Making STEEM
Hey Steemers! Today we are MAKING STEEM! Actually we are distilling water (no really, its water!) and you do that by converting water to STEEM and then condensing it back into water! Long before I lived on a homestead, I knew that one day I wanted to own a distiller!
There are many reasons why a homestead or off grid home would want to have the ability to distill water. First off, distilled water is great for the upkeep of lead acid batteries being charged by solar panels. And second, many medicinal applications call for distilled water as well. There are more reasons but these are the two that apply to our homestead.
Alcohol Production
Not to mention that in a grid down event, having a distiller like this would be priceless when it came to producing trade and barter materials in the form of distilled spirits. ALCOHOL! Around here we grow potatoes and sorghum. VODKA AND RUM!
Unfortunately, despite the fact that a number of states allow legal production of distilled alcohol, federal law still makes this activity illegal. So now you know. We don't want any steemers going to jail.
Clawhammer Supply sent us this amazing 304 food grade stainless distiller and wanted us to give it a go for our audience. Clawhammer supply has proven to us time and again that they are producing quality products for the end user. I think you will enjoy this video.
Great Post, very informative.
I've used electric countertop distillers for about 20 years and our 2nd unit keeps chugging along.
Rather than spend the money on commercial cleaners, try running a batch of distilled white vinegar through it. Don't run it dry but the vinegar does a great job dissolving the mineral deposits that will accumulate on the inside of the chamber.
Rinse with clean water and then you should be good to go.
Great advice thanks! I've seen the electric units and they are amazing. I wanted one that would work over a fire. However this unit has an adapter for an electic heating element in case one would want the best of both worlds.
I put one together out of an 18 qt stainless stock pot I got from Goodwill for $2.50 but it doesn't have a serial number. ;-)
I tested it out on top of the rocket stove/heater core and it worked reasonably well using wood pellets for fuel. Not nearly as efficient as the propane burner but it's nice to have alternatives.
I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy.
@theblindsquirl Where's the video? By the way.
I've got 4 gallons of Strawberry that needs to be run this weekend.
I guess I can charge up the Flip Camera.
Oh! that would be awesome! Distilled water is something we need on a daily basis at our house ... well ok mostly daily and mostly winter ... we were already wondering just exactly we could do a diy.
Sorry to disappoint you if you thought I was going to post a DIY video for making a still but there are plenty of those already on youtube.
Search for "Easy Build Moonshine Still Upgrade" by wcemichael.
He has lots of videos that show how-to on a budget.
Great Video, Zach