Do-it-yourself steam-water boiler for moonshine brewing

It’s not a sin to have a drink sometimes on holiday. However, the quality of store-bought products, even certified ones, is highly questionable—cases of alcohol poisoning are not uncommon. Another thing is good moonshine, but with salsa, made with your own hands from quality products. To make it, you will need a steam-water boiler. What it consists of and the features of its manufacture will be discussed in the article.

What does a steam-water boiler consist of?

The key feature of the device is that the mash is heated not through direct heating, but using water heated by heating elements. The boiler consists of the following elements:

• a stainless steel tank with a flat or concave bottom, equipped with a drain valve; sometimes the tank is made with double walls, between which water circulates, heating the mash;
• dome-shaped lid with steam outlet tube;
• heating elements;
• coil;
• thermometer for temperature control;
• hydrometer for measuring alcohol content.

Now let's start constructing it.

What you need for work

The following elements are required:

• one or two containers, depending on the design - the first, smaller one, for mash, the second for water;
• Heating elements for heating;
• a lid with a tube or valve for steam removal;
• heat-insulating material for the tank, for example, mineral wool;
• drain tap;
• A thermometer and a hydrometer are required.

You will also need a drill, a grinder, glue for attaching thermal insulation, and depending on the type of boiler, other tools may be required.

How to make a steam-water boiler for moonshine with your own hands

How exactly the device is assembled depends on the mounting options and features of its design. The following are general recommendations that apply to most cases.

1. The dimensions of the can for the mash and the jacket must be measured taking into account the presence of a sufficient gap for the free circulation of water between the walls of the containers. A large milk can is perfect as a shirt.
2. Installing a valve or pipe on a boiler is a fundamental issue, since when the steam overheats, it needs to be vented.
3. The most suitable material for the boiler is stainless steel or duralumin.
4. You can use a sieve as a filter, slightly smaller in diameter than the container for the mash, placing it upside down inside the tank.
5. A hole is drilled in the tank for a drain valve, which it is also advisable to equip with a filter.

On a note!

It is recommended to connect heating elements through a regulator, for example, through a rheostat. This will make it possible to control the temperature. To facilitate the operation of the device, it is useful to equip it with a pump for pumping wort, operating in both directions.