For me, I'm not necessarily looking for the smallest, simplest, plug in play item that can turn an 8% ABV liquid into a 40% ABV liquid. I also have zero intent on producing large quantities of high ABV liquids to either give or sell to others. I'm looking for something that I can learn the art and the craft with, that can produce something that I can age and store it, and use it at future time periods for special occasions, special gifts, or just to have.
Keeping that in mind, I have zero desire to build or have an 80 gallon unit. I don't even know what I'd do with it. I also have very little desire of having a "plug and play" unit that acts as a magic box where I put liquid in one end and get a different liquid out another. If I can't see the temp change and learn what's going on, or have the ability to modify it moving forward to change it to what I want it to be, there isn't really a point to it. At least to me. I don't know if that changes other's opinions and advice for me.
@Beerswimmer[/USER] - I'd be interested in hearing why you think that's the case. I didn't come to that conclusion, but perhaps I've been misled.
Allow me to explain. A few caviots - (i) I already have an Auber Cube electric controller and a 5500w ULWD heating element I use with my eBIAB set up that's set up to work on a 1.5"TC port, (ii) I don't have, nor am I interested in obtaining a propane heater, (iii) I am horrible at metal work, and have very little desire to learn it, (iv) I really enjoy the use of TC ports, and would like to continue to use them, and (v) of all my available resources at my disposal, time is my most limited one. If I were to break down the construction or purchase into two units, the kettle and the still, my specs require a TC port to be put on a kettle, of which I don't have the skills, desire, or time to do personally. So construction is out for the kettle.
So looking at purchase options on the kettle, I see the Milk Can B (listed above) for $350, plus $22 in S&H, plus about $100 in TC clamps, drains and covers, for about $475. Affordable distillery has a similar model, with the TC clams and covers included, for $325, plus $61 in S&H, or $386. Both are for a 13 gallon unit. I can get a smaller 8 gallon unit and save about $100 on the kettle, but it doesn't come with a drain, which would probably cost about another $60 (for TC materials), so I'm not saving that much anyway. So between $386-475.
For the still, if I were to find the right kit to build the still I would be open to it. But the time involved of sourcing materials and constructing the still often makes it not cost effective for me to make myself. For example, Affordable distillery has a total unit (the 13 gallon kettle with copper still) for $525, or $586 including shipping, which makes the still part about $200. Most of the kits I've seen are around $150. Plus most of the TC parts that it will take to connect it to the milk can, which will probably run me about another $50. So the only way for me to save money would be to go to the hardware store and source all the materials myself. In the event I get a wrong part and have to go back, the time spent dealing with it exceeds the savings I would have generated. Plus the need for a propane torch and some metal cutting tools eats into any savings I'm generating.
So the most cost effective item I've been able to find is the $586 still mentioned above. Clawhammer's product is $475, shipping included, or about $100 cheaper than my next available option. In fact, the whole still is the same price as the Milk Can B alone listed above. To an outsider looking in, it looks like a good deal. If I were to be able to get around the fact that they don't ship to my state.
You may not need a thermometer to run a still, but do you think having one (particularly at the top of the column) would help someone learn where they are at in the process? I agree that there is no need for the other two thermometers, but at the price point listed I don't really care if I'm getting added items for less money. It also includes a prv, which again I know I don't need, but to an inexperienced individual who has been threatened you could create a bomb, it is a nice addition.
I can't find much on ebay that's comparable (maybe it's just me though). The best I could find on Aliexpress was a 10 gallon all stainless option for $400 (
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_), but it includes a belly band on a modified pot, which I'm not a huge fan of. Should they fail it's usually very challenging to find replacement parts. So is it worth another $75 to have a US produced product with all TC, industry standard parts? If I can't find a way around clawhammer's shipping policy, I may have to go another $100 for a well made affordable distillery product.
I likely got something wrong though, so where's my analysis off? If you think the clawhammer product is overpriced, what product would you recommend instead?