Mother's Wood-burning Still

(Page 5 of 5)

July/August 1979
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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Be certain to check your fire regularly also. During most of the run, you'll discover that the vapor temperatures in the mash vat will stay around 180°F . . . but, as more alcohol is driven from the solution, that figure will rise. When the heat in the vat reaches about 200°F (after perhaps three hours) the condensed product will be mostly water . . . and it's best to shut the apparatus down, since you'll just be diluting your alcohol.

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It'll take a few "runs" to get the feel of how to control your still for best results. The "tail end" product will be fairly weak . . . but the first two-thirds of the run should yield good 170-proof (and higher) ethanol. MOTHER's still produced about three , gallons of alcohol from a total mash solution of 30 gallons. You can expect a flow rate of about 3/4 gallon an hour with excellent results . . . if you try to hurry the process, however, be ready to settle for a weaker ethanol solution.

Be aware, too, that you can run your distilled product through the apparatus for a second time. This procedure will drive most of the excess water out of solution and produce nearly pure (190-proof) alcohol. You may also want to save the "tail end" of each run and mix it with your next mash solution. Since such "dregs" contain 60- to 100-proof alcohol, they will increase the strength of the following batch of fuel.

Finally, remember that-since this distillation apparatus is capable of producing a sizable amount of alcohol during the course of each "run"-the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms regulations must be strictly adhered to. When you get to the point where you are producing an alcohol product on a regular basis, be sure to contact your local ATF regional office for precise instructions on how to handle, store, and provide security for your homemade ethanol.

Note: The figures above represent new material prices. By scrounging and buying from salvage or scrap dealers(especially with regard to the copper items), the total cash outlay for your wood-burning still project can easily be halved.

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Comments

  • James DeRosa 8/16/2008 12:40:58 PM

    I read your magazine years ago, then made a wrong turn into "corporate America". Time to get on the right path again.
    Jim

  • Marv 12/26/2007 1:06:51 PM

    We sent for your plans and got a return to sender, address unknown.
    Can we get another address or pay on line somewhere for your still
    plans

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