Copperhead All-in-One Still Manual

 

 

For everything you need to know about making moonshine, check out our complete How to Make Moonshine Guide

 

S A F E T Y F I R S T

KEEPING SAFE WHILE USING YOUR COPPERHEAD STILL
It is important to read all safety guidelines before operating your still

 

  • ALWAYS OPERATE YOUR STILL ON A FLAT, DRY, AND WELL- VENTILATED AREA . 
  • USE CAUTION WHEN HANDLING. CONTENT AND SURFACE AREA OF THE STILL WILL BE HOT TO THE TOUCH . 
  • BEFORE OPERATING YOUR STILL, DISTILL WATER TO REMOVE ANY BY PRODUCTS FROM MANUFACTURING. 
  • THIS UNIT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR  CHILDREN . DO NOT ALLOW  CHILDREN TO ACCESS OR OPERATE THIS UNIT.
  • DO NOT REMOVE  THE TOP COVER  WHEN  THE STILL IS OPERATING. 
  • AN AIRLOCK IS NECESSARY WHEN DOING CLOSED AIR FERMENTATION . CONTENTS ARE UNDER PRESSURE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO FERMENT WITHOUT AN AIRLOCK TO RELEASE PRESSURE. 
  • ALWAYS ALLOW  THE STILL TO COOL DOWN  BEFORE USING. 
  • DURING OPERATION , YOUR STILL AND ITS OUTPUT WILL BE EXTREMELY HOT, MAKE SURE TO KEEP HANDS AND FACE CLEAR DURING OPERATION OF YOUR STILL.

 

Before You Start 

It is important to read the instructions for your Copperhead All-in-One still before you start. It will help you feel familiar with your new still and ensure that your still is operated properly.

 

 

Assembling your Copperhead Still:

  • Remove all the parts of the still from the fermentation barrel
  • Attach the thermometer to the lid using a silicone washer and a nut.
  • Attach the lid with tie-down clips.
  • Remove the silicone and metal washer from the brass screw
  • Place the screw in the remaining hole in the lid and secure it with the silicone and metal washers and the metal nut on the underside of the lid.
  • Place the copper tube on the top of the brass screw and hand tighten.
  • Unscrew the blue end of one of the flexible steel hoses and connect with the brass fitting on the end of the copper pipe.
  • Place the silicone ring around the circumference of the small pot and attach the lid with the tie-down clips.
  • Use the nut at the end of the flexible pipe to it attach the small pot.
  • Use the other flexible hose to attach the small pot with the copper coil to the small pot's lid.
  • Attach the other end of the flexible hose to the copper coil pipe inside the copper pot.
  • Attach the silicone tube to the small copper tube on the bottom of the large pot.
  • Use the silicone tube to attach the copper tube extender.
  • Attach each silicone tube to the valves located on the small pot with the copper coil
  • The lower tube will be attached to the water pump.

 

Once you have successfully assembled your still, it is important to run your still full of water to remove any impurities that may be present from the manufacturing process. Taking this extra step is a great way to protect yourself from any lingering by-products of the manufacturing process but will also help you become familiar and more comfortable with your machine.

 

How to Distill Water

 

 

Before using your Copperhead All-in-One still, it is recommended to clean the inside and outside of the still and fill it with clean water.

It is important that the first time you distill water in your still it is discarded to protect you from any potential lingering by-products from the manufacturing process.

STEP 1 - Assemble your still for distilling

• Follow the directions above or watch our video for easy visual instructions

• Fill the pot of the still with water and attach the lid.

 

STEP 2 - DISTIL

• Place your water pump in cold water (you can probably use your kitchen sink.)

• Place your still on your stove and set the heat to medium-high. You can always adjust the heat as necessary.

• As your still warms up, you will notice output from the long spout. Be sure you have something underneath it to collect your distilled water.

• Once you have completed your run, be sure to turn off the heat and the water pump.

• Do not handle the still until it is fully cooled.

 

How to Make Essential Oils

 

 

STEP 1 - FILL

Place the clean plant material in the pot of the Copperhead All-in-one still and add enough water to cover.

The amount of water necessary to fill your still varies depending on the type of plant used.

 

STEP 2 - DISTIL

  1. Place your water pump in cold water (you can probably use your kitchen sink.)
  2. Place your still on your stove and set the heat to medium-high. You can always adjust the heat as necessary.
  3. As your still warms up, you will notice output from the long spout. Be sure you have something underneath it to collect your distilled water.
  4. It is recommended to keep a close eye on the output and collect in fractions. The reason for this is because the quality of output will drop off at the end of your run and you will want to discard this 'cooked' output.
  5. Collect a maximum distillate of 80% of the volume of water put in the boiler to make sure it does not boil dry and cook the plant material.
  6. The distillate collected will be mainly hydrosol (water-based plant extract) but there will be essential oil with it.
  7. The oil will separate out over time and will float on the surface (for nearly all oils, there are a few which are denser than water and will end up on the bottom).
  8. Once you have completed your run, be sure to turn off the heat and the water pump.
  9. Do not handle the still until it is fully cooled.
  10. The oil can then be separated off from the hydrosol by pipette or with an oil separator used in cooking.
  11. Hydrosol can also often be used in many applications (rose water, lavender water, etc). Yields of oil are low, a yield of 1-2% is considered good 

How to Distill Spirits 

 

 

 

Moonshine: a three-step Process

In order to prepare a mash or wash for spirit distillation, it must first be fermented. Making spirits is a three-step process. Each step needs to be completed properly in order for the process to work.

One of the benefits of the Copperhead All-in-One still is the fact that you can use the pot still as both a still and a fermentor. This means less equipment to buy and store.

Assembling your Still for Fermentation:

Fermentation is the second step of making moonshine. The first step is to prepare a mash. If you are making a mash using grain you will need to check for conversion. While you are making a mash, you need to convert your grains from starch into fermentable sugars.

 

Why is an Air Lock Important? 

 

During the fermentation process, yeast is eating the fermentable sugars and turning them into alcohol. This process releases carbon dioxide.

Just picture the tiny bubbles that rise to the surface when you drink. If the bubbles are not able to escape they can build up and cause an explosion. Obviously, this is dangerous.

So it is important to either ferment without a lid (not recommended) or to always open the valve and use the airlock.

 

Important Tips:

Before starting your first run, it is important to become familiar with the process of making moonshine. It is a three-step process that requires precision and attention to detail.

We strongly suggest becoming familiar with the 'How to Make Moonshine' PDF that was sent to you.

Any grain-based alcohol needs to be fractioned. If you are unfamiliar with this process check out the information in our How to Make Moonshine guide. 

We strongly suggest distilling water as a first step to become familiar with your still.

 

Is Making Moonshine Illegal?

 

 

The laws regarding the personal distillation of spirits vary from state to state and country to country.

For your own personal protection, it is important to look up the laws in your area to see what permits need to be obtained in order to fulfill the requirements for your area.

For more information, please read our blog: Is Moonshine Illegal?