How to make a moonshine still from a pressure cooker: instructions + tips

The modern range of factory moonshine stills is quite wide. On sale there are distillation tanks of different volumes, capacities and configurations. Nevertheless, many moonshiners prefer to use home-made structures for the production of alcohol.

One of the popular options is the pressure cooker moonshine still.

Why a pressure cooker

The pressure cooker is ideal as a basis for a future distillation apparatus.

1. First, it is made of high-quality metal for food use.

2. Secondly, the container has a double/bimetallic bottom and a hermetic lid.

3. Thirdly, the device is often equipped with a special valve for steam release. These advantages simplify the manufacturing process of the distillation device and provide it with a long service life.

The choice of capacity

First of all, you should decide on the parameters of the future device. If there is an old pressure cooker in the household, you can use it. Both Soviet versions and more modern ones, new and used, as well as those that are out of order, are suitable. For a reasonable price, you can find a good option on Chinese websites. If you want something more serious, you can look for dishes of European brands.

Before buying a container, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. Volume. It is better to give preference to capacious options for 12-15 liters. Small classic pressure cookers of 5-7 liters are good for cooking, but not for moonshining. The output will be only a few liters of alcohol.

2. Material. It is optimal to use stainless steel products. It is better to refuse aluminum cookware.

3. Availability of 1 or more pressure relief valves. If they are not available, you will have to drill a hole yourself.

Instructions for turning a pressure cooker into a moonshine still

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1. We make two holes in the pressure cooker lid with a drill, insert ½ or ¾ threaded nipples, press them to the lid with nuts on both sides, and seal the joint with silicone or rubber gaskets.

2. If there is no pressure relief valve (which is rare), you will need another hole for it.

3. Screw the fittings to the nipples: one for the hose connecting the still to the refrigerator, the other for the bimetallic thermometer.

4. Attach the thermometer, sealing the joints with silicone or fum-tape.

5. Connect a silicone hose with a diameter of 1.2 cm, also taking care of tightness.

6. Fix the refrigerator (coil) on the other side of the hose. It can be purchased or homemade - made of copper or stainless steel tube.

A simple version of the moonshine still from a pressure cooker is ready. It is quite suitable for the first experiments in moonshining. Optionally, you can connect a dry steamer, barometer, deflagration and other devices to the device.

Additional tips

1. If the old pressure cooker has a damaged or missing gasket between the pot and the lid, you can replace it with a ready-made one (buy it in a store), cut it out of a single sheet, or use special silicone for aquariums. Pour the liquid material into the groove at the edge of the lid and let it dry for 1 day. Safe silicone is sold in hardware stores.

2. When choosing connecting elements and other parts, it is better to give preference to copper and silicone.

3. Instead of a nipple, you can cut a fitting with an external thread into the lid, but in this case, the pressure cooker will lose its versatility and will be used exclusively for moonshine making.

4. The first test of the device is better to carry out by distilling water.

5. For emergency sealing, you can use glue dough.

Update: 05.02.2019

Category: Vodka an Moonshine