This is a full setup, ready to learn on. The 6 gallon complete copper still includes a thumper and a worm, so you can follow vapor from the pot all the way to the condenser. Each stage is something you can watch, adjust, and understand. That's where the alchemy comes in: copper, heat, and vapor, with you in charge of the experiment.
Walkthrough: assembling your still
- Lay out the pot, thumper, and worm, and look each one over.
- Follow the vapor path in order: pot, then thumper, then worm.
- Dry-fit every connection before applying any heat. Snug is good. Forced is not.
- Set up a water supply to cool the worm, and confirm it flows freely.
Walkthrough: the first water run
Before anything else, run plain water. Heat slowly, watch for leaks at each joint, and note how long it takes the system to warm up and start producing condensate. This run shows you how your particular still behaves, and that's the baseline for everything after. It's also a practical way to make distilled water.
Cleaning and maintenance
Copper tarnishes. That's part of having copper. After each use, rinse every part, run clean water through the worm, and let it all dry completely. For a deeper clean, use a mild acid such as vinegar or citric acid, then rinse well. Check the joints and seals regularly so small problems don't turn into big ones.
Want to talk it through? Call the family shop at 603-997-6786. A still is legal to own in the US, but distilling alcohol requires a federal TTB permit. Follow all federal, state, and local laws.
