Moonshine still made from a washing machine tank

Getting rid of old household appliances right away isn't a smart idea—you can give them a second life by turning them into a useful DIY project. For example, a design for a moonshine still made from a washing machine tank is circulating online. However, a single container won't be enough; you'll also need a fair number of consumables and parts. Let's explore what exactly you'll need for this invention and how to use it. The materials list and step-by-step instructions are below.

Making a moonshine still

An old washing machine makes a great base for a homemade moonshine still. More specifically, you'll need a metal tank from a washing machine, preferably two. You'll also need the following materials:

• a barrel or a washing machine body (if it is round);
• sheet metal (for neck, holders, stove, cooler);
• a piece of rubber under the lid;
• lid;
• metal pipes (diameter 1.2 cm and 14 cm);
• thermometer.

You'll need a welder, an angle grinder, a tape measure, a hammer, a drill, and a gas torch. You'll also need sand, bolts, and nuts. A rag and cleaning solution are also a must.

Having gathered all the materials and documents, we begin assembling the device ourselves. First, we construct the main tank:

• thoroughly rinse the washing tanks to remove soap scum and dirt;
• weld up all the extra holes in the tank (the “plug” for draining water, soldered to tin, should be heated with a torch and pulled out);
• place one tank on top of another and weld them together with an electrode;
• find the iron lid;
• based on the size of the lid, make a neck from sheet metal (cut the sheet, bend it into a circle);
• drill a hole in the tank for the neck and weld it;
• provide fastenings for the lock;
• Equip the structure with a thermometer to measure the temperature of the vapors.

The next step is to cut a rubber circle the size of the neck. It is recommended to place this circle under the lids when closing them, securing it with bolts on both sides. This ensures a tight seal, preventing steam from escaping.

The optimal material for a moonshine still is stainless steel.

If you don't have sheet metal for the neck and lid, you can repurpose an old steel flask. Simply cut it down and weld it to the tank. This option is faster and more reliable—the sealing rubber and locking mechanism are already built into the design.

An essential element of a distiller is a stove. You can use the body of an old semi-automatic device or an old tank as a firebox. We need to weld up any extra holes, cut out a door for the wood-burning chamber, and add hinges and a locking handle. We must also provide an internal smoke outlet, and on the other side, we install an external flue pipe using a metal pipe. Finally, we place the welded tanks on the stove and secure them securely.

Next, we'll build the cooling reservoir. Here are the instructions:

• cut a stainless steel pipe with a cross-section of 1-1.2 cm (length – approximately 1.5 m);
• flatten one end with a hammer or vice;
• pour dry sand into the pipe and compact it;
• flatten the second end;
• Heat a pipe filled with sand with a gas burner and bend it into a coil of the required diameter (bend the heated metal around another pipe several times);
• find a cooler tank or make one yourself (bend sheet metal, weld it, and then add lids on both sides);
• drill holes and insert the coil so that 30-50 cm remains at the bottom and top for connection to the main tank;
• insert two tubes for running water into the tank (top and bottom);
• connect the cooler to the welded tanks;
• strengthen the structure with welded metal plates.

This concludes the instructions for making a moonshine still from a washing machine. All that remains is to secure the structure to the floor or ground with cement or metal feet. Now you can run the test cycle.

How to use?

Using a homemade distiller is not difficult. The main thing is not to pour the mash into the tank right away – the container is filled with water first.It needs to be heated and boiled for 15 minutes. This prepares the reservoir for alcohol production. Then, use the homemade moonshine still as follows:

• the mash is poured into the distillation still, which serves as a washing tank (it is important that the container is filled no more than halfway, otherwise the foam that rises will get into the cooler and spoil the alcohol);
• the lid closes (it is better to put a rubber gasket or a piece of rye dough under the lid);
• the firebox is filled with wood and lit;
• the mash is brought to a boil;
• running water is supplied into the cooler through the provided tubes;
• A bottle or bucket is placed at the lower end of the coil to collect the moonshine.

From the inside, it looks like this. The mash boils, and the alcohol begins to evaporate faster than the water. The steam generated during the heating process enters the cooler and settles on its walls. The condensate then flows down, enters a tube, and exits. The result is raw alcohol with an alcohol content of about 40 degrees. Moonshine is produced quickly in this still: 3 liters are produced in twenty minutes.

Raw alcohol cannot be drunk – additional processing is required!

It's important to remember that raw alcohol is not fit for drinking. After the initial distillation, harmful substances such as fusel oils and aldehydes are formed in the drink. To obtain "pure" moonshine, it is necessary to purify the liquid of impurities by distilling it again to separate the edible portion or by adding activated charcoal.

   

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