Cube for a moonshine still: what you need to know + what to make with your own hands

Before making a distillation cube, you need to have at least basic knowledge of how this device works. However, many novice moonshiners are ready to make a distillation cube at home after looking at a picture posted on the Internet, but almost all of them fail: it is impossible to create something you do not understand.

Principles of operation of the distillation cube

To begin with, you should understand what a distillation cube is in general. This is a certain container (not necessarily cubic in shape), which is absolutely hermetic. The distillation process takes place in it - heating the brew.

You can achieve the required temperature using a heating element, or using a conventional gas stove, you can also use coal or firewood, but in this case, you need to monitor the heating temperature of the cube.

The mash vapors pass through intermediate structural elements and then enter the refrigerator, where they condense into a ready-to-drink product.

In addition to the tightness of the cube, several other important nuances must be taken into account during distillation:

1. Do not pour the brew into the distillation cube to the very edges. The optimal volume of raw materials is about three quarters of the volume of the container.

2. After switching on the heating, be especially vigilant: at about 70 degrees, you should start selecting "heads". Of course, in a separate container.

3. The "body" (the very purpose of distillation - drinking ethyl alcohol) begins to be removed only at 78 degrees.

4. After reaching 85 degrees, we replace the container again and begin to select the "tails" - fusel oils that should be added to the brew before the next distillation.

Materials that can be used to make a distillation cube

The distillation cube is assembled from ready-made dishes. Creating such an object from scratch will not only eat up a lot of nerves and time, but will also cost much more than using ready-made containers.

However, not all cookware is suitable for making a cube. Stainless steel or copper are the best materials that are safe from any point of view. By the way, it is from them that moonshine machines available for purchase in the store are made.

If you do not have stainless steel at hand, do not despair. In extreme cases, you can use enameled steel or aluminum products, however, if you still decide on such material, be careful. Aluminum ions can cause tumors and other health problems with prolonged use.

In the case of enameled steel, the problem is similar: any chosen container will have to be drilled, and if the integrity of the enamel is compromised, problems with corrosion and tightness may arise.

How to make a distillation cube with your own hands

Consider the most popular containers that are universally recycled into moonshine machines.

1. Milk can

   It is especially popular in villages, where it has been used for its intended purpose for a very long time. It has a lot of advantages: the roof is initially sealed, and therefore modifications will be minimal.

   All you have to do is make a hole in the lid for a hose and place a thermometer. The disadvantages include the material: most cans are made of food grade aluminum, which is not the best metal for the cube.

   If you still decide to convert the can to your needs, do not forget to replace the neck gasket with a silicone one (during heating, the rubber will stink very much).

2. Beer keg

   You can't save money on alcohol containers, so this container is made of excellent stainless steel.

   However, the keg will need a fairly serious modernization: it will be necessary to make a neck, a tap, insert a thermometer, and also solve the problem with washing (due to the narrow neck, it is hardly possible to thoroughly wash the keg, and ignoring the cleanliness of the device can have consequences).

3. The saucepan

   It has a lot of advantages: the pan can be found in stainless steel - the best material for the cube; the lid can be fixed with paper clips and a silicone gasket (the quality of this design has been tested by more than one generation of moonshiners), washing the container will be easy.

   Minimal effort will be enough for the pot: weld a hose fitting and insert a thermometer.

4. The bucket

   The bucket must be enameled, and the main problem will be how to fix the lid tightly and make a hole for the hose in it.

5. Pressure cooker

   Theoretically, it also requires minimal modifications: the lid is initially sealed, and therefore it remains only to fix the hose and weld the thermometer.

   However, the pressure cooker has a huge disadvantage: the maximum volume of this container is only 2-3 liters, and therefore you are unlikely to get more than one and a half liters of moonshine at a time.

6. Multicooker

   The still is equipped with a thermometer and a steam release valve from the very beginning, so all you need to do is attach a hose to the lid.

   The disadvantages include a rather small volume, but in general, this utensil is perfect for a beginner moonshiner.

Guided by the above tips, you will most likely be able to make a distillation cube at home.

In general, you only need a welding machine and a little imagination.

Update: 14.02.2020

Category: Vodka an Moonshine