How to make a distillation cube with your own hands. Do-it-yourself moonshine still: basic elements and manufacturing

The distillation cube is the basis of the moonshine still. It has a simple design and principle of operation, and it is easy to make it yourself at home, although you can buy a finished product. A factory distillation cube is most often either stainless steel or copper, while homemade options also come in aluminum and enamelled steel.

In more detail about the purpose, device, principle of operation and step-by-step production of such equipment at home further.

The distillation cube is one of the three mandatory elements in the “moonshine still” device, along with the “refrigerator” and “hoses”. The container serves as a container for the mash, in which the raw materials will be heated to the evaporation temperature. This process can be carried out by placing the distillation cube on a heat source, for example, on gas, electric, or by means of steam coming through a hose from or by installing heating elements inside the tank.

Device and principles of operation

The design of the distillation cube is extremely simple - it is a cylindrical or rectangular container, equipped with the necessary nozzles, it can have a removable top. Also, the structure of the unit can be supplemented by heating elements installed inside the tank and a thermometer for more precise regulation of the process. Home-made specimens are aluminum, for example, when a food flask is taken as the basis, made of enamelled steel, most often this is due to the use of an ordinary pan or pressure cooker as a workpiece or stainless steel, if a keg is used as the basis.

The factory alembic is most often either copper, it is preferable for cereals and “fruit brews,” or it is again made of food grade stainless steel.

The principle of operation of the distillation cube is as simple as its structure. Braga, which is inside the container, boils, turns into steam. After that, the evaporated substances enter, depending on the structure of the moonshine still, either directly to the refrigerator, if this is the simplest design, or undergoing additional purification in and / or, if the design is simple, but with some additions, or through or, if moonshine the device is a serious installation for the distillation of alcohol.

How and from what to make a distillation cube with your own hands

At home, containers are most often made either very simple, for example, from an enameled pan, or when a product with exact parameters is needed, then food grade stainless steel sheets are the main material.

DIY stainless steel distillation cube

For such a product, you will need the following materials and tools:

• stainless steel sheet 0.5 mm thick;
• pipe with a diameter of 50 mm;
• fittings;
• fitting;
• electric arc welding machine;
• "grinder" or scissors for metal;
• brush.

The production of a distillation cube takes place according to the following plan:

1. 4 rectangular blanks 300 x 500 mm in size and 2 squares 300 x 300 mm are cut out. The container will be a rectangular parallelepiped lying on the long side. Dimensions are approximate and are selected individually for each system based on its power.
2. The parts are welded into a single structure, in the upper part of which a hole is made and a piece of pipe is welded - a branch pipe. First, mash will be poured through it, and then a lid with a fitting built into it will be put on it, on which a silicone hose is installed that supplies steam further through the system. Before welding, the places of future seams can be treated with phosphoric acid.
3. At the bottom of the tank, you can equip a pipe with a tap or a lid to drain the remains of the mash after distillation.
4. Also in the case you can arrange a place for a thermometer. To do this, you need to drill a hole for the sleeve, into which the measuring device is installed.

The process of making a stainless steel still is quite complicated. The finished product purchased will be of better quality. The incentive to create a man-made container is either the desire of beginners to make a moonshine still with their own hands for a detailed acquaintance with the technology, or the desire of professional distillers to create a unit with ideal proportions for a certain system, where it is quite difficult to choose a finished product with the right parameters.

Another alternative is to buy a ready-made stainless steel container and arrange pipes and a thermometer in it according to your preferences.

Do-it-yourself distillation cube from the pan

First, if it is not available, a pan with a suitable volume is purchased, and it must be borne in mind that the mash should not occupy all the free space, part of the volume is used as a steam chamber. Further work proceeds as follows:

1. In the area of ​​​​the neck above the lid, a locking mechanism is equipped to hold the lid. This can be a pair of welded U-shaped parts between which a locking beam or a similar mechanism is inserted or screwed.
2. One hole is equipped in the lid with a fitting for the outgoing steam, the second - with a thermometer sleeve, and, if desired, a third - for the pressure gauge.
3. A hole is drilled in the lower part of the pan and a pipe with a lid or a tap is equipped to drain the remains of the mash.

In such a design, the main issue is the high-quality sealing of the gap between the container and the lid. If the lid is not tight enough, you can use dough or cut-to-size silicone gaskets.

Distillation cube with heating element and regulator

Any suitable container can be used as a basis, but most often heating elements are installed in stainless steel stills. To do this, do the following:

It should be borne in mind that for very thick mashes, a heating element, which is superior in delicacy to the effect of heat on raw materials from external sources, will still not be the best solution. In this case, to prevent burning, you will need a steam generator. If it is planned to distill only liquid brews, for example, based on sugar, then the heating elements in combination with a temperature controller fully comply with all the requirements for the technical process and the delicate effect on raw materials. The thermostat will allow you to smoothly lower and raise the temperature when "selecting heads" and "cutting off tails", which is much more difficult to do on a gas or electric stove. When working with such sensitive equipment as a distillation column, only heating elements or a steam generator can be used.

How and how to insulate a distillation cube

In this matter, it all depends on the heat source that will heat the mash. If heating elements or induction cookers are used, polypropylene foam will be an excellent choice; you can find material such as penofol on sale. This is polypropylene foam with a foil lining that enhances thermal insulation. It has minimal heat losses close to 0, but cannot withstand temperatures above 100 °C. It is very easy to insulate a container with such material. The sheet is cut to fit the product, wrapped around it, and fixed on top with any mounting tape or Velcro awning. The main thing is not to forget to cut a hole for the pipes and at the exit point of the heating element. One layer with a sheet thickness of 5 mm or more will be sufficient. In terms of money, it will cost about 120 rubles for a heater and 30-40 rubles for a tape. In addition, such thermal insulation, if necessary, is very easy to dismantle.

When it is necessary to insulate a distillation tank operated on gas, a combination of felt, which has excellent thermal insulation, but also does not withstand high temperatures, and its outer winding of a material containing asbestos or a similar fire-resistant component, is suitable. Products of this kind should be looked for in stores or marketplaces associated with fireplaces, where fire-resistant seals are used.

When choosing a distillation cube for a moonshine, it is important to decide on two main points. The volume that will cover the capacity of the system, and the material that determines both the interaction with the aggressive brew medium, and, accordingly, the taste of the final product, and the depreciation resource of the equipment. In this regard, stainless steel and copper are optimal, and an enamel pan can become a “temporary” solution. Therefore, choose, think over, and also share your own experience on this topic!

Do-it-yourself moonshine still is a primordially Russian, traditional creation of folk thought. Craftsmen manage to make such installations that provide the final product, which is not inferior in quality and purity to strong drinks of industrial production. With the right choice of design and careful manufacture, you can get into use a fairly simple device that can meet your own needs for high-quality and cheap alcohol.

If you assemble the device according to the instructions below, then you will be able to produce alcoholic beverages a cut above the quality of store counterparts.

At its core, any moonshine still is a home appliance for distilling raw materials with an alcohol content into an alcoholic drink of increased strength (moonshine). Any mixture containing ethyl alcohol can be used as an initial product - this is mash, low-quality wine, alcohol with impurities (raw), etc.

The purpose of using a moonshine still is to obtain an alcoholic beverage with an ethyl alcohol content of at least 60-70%. At the same time, the final product should not contain impurities that are dangerous to humans, spoil the taste and give an unpleasant odor.

The principle of operation of the moonshine is based on the fact that alcohol actively evaporates at temperatures at which water retains a liquid state. As you know, the evaporation of water occurs when it boils, i.e. at a temperature of about 100 ºС, while alcohol begins to turn into steam already at a temperature of 55-60 ºС. The intensity of its vaporization increases with increasing temperature.

In the moonshine still, it is necessary to ensure the temperature is above 55 ºС, but below 90 ºС.

• Alcohol vapors must be removed from the surface of the water, and their transformation back into liquid is ensured by condensation, i.e. contact of hot steam with a cold surface.
• The final stage consists in the careful collection of the resulting droplets of alcohol, after which it can be purified from harmful impurities.

The classic design of a moonshine should include such basic parts as an evaporator and a condenser.

• The evaporator is a container where the raw material is heated to the desired temperature.
• A condenser is a container where there is a cooled surface on which condensate is released.

As additional, but necessary parts in the design of the device, there is an element for removing alcohol vapor from the evaporator, a container for collecting condensate and control devices.

In addition, it is important to ensure the correct heating of the raw materials in the evaporators and the constant cooling of the condensing element. Purification is provided by filters and the addition of various sorbents.

What is taken into account when designing

According to the principle of operation, home moonshine stills belong to distillation-type devices, i.e. the mechanism described above is used, in contrast to the industrial production of alcohol, where distillation columns are used, based on the separation of raw materials into fractions. When designing a moonshine still, its main characteristics are taken into account:

Structural elements

Homemade moonshine can have a different shape and size. Its design can be very simple, made temporarily from improvised means, or quite complex, with process control. The device must include the following mandatory elements:

Evaporator manufacturing

How to make a moonshine with your own hands? The solution of this problem begins with the creation of an evaporator, i.e. distillation cube. Most often, ready-made containers with a volume of 15-30 liters are used for this purpose.

stainless steel

The best option is stainless steel, intended for food purposes. You can successfully use ready-made household vessels made of such material. Homemade containers are made of stainless steel sheet 1-2 mm thick using welding. When forming a homemade tank, it should be remembered that during operation, in addition to high temperature, excess pressure is created in it, which can reach 0.5-0.7 atm, which requires particularly high-quality welds.

The production of a distillation cube is carried out in the following order.

1. A ready-made or welded container of the required volume is taken.
2. An important condition is the presence of a flat bottom if it is installed on a tile or burner.
3. A cover is installed on top, in which a hole is drilled for connecting a coil or dry steamer.
4. With an inner diameter of the coil tube of 11-13 mm, a hole with a diameter of 22 mm is drilled and a pipe thread (half an inch) is cut.
5. The cover is installed on the tank with joint sealing.

In a collapsible design, rubber gaskets are used, and in the manufacture of a stationary structure, sealing is provided by silicone sealant.

During the distillation, it is desirable to control the temperature that is provided in the evaporator. To install a thermometer, another hole is drilled in the lid of the distillation cube for inserting a thermocouple or installing a thermometer.

A convenient version of the distillation cube is a pressure cooker. She has one important drawback associated with a small volume, but for her own needs she is quite suitable. The main advantage of this design is the presence of good tightness. Rework is required only in the part of drilling in the hole cover. A completely ideal option is a multicooker, where heating and maintaining the temperature in a given mode are provided.

Capacitor manufacturing

A do-it-yourself condenser or refrigerator for a moonshine still includes 2 main parts - a coil and a cooling source (cooling compartment). The quantity and strength of the final product depends on the correct functioning of the refrigerator.

The coil can be made of non-ferrous metals, stainless steel or glass.

The dimensions of the tube for the coil are selected according to the following parameters:

1. Inner diameter. An increase in it leads to an expansion of the area of ​​contact with steam, which increases the productivity of the apparatus, but affects its dimensions and greatly complicates the manufacture. The recommended tube inner diameter is 9-13 mm.
2. total length. Here again there is an alternative. Longer lengths increase the condenser area, but at the same time the resistance to flow increases, which slows down the process. It has been practically established that the optimal length is in the range of 1.6-2.2 m.
3. Wall thickness. The smaller this parameter, the easier it is to cool the system, but the strength of the element decreases. It is normal to use a tube with a thickness of 1-1.2 mm.

The cooling compartment must ensure the removal of heat from the coil in a constant mode. In principle, cooling can be provided by ice, air or water flow. The most commonly used is water.

There are 2 options for the possibility of its submission. Is it a closed or open system.

• In the first case, the container is filled with cold water. Cooling occurs until it heats up, after which the coolant is changed to a new portion.
• The second option is considered more effective, because. cooling is provided by running water.

step by step

The manufacture of the refrigerator is carried out in the following sequence.

1. A metal tube of the optimal size is filled with sand to prevent deformation and is wound in the form of a spiral onto a cylinder with a diameter of about 30-36 mm with a coil pitch of 11-14 mm.
2. The sand is poured out, and the spiral is washed under running water.
3. Next, the body of the cooling compartment is made from a metal or plastic pipe with a diameter of 76-82 mm. Branch pipes for supplying tap water are installed on the compartment body.
4. Then part of the coil is passed inside the compartment, the ends of which are hermetically sealed.

Both ends of the coil remain free, one for connecting to a distillation cube or dry steam tank, the second for removing the finished product.

It is easy to make a distillation cube with your own hands. It is enough to have a little knowledge that allows you to make an item to an inept craftsman. The device is a device for making alcohol from mash. You can not buy ready-made equipment for a lot of money, but make it on your own, spending a minimum of money and time on manufacturing.

To understand how to properly make a distillation apparatus, you need to learn about the principle of its operation. The main thing is not to make mistakes in the calculations.

The device is manufactured in different forms. The larger its volume, the more alcohol can actually be obtained in one process.

The principle of operation is simple. A pre-prepared mash is poured into the tank, which is then brought to a boil using the built-in heater. Alcohol is evaporated under pressure, and excess liquid exits through a special hole.

The main thing is to hermetically pack the device to avoid an explosion, which will occur due to high pressure.

To make a moonshine, it is enough to stock up on a sealed container and equip it with the necessary accessories: a heating element, a thermometer, a coil, and the like.

The choice of material for manufacturing

A very important point is the choice of material from which the device for producing alcohol will be made. You need to stop on metal or glass. The material should not oxidize so that excess particles do not get into the finished product. When releasing a cube, use:

1. Aluminum. It is not recommended to use it when creating a device, since parts of the substance can oxidize and get into alcohol. Many distillers still use aluminum cans, flasks.
2. Copper. It is one of the best materials for making a device that produces alcohol. It doesn't oxidize. But its use is hampered by the fact that copper is a very expensive material and is not always affordable for the manufacturer.
3. Glass. This is a great option for forming a moonshine still. It does not tend to oxidize by itself. But the glass is easy to break, and temperature changes can compromise the integrity of the device.

In the manufacture of equipment that produces moonshine, aluminum is often used, which is not recommended, since the finished product may contain metal impurities, the excess of which is dangerous for the body. But experienced moonshiners are not alarmed by such a drawback! From what to make a distillation cube, it is up to the master to decide.

How to make a moonshine still yourself?

With your own hands, a moonshine still can be made from a variety of improvised things made from suitable metals that are always in the kitchen of any housewife. From what to make a universal apparatus for the production of moonshine, choose only the master himself:

1. Pot. To assemble a device that evaporates alcohol from an ordinary enameled or stainless steel pan, you need to take care of providing it with a sealed lid. It is also necessary to equip the device with a system for locking and removing excess fluid.
2. Beer keg. Economical build option. The tank itself is sealed, no need to equip it with an additional lid. It is enough to solder the heating element, thermometer, and make two holes. The smallest keg holds thirty liters of liquid, from which five liters of pure alcohol are obtained.
3. Flask. A common option for making a moonshine still is to use. It holds forty liters of liquid, from which six liters of alcohol are obtained. The container is already equipped with a sealed lid and closing system. It remains to supply the tank with a thermometer, a heating element and a system for removing the finished product, liquid residues. But aluminum is not recommended for use, as the material tends to oxidize.
4. Pressure cooker. An economical option for making a mash conversion device is to use a pressure cooker. The device is equipped with a closing system that is as tight and safe as possible. But this option is suitable when obtaining the minimum volume of the finished product. The maximum amount of alcohol that is obtained using a device in the form of a pressure cooker is one liter.

If you want to carve a moonshine still on your own according to individual sketches, stock up on the following materials:

• steel sheets 0.5 mm;
• a pipe with a circumference diameter of up to fifty millimeters, half a meter long;
• soldering, soldering tools or welding;
• sealed lid equipped with special fasteners;
• grinder, and if it is not there, then with scissors or a metal file;
• thermometer, heating element.

Then they equip the finished container, convert it into a device that distills the mash. Insert the heater inside the tank and fix it tightly. In the upper part, prepare a closing hole for filling with liquid. The fitting built into the lid provides an outlet for moonshine, so a coil is put on it. Somewhere on the side, you can equip the container with a tap through which they drain. A thermometer is inserted into the finished device by drilling a hole with a diameter of 0.5-1 cm in the upper part of the tank.

The device is ready for use. It is enough to pour a certain amount of liquid and wait for the result. To check the strength of the product, special devices are sold. If everything is done correctly, then the moonshine produced will have a strength of 60-80 revolutions, which will satisfy the needs of the distiller.

The main advantage of owning a device that produces alcohol is the tank volumes, which vary from five to fifty liters, which the owner needs.

Creating a distillation cube with your own hands is not so simple, despite the fact that the design looks very primitive and, at first glance, there is nothing complicated in it.

In fact, in order to get high-quality alcohol, it is necessary to pay attention to the distillation cube, because in many respects the quality of alcohol and its strength depend on this device. In the distillation cube there is mash, which, in the process of distillation, turns into alcohol, moonshine, whiskey or even wine. But in order to understand the principle of manufacturing a device, it is necessary to study its mode of operation.

The cube for moonshine is a container for processing raw materials. As a rule, from 5 kg of raw materials are placed in a cube. Most distillation cubes are made of stainless steel, other materials are rarely used. At the disposal of craftsmen there are also cubes made of aluminum and other metals.

Keg distillation cube

As for aluminum, it is often used in the production of alcohol at home, but only by beginners. Those who have been preparing strong drinks for more than one year know that aluminum is exposed to acids, alcohols and other elements. For this reason, in the process of making alcohol, as temperatures rise, the alcohol affects the metal and it oxidizes. This causes the flavor of the alcohol to change.

For this reason, you should not use a can or other container made of aluminum, as this may affect the quality of the product.

The distillation cube has a hole for steam to escape. When the solution boils, the vapors begin to rise, they enter the refrigerator. In the refrigerator, the vapors condense and turn into alcohol. It will not work to completely turn all the mash into alcohol, some of it remains in the cube. For this reason, a special valve or tap is placed at the bottom of the container, which is opened, and the remains of the mash come out of it, which could not be turned into alcohol.

Qualitatively made equipment will be enough for a moonshiner for many years. Even if the device was bought for a very decent amount, it will fully justify the costs. The money invested will be repaid, because when using the device, you can significantly save on the purchase of alcohol.

What can a cube be made of?

How to make a distillation cube for a moonshine with your own hands? This question often worries beginners and those who want to save money on buying a device. But often, for lovers of assembling and designing, it’s enough just to buy an unassembled device in a store.

When assembling a device, you can get acquainted with its structure and features that are characteristic of a particular device. Naturally, the distillation club in such a set will be assembled, but it can be supplemented with various fixtures, parts and fixtures.

A device purchased disassembled will cost less, but the difference in price cannot be called significant.

But if you make a distillation cube with your own hands, you can save a lot. In most cases, such devices are made of stainless steel. Despite the fact that stainless steel is not cheap, its wear resistance is amazing. In addition, upon contact with chemicals, it does not oxidize, it is difficult to “scare” it under the influence of temperatures and acids. Alcohol does not oxidize the metal, and it is possible to expel a high-quality product, the taste of which can be considered impeccable.

To make the right alembic for making high quality alcohol, you may need the following materials:

1. Sheets of stainless steel up to 5 millimeters wide.
2. Solder, which is most often tin.
3. Soldering iron or welding.
4. Cover with fasteners that will ensure the tightness of the device.
5. A valve through which the remnants of unprocessed mash will leave.
6. Cover seals.
7. Temperature sensor.

It is recommended to choose stainless steel sheets with a width of no more than 5 millimeters, since thicker sheets will be difficult to bend by hand. But this can be done with special equipment. Sheets are the main material needed to make a cube.

Solder is needed in order to ensure the tightness of the seams, it is recommended to use tin as solder, especially if you plan to work with a soldering iron and not welding.

The choice of apparatus (soldering iron or welding) depends on the thickness of the sheets: if the sheets are thicker than 5 millimeters, then welding should be used, if they are thinner, then a soldering iron is used.

The cover is necessary in order to ensure the tightness of the structure. It should be slightly larger than the alembic itself. A pressure cooker lid will also work if you equip it with special fasteners.

You can choose your own outlet for the mash remaining in the cube, some simply make a hole in the container and adapt the hose to it. In this case, you can experiment a little.

Seals are needed to ensure the tightness of the lid, they will help improve the quality of distillation and, as a result, get high-quality alcohol.

Since the moonshine production process is associated with certain features, the distillation cube should be equipped with a temperature sensor.

The most difficult thing is to pick up a cover, there are several options for solving the problem. You can first make a cube, and then purchase a pressure cooker with a lid of the right size. And you can make a cube under an existing cover. It should be slightly larger than a cube in diameter by literally 1–2 mm.

For the manufacture of alcohol, you can use not only a moonshine still, but also a distillation column. It helps in the distillation process to expel alcohol of high strength. The strength of alcohol obtained through a distillation column can reach 96 degrees.

Some fit pots or pressure cookers under the distillation cube, they are equipped with additional devices. Depending on the modification, it turns out to distill alcohol of good quality. But it all depends on the features of the cube and the skill of the assembler. Often, obtaining alcohol in this way is associated with particular difficulties, and the alcohol obtained as a result of distillation is not pure, it contains fusel oils and other harmful substances.

So that the work is not in vain, it is worth approaching the process of producing alcohol or moonshine with all responsibility and carefully following the algorithm of actions.

How to get started?

It is worth starting work with the creation of drawings and blanks, especially if there are no special skills in the manufacture of stainless steel or metal appliances.

So, how to get started:

• you will have to calculate the exact size of the container for the moonshine still;
• using measuring instruments, measure the sheets and make marks on their surface;
• then we determine the location of the tap (valve, holes from where the remains of the mash will leave);
• on one of the sheets we make a mark in the place where the crane will be located;
• we check the accuracy of dimensions and calculations and begin work.

Sheets can be cut with scissors for metal or work with a grinder - there is not much difference in this. Then you should start soldering, you can work with a soldering iron or welding, but, most importantly, monitor the tightness and reliability of soldering. After the cube is ready, it is worth checking how well the tap is soldered. If the work is done well, then you can try on the lid to the cube.

The lid should protrude at the edges by 1-2 millimeters. To increase the tightness of the device, a seal is attached to the lid. Rubber is used as it, it should be cut into thin strips. After that, it is worth doing the installation of fasteners, due to which the lid will fit snugly against the cube.

The last step is to mount the temperature sensor, it should be screwed on the side of the container or mounted in the lid - this will help to obtain accurate readings and track temperature fluctuations.

Despite the fact that the process of making a container seems easy and simple, difficulties can arise in the process. For this reason, many lovers of making moonshine at home prefer to adapt a ready-made container for a cube.

We are preparing a replacement

If there is no possibility or desire to make a cube on your own, then you can adapt ready-made products for this container.

So what can be used:

1. pressure cooker.
2. Flask.
3. Steel keg.
4. Stainless steel saucepan.

A pressure cooker is a good replacement option. The device is equipped with a sealed lid, while you can choose the pressure cooker of the desired size. If you unscrew the valve from the lid of the device, you can install an adapter into the lid, which will allow you to connect the container to the refrigerator.

A pressure cooker can be successfully replaced with a flask, but only if the flask is not made of aluminum. This metal should not be used in the distillation process of alcohol and today it is practically not used. Although literally 10–20 years ago, aluminum was incredibly popular with moonshiners.

Kegs made of steel are used in the brewing industry; kegs carry low-strength drinks. If you manage to get such a container, then it can be easily converted into a cube. But these containers are rare, especially when it comes to large kegs.

If you modify the pan, then it can be adapted to the alembic. From the pan they make the same pressure cooker. The modernization concerns the lid - a hole is made in it to remove steam and fasteners, which should increase the tightness of the lid, which is necessary for distilling high-quality alcohol and moonshine.

You can make such a container and to order. For a decent price, the master will weld a stainless steel container of any size and provide it with all the necessary accessories.

The choice is yours!

Due to expensive and not always good alcohol on store shelves, many are starting to think about home brewing. And not in vain, because high-quality home-made alcohol will be cheaper, and often much better than a product made in factories. In addition, the undoubted advantage is the fact that a drink made at home can have a taste and aroma that cannot be found on store shelves, or its quality will be very controversial.

Due to the increasing popularity of home brewing, there are a lot of stores with a large assortment of necessary home appliances that will satisfy the needs of any buyer. But, as a rule, the provided assortment can have a very high price, which makes you think about self-assembly of moonshine. The main objective of this article is to help with the manufacture of a container for a moonshine still - a distillation cube.

What is an Evaporation Cube

Before proceeding with the manufacture of the container, we will consider in more detail its purpose and the principle of its operation. . A moonshine cube is a container in which:

• The finished mash is heated, as a result of which various fractions begin to evaporate, among which is the ethyl alcohol necessary for the moonshiner.
• Evaporating, the vapors through the hoses enter the refrigerator, where the distillation process and the selection of the ethyl alcohol fraction take place.

Basic design requirements

In order for the process of making moonshine to go without problems, and the quality of the finished product to be impeccable, the evaporation cube must meet the following requirements:

Fulfilling all of the above requirements is not as difficult as it might seem. There will be no problems with the material either, the most popular is food grade stainless steel. It is resistant to high temperatures, relatively inert, cheap and readily available. Stainless steel pot stills for moonshine make up most of the goods of stores of this subject.

There are many ready-made examples of homemade containers, so you don’t have to come up with a design yourself. But often the use of some tools is required, which include a drill, you may have to use welding or soldering. Therefore, you need both the tools themselves and experience when working with them.

Some craftsmen can assemble a distillation vessel from scratch by creating individual drawings of the workpiece, cutting out metal parts from solid sheets of metal and then assembling them. But this case is rather an exception, since it requires at least good skills in handling a welding machine and a grinder, and it is more suitable for people who want to create something unique. For an ordinary person who just wants to save money on buying a moonshine still, the most common running options will be listed production of containers with minimal upgrades and costs.

Using a pressure cooker as a container

A pressure cooker is an almost ready-made distillation vessel that requires minimal modernization. It is completely sealed, the lid is well fixed. There is also a pressure relief valve, which eliminates the risk of explosion during the distillation process. The presence of a non-stick coating eliminates the burning of the mash on the walls of the cube.

The capacity of this container does not allow you to drive large volumes of moonshine, which affects overall productivity, but this can be an ideal option for people who do not have the desire or ability to create a separate alembic.

To turn a pressure cooker in the moonshine still, you only need to drill a hole and insert a nipple and a fitting into it, on which a hose will be put on connecting the distillation cube with the refrigerator.

Flask Cube

Milk flasks are popular in do-it-yourself cubes due to their affordability and minimal rework. Flask alembics are ideal for distilling large volumes of mash because the total capacity of such a flask can be up to 100 liters. Also, the flask has gaskets that will ensure tightness, and are able to withstand the temperature during the distillation process.

According to the materials, the flasks are aluminum and stainless steel. For a distillation cube, it is desirable to use stainless steel. Although the effect of aluminum on the body is little studied at the moment, it is better not to risk your health. To turn a milk flask into a distillation vessel, it is enough to drill a hole for a fitting in the center of the lid, by analogy with a pressure cooker . To protect yourself from the explosion of such a cube, it is advisable to drill an additional hole for the safety valve from the pressure cooker, which can be bought at the store or ordered online.

With a large volume of the flask, it is difficult to remove it from the stove, so a drain tap can also be inserted into the container, which will allow you to remove the mash after distillation without the need to transfer a heavy container. You can remake the flask for electric heating, for this, holes for heating elements are cut into the container. The number of holes depends on the power of the heating element and its shape, for example, one spiral is enough, or two or more under the U-shaped. The holes are sealed with fum tape or special heat-resistant sealants, and fixed with nuts.

The presence of two heating elements in the flask will allow the mash to reach the desired temperature faster, after which one heating element can be turned off. This is very convenient for large volumes. Also, the use of heating elements instead of standard heating on the stove makes it possible to reduce the burning of the mash to the walls, which has a positive effect on the taste of the finished product.

Making a cube from a pan

If there is no pressure cooker available, and there is no way to get a milk flask, you can try to make a distillation cube from the pan with your own hands.

To do this, you first need to remove the handle from the lid of the pot. For products of poor quality, the lid can be torn off even by hand. If it doesn't work, then it can be cut with a hacksaw. Then a hole for the fitting is drilled in the center of the cover, if desired, also a hole for the safety valve. Next, you need to come up with a seal for the lid itself, and a way to fix it. You can make an airtight gasket from a regular one by choosing the right size and sewing the edges with a regular thread. Stationery clips may be suitable for fixing the lid.

Keg distillation container

You can also make a cube from a beer keg. It is relatively large in volume, airtight, has convenient carrying handles, the neck is convenient for pouring mash. The advantage is that a tube is welded to the keg cap, and to upgrade the keg into a home brewer, it is enough to install the fitting with the tube facing out. A silicone hose is attached to the tube using a crimp clamp, which will be combined with a distiller, and on this do-it-yourself distillation cube from a beer keg is ready for use.

It is very often difficult to remove the factory fittings, so it is advisable to purchase a keg on which they have already been removed. If a closed beer keg is available, then the fittings should be removed very carefully, as there may be pressure from beer residues and gases in it.