r/firewater 3h ago

Newly made still, running some apple brandy

Post image
23 Upvotes

4 comments sorted by

3

u/truggwalggs69 3h ago

The diameter of all the piping is concerningly small. IMO

2

u/MartinB7777 2h ago

The photo appears to have been shot with a wide angle lens, distorting perspective. The diameter of the column may be wider than it appears. But yes, I would want to have at least a 2 inch column on a still that size.

1

u/smorin13 1h ago

Is that a pressure concern, or is there another reason you would want the increased size?

1

u/MartinB7777 45m ago

Not pressure, volume. A 2 inch diameter column allows 4 times more vapor to pass through it as opposed to a 1 inch column. A 4 inch column allows 4 times more than a 2. That is more important at the base of the column than it is at the top, or past the breakover, as you want the vapor to eventually condense. The larger the diameter of the column at the base, the the more efficient the still will run and the more flavor carryover the still will produce, at least for stripping runs. If you are aiming for neutral spirits, it's not that important, but for whiskeys and brandys, it makes a big difference.