Still

[corvus]

Penguin please advise re over proof do you make it at home if so I think a Bush Tucker thread is ready
for you

ADMIN EDIT: Please note this topic has been split off from the 1st Anniversary Walk topic.

[Penguin]

I understood that stills could only be used to make essential oils in Australia?

[Joe]

Still are illegal...but i think in the same way that taping off the teev is. I highly doubt it one would ever be charged for it. Health food stores sell stills and all the flavourings to add to eth to make it nice.

[tasadam]

I understood that stills could only be used to make essential oils in Australia?

Off topic warning...
Stills can only be used for essential oil manufacture... But the Fed Gov't is looking to put a stop to that... A friend who is "into it" tells me that if I want to get into it one day, better to get the gear now just in case - coz it won't be available in future.

[Son of a Beach]

Off topic warning...

Yep, I was wondering if I should move it.

I was nearly going to move these posts to the "Between Walks" forum, but then I thought it could fit into the Tucker forum in the same way that dehydrating food does.

However, please keep discussion to be within the law.

[tasadam]

However, please keep discussion to be within the law.

Problem is, I don't know what the law is about this.
EDIT Corrected this post to make it legal.
Like, for example, would it be illegal to share the info I just received from someone I know?

google "triple reflux still" and you should get a few sites here in australia.
quite a few are concentrating on WA (remote communities etc) but there is a few in Sydney too.
it pays to compare prices though, when i was checking for my daughter i found about 100 dollars differrence between two suppliers.
you need: 5 litrestainless steel triple reflux still, brewing barrel ( 20-25 l), brewing airlock, Z filter and carbon to go in it, packet of turbo yeast, thermometer (if it isn't included in the reflux still) hydrometer (to measure the alcohol level with) and a storage vessel... i use 15l foodgrade plastic jerrycans.
15 l is a handy size, as you need to filter the essential oil ( via the Z-filter) for one vesel into the other... normally you will get 5 bottles of 750ml at least @75%, so dilute that down to about 38% and you will have about 15L.
you cannot filter if the essential oil is above 50%; the carbon cannot work in that environment.
so, after distilling, the white spirit goes into one vessel, with water to make it about 40%, then the Z filter goes onto that vedssel and it filters into second vessel/barrel.
finsihed filtering, back wash the carbon, hang Z filter on other vessel, start second cycle.
after that, new carbon in the filter, change filter onto first vessel and repeat.
do that as often as needed to get the metho taint out of the essential oil; i generally do four runs, so one change of carbon.
i store my bulk essential oil in the 15l jerry cans: the lavendar essential oil goes on woodshavings, and the flower essential oil stays pure... if i want Rose essential oil, i flavour lavendar essential oil with plain essential oil flavour essences in a very clean bucket and pour it straight into the bottles.
that way my pure essential oil container stays taint free.

[tasadam]

[tasadam]

From this site
I found this

Australia where it is legal to own a still under 5 litre capacity as long as it is for either either water purification or essential oil extraction.

So I have edited my post to make it relate to essential oils, er, um, that was what it was always about......

[corvus]

Heck I have got to get one of those for future use I have lots of Lavander to distill into oli

[Penguin]

Can you use them for alcohol? Well I never.....

[corvus]

Hey youallw is that the moon I sheen

[corvus]

WHEREDAGETEM??

[Son of a Beach]

WHEREDAGETEM??

I think the Home Brew Shops have 'em. I'll have to check.

I wonder if Daniella Tasmanica would distill into a nice purple essential oil

[corvus]

No but it would make a really iteresting vodka infusion 500g fruit 500g sugar 700ml vodka wonder what colour it would be and could we market the end product? I am also keen to try this enfusion useing honey instead of sugar.

[Joe]

brew shop in east dport had one when i was there last...long time ago that though. Good mate of mine had made one from a birko, a milio tin, the tube from liquid nails and shipload of copper pipe...it worked a treat. many a good night was had...umm....doing whatever it is you do with essential oil....

[tasadam]

OK, here I go, slightly off topic - more about home brew than still, but I found this link and simply HAVE to share it...

http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bender/

And to keep things relevant, here's another link.
http://homedistiller.org/photos-sold.htm

[Nuts]

There are some crazy laws.
They make *&^%$#@! out of everyone, the law-makers as well as the general public unsure of what they can do, say or Think.....

What possible harm could be done by people distilling oils? for *&^%$# sake
Is the damage once again to govnment coffers?

Heck, you can buy a bong in the main street, what possible other uses could That have!

Surely its not illegal to talk about this stuff though?

Put me down for a pint... (oil, that is...Tassie T )

[Joe]

THey outlawed the bongs this year. shattered

There are some crazy laws.
They make *&^%$#@! out of everyone, the law-makers as well as the general public unsure of what they can do, say or Think.....

What possible harm could be done by people distilling oils? for *&^%$# sake
Is the damage once again to govnment coffers?

Heck, you can buy a bong in the main street, what possible other uses could That have!

Surely its not illegal to talk about this stuff though?

Put me down for a pint... (oil, that is...Tassie T )

[Son of a Beach]

THey outlawed the bongs this year. shattered

You might have to start drinking your tea leaves now!

[corvus]

I believe we can still purchase an essential oil still

[walkinTas]

WHEREDAGETEM??

I think the Home Brew Shops have 'em. I'll have to check,

Just exactly why would a home Brew Shop sell an apparatus for making essential oils. Who is kidding who?

Its like a little country town I visited recently, well off the main traffic route. The most noticeable features: every house had a solar panel and every yard had a hot house. I was suspicious, but may they love fresh veggies.

[james cav]

A friend of a friend that definatly wasnt me made some OP ethanol once to which he, she, whoever added some whisky flavor. All that was needed was some fresh tasmanian river water to bring it down to drinkability. A great way to save weight. And not a bad drop if you know what your doing. The apparatus used was the one pictured above. Good ol triple reflux still.