, thanks for all your help, I will try the starters video, stay blessed.. Miguel

[@wcemichael]

Feel free to ask me anything, whenever you need to. I can't say I'll answer right away but I'll answer as soon as I get it.

[@irvinggoldberg5365]

DO NOT BUY A STILL MADE IN CHINA. YOU SHOULD ONLY USE A STILL MADE OF COPPER.

[@bobbrueckner7498]

Or stainless, but NOT ALUMINUM!

[@BillMcGirr]

Interesting video. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Well done.👍

[@momo9594]

actually it's a copper coil! and the man warned from using aluminum! you chould apologize!

[@CotelioGrahamn]

Never mind, looking into it more. Apparently lots of fruits produce methyl esters when broken down, which combine with the water to make methanol. Huh.

[@DamianAI9]

Bad alcohol : Ethanol God alcohol : Ethanol just in case

[@talkwithtiffanychannel]

Thanks for making this!

[@jameswitte5167]

Aluminum ??? POISON ... Stopped watching at the beginning just because of that ... Didn't want to see the rest of the video ...

[@wcemichael]

And the point of distillation is to remove impurities. I've seen no evidence one way or the other that your statement is correct and I have looked very hard.

[@dominickbrown6507]

Then what do you make of aluminum beer kegs jackass he knows his shit

[@jameswitte5167]

Dominick Brown First of all I find your calling me jackass mildly amusing ... Second beer keg contents are generally cool or cold depending on you thermal definitions and the pot on the stove is heating the contents to around 160-170 degrees in order to distill by evaporation hence impurities in the aluminum as well as aluminum oxides CAN be taken up and get into the final product ... Better to be safe and use stainless or copper ...

[@wcemichael]

Well I find it hysterical. Poison is still poison. So it's either OK or it's not. You gonna use that logic for lead soldered plumbing???

[@bsbook4155]

Hey +wcemichael what's the deal with your "still" pot? Is that something you made to hold the copper coil or is it a rigged up pressure cooker or can you buy a still pot like it somewhere? If so where would one find something like a still pot & also are you at all concerned about using plastics in this process with the removal of BPA just having happened not long ago couldn't heating that plastic bottle in a Microwave for 2 min release BPA's? Also did you make the plastic thingy that holds your coil & if so where & what does the distilled stuff come out of & do you have to like add one of those spout things to the plastic bottle you have the coil in on top of the Folgers Can to fit a jar under your spout or spicket or is it just a hole that the coil sticks out of & it drips or runs out of the coil. Sorry I just couldn't see it very well to see what your set up is made of or actually is so I could make something similar. It looks like an old retro fitted pressure cooker your using & I'm pretty scared of those things due to the explosive nature of the older ones & worry about trying to drill a proper hole thru a lid on one to add the coil to it & what holds the coil in place & keeps it from going down inside or allowing the escape of steam or alcohol? One more question do you not worry about making moonshine on a gas stove? You talk about putting the plastic or a glass jar in a water bath for a while & I do make tinctures using medical marijuana but am terrified of doing so on my gas stove due to flash point of these alcohols near an open flame especially where I live near the Canadian border in the east at about 1000ft above sea level which does change the flash point. But I'd really appreciate any info on how to create a still like yours & where & how to get parts or get one. Thanks for all of your terrific work-was just worried about you getting hurt or burned actually when I saw your stove was a gas one & you had that head & heart on the stove very near the burners but obviously you've been doing this for sometime & haven't had a problem yet but just something I have worried about-my stove only has 1 burner that goes to a real total simmer all the other 3 really boil stuff hard even when on the lowest setting & I have a sulfur smell in my house in the winter & my water from my well used to smell very sulfury should I just use distilled water? Or do you think the well water is good enough? I mean I have that smell but my water no longer has the taste or smell itself it more comes from the basement where my water system is & my recent filter which uses those salt pellets to break down the calcium in the water so it doesn't build up on everything-would this affect the end product the salt pellets & the calcium & sulfur smell which is usually only noticeable in the winter as well as in areas on my road in the winter where its swampy on the sides or nearby. Thanks!

[@wcemichael]

You can do that, however the coil can heat enough water to make soup for an army. The ice won't last long, and that translates in to more prep time or cost as you have to make a ton of ice or buy a bag. IF you have a fridge with an auto ice maker and HUGE storage bin, then I could see using it.

[@wcemichael]

You SHOULD taste the heads, but don't swallow it, just spit it out. When that taste starts to smooth out, then you know it's ok to start keeping it. This will get you very familiar with all aspects of alcohol. You'll be able to reconize it if somebody wants you to try their stuff and the don't do a good job. A friend once gave me a taste of some shine he got from somebody. Knowing what I know (it wasn't a lot then, but it was enough), I thought the taste was off and I didn't ask for any more.

[@christopherberryhill3802]

That's funny. I drink Wild Irish out of the bottle. You have my like and my attention sir. 👍

[@wadepenley7338]

Your cleaning tip is good. Telling people how to test the whiskey to get rid of the head of run is great. I do have concerns. Ive made moonshine for the biggest part of my life and built several stills. Using an aluminum pot can be dangerous because of the type of metal that it is. Stainless steel or copper is the best and safest metal you can use. The thing that you did in this video that's the most dangerous is letting drip from the spout next to an open flame. One little mistake and you could die from an explosion

[@wcemichael]

I only ran this as an example so you can get practice. I don't remember testing it. HOWEVER, I used to do this all the time years ago at parties, and the brandy was as strong as anything you buy off the shelf. So I would say you can easily get 100 proof if not more.

[@McElb]

Guys this will work but take it from one raised in a familly of moonshiners. There is a lot of experiance to add. Cutting the foreshots can be done a whole lot more accurate without touching your tongue. Methanol has a sweet oily feel on your lips. As soon as that oily feel is gone so is the methanol. By the directions here you throw away good alcohol because high proof ethinol at the first of the run will also burn your tongue, it smoothed as the proof lowers. Over half of the throw away here was a waist of high prof ethinol. After the proof lowers to around 70 proof you hit your tails. This can be seen by the cloudy look of the product. Viniger wash works but usually takes a sacrificial alcohol run to get rid of all the viniger taste. Following these directions you may not taste viniger at first but the t as the will come back during aging. Cap the end of your copper with plastic bag and rubber band, fill with CokaCola. After setting for 6 hrs the acid in the cola will eat the corrosion and easily wash out with warm water. Make your own mash. It is not that hard. Gelitinize corn meal with boiling water add sugur and yeast. You can learn to do all grain starch to sugar conversion later but save some money from buying cheap alcihol. Out of five gallon of mash or wine you will find less than 5 oz of methanol in the foreshots he separated a oz out of a fifth a gallon of wine

[@Hawkeye-ef4xf]

The blue comes from the high acid level of vinegar. It leaches copper out of the pipe. You can do this if you have a high acid mash. A lot of berry mash will reach the acid levels to do this. If you get a run of blue liquor it has toxic leves of copper. Toss it out or use it as a solvent for cleaning parts. Thanks for the video.

[@wcemichael]

Yes, but the process is only one time, meaning I give it one cleaning and it's blue. If I give it a second cleaning, it's clear. Clearly something is happening during the time it's just setting. So if you do run a acidy berry mix, it will be clear.

[@Hawkeye-ef4xf]

@@wcemichael It could be clear on the second run because you may have diluted the vinegar a bit more.

[@wcemichael]

@@Hawkeye-ef4xfUm...No. I haven't. I purposely ran an experiment with a double cleaning using the exact same bottle of vinegar because I've already had this debate many times

[@Hawkeye-ef4xf]

@@wcemichael lol ok dick.

[@alexhagedorn1365]

the methanol from 1 bottle of wine is basically nothing... it can't even begin to hurt you... it's actually simple... people drink multiple bottles of wine a night just fine... you would need to distill around 10 bottles of high abv wine to actually start to hurt you... possibly 30 bottles...

[@wcemichael]

Not the point. People still need to know how to do this when it's not wine

[@TheGreyGhost_of43rd]

This guy's a regular kitchen chemist! Bet the bikers love ya!! 😉

[@wcemichael]

@Bob Roberts. The fast run is probably just the editing I did. I cut out all the long pauses, and it wasn't a large amount of alcohol. Vinegar VS lemon and salt? IF you can rub it down with your hands and a cloth, lemon and salt can work very good from what I've heard, BUT it is impossible to your arm to fit in 10 feet of cooling coil, and this is were vinegar has the advantage. Salt does not evaporate and recondense, but vinegar does. The vinegar only eats away what is already corroding inside the coil. Once that nasty stuff is gone the vinegar leaves the good copper alone. This is also good for a first time run on a stainless steel coil, as there might be some left over residue inside from the processing at the factory. The thing about acid and fruit....Still working on some things. I work mostly with fruit and don't have problems, but haven't worked with strawberries, and I heard that turns green from eating the copper. I don't know if that is true or not, but I were to take a guess, i'd say maybe not. (but don't rely on a maybe)

[@wcemichael]

Going to try a live feed tonight at www.ustream.tv/channel/the-westcoast-exterminator Click on that and we'll see how it works. I think I'll start officially at 7 pm pacific 10 pm eastern Anybody that wants to go right now, I'll see i can answer any questions, but I'll be jumping in and out of the command seat.

[@BobRoberts363]

yep yep I hear ya. Thats what it was I was thinking of was strawberries. Thanks for the advice I will do that with the vinegar. I just got it so its all full of flux and other garbage so I want a good clean on it. ... Sorry I missed the feed was off doing something else. Wish I could have seen it.

[@wcemichael]

That's Ok. It wasn't an official launch. Just seeing how well it worked. I need a couple more cables so the viewers can hear the people calling in a lot better.

[@BobRoberts363]

You know I was thinking about that blue color, in that ep of moonshiners they did a run of strawberry and it all came out blue lol now I know why.

[@wcemichael]

Yea, but I can't take everything moonshiners does as factual. Either there was corrosion in the pipe or the strawberry wine had a chemical reaction with the pipe, and I'm not sure that the chemical reaction being true. In any sense, those 2 knuckle heads seem to do everything wrong with the best ideas.

[@wcemichael]

It's a plumbing fitting. The copper has a pressure fitting on it, found in all hardware stores. A wrench is used to tighten down the fitting. When using the big pot, I need 2 wrenches. One to hold the fitting as I'm tightening it.

[@flyagaric29]

Great video mate.....You've inspired me....I think I might give this a go,,,,I can get the pipe fitters at work to knock me up a rig like this for nothing....Cool Brother.....

[@wcemichael]

Be a little bit careful of the materials you use. Try to find a stainless steel pot, and not every gasket will be alcohol friendly. My big pot uses a flour putty to seal it when in use.

[@flyagaric29]

Cheers bro

[@chaserobinson5359]

Is the still active for comments, you have good information! Thanks for the videos

[@bananaman752]

i don't know if you have ever heard of this (420 cleaner) but it works great an it cleans damn good!

[@oojimmyflip]

ive got my first batch of sugarwash fermenting right now 9 kgs of sugar in a 23 litre fermenting bin in distilled water and 135 grams of alcotech turbo yeast aprrently its supposed to hit 21% in about 7 to 10 days.got to build the still now