The main purpose of a thumper keg is to speed up the distillation process. It lets you distill a high-proof spirit without running it through the still multiple times.

• Basically, a thumper keg is a container that is installed in the distillation apparatus between the still pot and the condenser. It was traditionally used in hillbilly stills to increase the alcohol content of the distillate because, traditional stills only output product with about a 50-60 percent alcohol content.

What’s the purpose of a thumper keg?

Basically, a thumper keg is a container that is installed in the distillation apparatus between the still pot and the condenser. It was traditionally used in hillbilly stills to increase the alcohol content of the distillate because, traditional stills only output product with about a 50-60 percent alcohol content.

Do you need a thumper to make moonshine?

This is true, whether you are making moonshine or some other alcohol. In the end, though, we recommend going for a thumper if you want to achieve that higher alcohol by volume or proof without having to run your distillate through a more expensive set-up. We’re talking to you, home moonshiners!

Do you need to heat a thump keg?

Many moonshiners do prefer to heat the thumper. The alcohol does need to stay in vapor form to be able to rise into the condenser. Wood barrels are often preferred as thump kegs because of wood’s natural isolative abilities.

What happens if your thumper is too small?

If a thumper is too small or if you didn’t put enough liquid in it, then that liquid will heat up too quickly from the incoming vapor. Then that vapor will just bubble up right through the liquid without being cooled and condensed first, exiting straight through the condenser.

What should I put in my thumper?

How To Infuse Flavor Into Moonshine with a Thumper Keg. Distillers usually add spirit tails, low wines, water, or whiskey to their thumper keg to cool the alcohol vapors coming from the potstill. However, you can include other fruits, herbs, or spices to add different flavor combinations to your spirits.

How does a Mason jar Thumper work?

How Does a Thump Keg Work? With a thump keg, the hot vapor that exits the still arm into the wine that is already condensed at the bottom of the thumper once again evaporates before it reaches the condenser. When the alcohol is vaporized again, the alcohol content increases dramatically.

How do you use a moonshine thumper?

The way the thumper works is that it takes the vapor from the head of your kettle and travels down a tube into the bottom of the thumper. This vapor is cooled when it enters the liquid in the thumper, which condenses the vapor while also heating that liquid in the thumper.

What temp do you run a moonshine still?

You will not make any cuts at the different temperatures like you would with a typical pot distillation. Collect until the temperature reaches about 207°F/208°F (97°C/98°C). Turn off your heat source, but continue to run the cooling water until there is no vapor left in the moonshine still.

What is a double thumper still?

Perhaps the most widely known version of a double thumper (retort) system is the alcohol still used for making traditional Jamaican-style rum. In this application, one of the retorts is charged with low wines, and the other with high wines. You could say this type of arrangement adds more “rummyness” into the rum.

Can I put fruit in my thumper?

Yes -this will work. You are not going to get an intense flavor but it will add a bit. I have added fruit with some heads tails and a gallon of the fruit wash to a a thumper on a few batches of brandy with good luck.

How much does it cost to fill a thumper?

filling it about 1/4 full. The options are: left over mash, tails from a previous run, etc. But if you want the thumper to do what it is supposed to do (increase the alcohol % in the final product), there needs to be some kind of alcohol in the thumper. The higher the alcohol concentration, the better.

How does a doubler work?

In a doubler, the vapor off the column still is condensed back into liquid and this is run through the pot still. You’ll see that the beer goes into the still at Plate 15, the new-make spirit is condensed and sent to the pot still (doubler), then recondensed before entering the High Wine Tank at the end.

What does a doubler do in moonshine?

In American whiskey distilling, a type of pot still used for the second round of distillation. A doubler receives spirit that has already been cooled into a liquid, whereas a thumper receives vapor.

Does a thumper add flavor?

Finally, it should be added that a thump keg can be used to impart flavor in another manner as well: it can be used just like a gin basket. Fruit, herbs, or spices can be placed in the thumper where their essences are, in effect, steam-extracted along with the alcohol during this virtual second distillation.

Explaining The Thumper Keg: The Basics

If you’re someone who knows absolutely nothing about this and is hearing the terms thumper and keg combined for the first time, you could believe that this is something that rabbits and bunnies use to celebrate. Don’t be concerned. We created this tutorial for the home distiller who wants to learn all there is to know about thumper kegs, including what they are, what they do, what they are for, what they are used for, and how they operate.

A Quick Summary

For those of you who are in a rush and only want to know the most basic facts regarding the simple thumper keg, here is the page for you.

• What Exactly Is It? With the help of a thumper keg, you may distill your cheap wine a second time. It is often constructed of copper, steel, or wood, and it is located between the still pot and the condenser. What Is the Function of a Thump Keg? As a result, the distillation process is accelerated, and your low-alcohol wine is transformed into a liquid with a larger alcohol content, which is essential for the production of moonshine or bourbon. What size Thump Keg do you need to use for your project? It should be between 25 percent to 40 percent of the size of your primary boiler
• However, this might vary.

Continue reading if you’d want to learn more about the thumper keg in general.

What Is a Thumper Keg and Where Is It From?

A thump keg, sometimes known as a doubler, thud barrel, or thump chest, is frequently mentioned in conjunction with a backwoods whiskey still in the literature. A very antique and traditional design may be found on this item.

Quick History Lesson

There is a popular belief among historians that early settlers took this form of thump keg with them and integrated it into the stills that they later began to construct once they’d, well… established. If you take a look around, you’ll notice that some of the older European stills seem to confirm this notion since they appear to have made use of what appears to be the same chambers that were used as thump kegs as well. This suggests that the colonists who came over from the British Isles were already familiar with the design and inventiveness of how it functions!

The Thumper Keg of Today

Modern-day hillbilly culture retains the thump keg as one of the most recognizable and ingenious design components of the classic hillbilly still. Anyone who manufactures moonshine will understand how critical this is to the operation of their moonshine stills. The thumper keg, which can be constructed of copper, steel, or wood, is located between the stillpot and the condenser and holds the liquid. You might wonder why this is the case. Its function, in a nutshell, is to distill the output of a pot still a second time without having to pass the distillate through a second time.

What Is a Thumper Keg For?

Are you still unsure what it does? We’re on the right track. So we’ve covered the basics of what a thump keg is intended to achieve. The next sections will go into the specifics of how this works. As a general rule, a conventional pot still with no thump keg can only distill a wash to the point of producing a “low wine.” As a result, you will have an output that ranges from 40 to 05 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). To attain the high alcohol level required for high-proof whiskey or any other spirit, such as moonshine, you will need…

a lot of sugar.

In the present day, many distillers in Europe still employ swan-neck pot stills and a beer stripper to distill wash to a low-wine condition, before passing the wash through a second spirit still in order to turn the wash into a high-proof spirit.

In the case of hillbilly stills, the thumper keg serves as the second distillation device, in the same way as the spirit still does in a traditional still.

How Does A Thumper Keg Work?

You might be wondering how all of this magic comes to be. The way a thump keg operates, on the other hand, is quite ingenious. The thumper keg distillation equipment in moonshine stills makes advantage of the surplus heat released by the steam pot, making it a particularly effective distillation process. Allow me to explain.

1. When using a typical still, the wash or fermented solution is heated to a high temperature, which causes the alcohol vapors to be released
2. These vapors are then trapped by the condenser and collected into the solution known as low wines.

Did you know: If you don’t have a thumper keg, you’ll have to distill this liquid through a number of stills in order to get the desired high alcohol level. Even while this repeated distillation procedure is successful, it is also costly and time-consuming. It is because the thumper keg makes the moonshine-making process simpler that it is becoming increasingly popular among moonshine-makers.

So How Does It Work, Exactly?

The addition of more ethyl alcohol to the thumper during these distillations allows certain moonshine distillers to produce a more powerful liquor with a significantly greater alcohol level. It is necessary to allow your mash to reach the boiling point at some point throughout your distillation operation. After reaching this temperature, it will begin to produce steam or hot vapor. Now, it’s common sense that steam needs to escape somewhere at some point (otherwise things will start going ka-boom and nobody wants that).

The thumper keg comes into play at this point.

1. If you’re using a thump keg, the heated vapor will flow through the arm and into the low wine that’s already condensed at the bottom of the thump
2. You’ll start to hear a “thumping” sound as the hot vapor and condensed low wine explode out of this pipe on a regular basis. When you re-heat the liquid, the thumper keg transfers highly pure alcohol vapors from your still to the condenser, which is where the word “thumper” comes from. Known as thumper liquid, it is the high-proof spirit that all moonshine enthusiasts want.

Tips: The temperature is a good indicator of where you will need to make cuts in order to reach the proof you need. As you can see, the temperature of the vapor is regulated by the proportion of alcohol to water present. It is possible to get a decent estimate of the amount of alcohol present in your mix by monitoring the temperature of the liquid anyplace in your setup, with or without your thumper. Keep an eye out for the mash that you’re employing. It’s important not to let your mash overflow into the thumper!

The Result

When this entire process is completed, heated vapor will constantly heat the low-alcohol wine to the boiling point of alcohol, thus “distilling” the wine for a second time. This results in a high-proof moonshine, bourbon, or spirit that cannot be produced by simply passing a liquid through a standard pot still several times in a row. In order to avoid this, moonshiners and other distillers prefer to utilize wood for their kegs instead of plastic. Wood provides excellent insulation and is superior than metal in terms of keeping heat trapped within to maintain this temperature, allowing moonshine distillers to ensure that the process is as effective as possible while maintaining this temperature.

Infusing Flavors Using A Thumper Keg

As you can see, we’ve already given you a very decent picture of what happens inside a thumper keg. But did you know that it can also be used to enhance the flavor of your moonshine by adding additional layers of flavor? Fill the thumper keg halfway with a limited number of spirit tails from a prior batch (the best option), some wash from the current batch, or water before starting the distillation process (water is the last resort).

When you turn on your pot still, the vapor that flows in will be cooled by this liquid, known as the thumper liquid. If you want to add additional flavor to your moonshine, you can do it at this step by adding fruits, herbs, or spices. You will have a number of alternatives for completing this task.

1. Add fruit-infused alcohol to your thumper keg for a refreshing drink. Fill a large container with low-alcohol wines or head/tail spirits and arrange your choice fruits, spices, and herbs in the container. Once this is done, let it to sit for a week or two to allow the tastes to gradually permeate the liquid. When it’s time to distill, just pour this solution into the bottom of the thumper keg to allow the tastes of the solution to permeate your finished moonshine. You may also add liquid components like juice (apple, lemon, peach, blackberry, etc.) and coconut oil straight into your thumper keg if you want a simpler and speedier technique than the one described above
2. However, this method is not recommended. Directly into your thumper, place your raw ingredients– This is a mixture of the first two types of flavor infusion that we’ve discussed previously. You have the option of immediately putting fruit peel, herbs, spices, and mashed ripe fruit into your thumper keg, if you so want. Just keep in mind that, in the case of mashed fruit, you will need to use a lot of it to get the flavor you want. Additionally, it may create quite a shambles

Regardless of the method you use, you must first remove the heads from the ethyl alcohol before infusing the liquid with them. This will ensure that the tastes are infused into the distillate that you will be drinking later.

How Does It Compare?

You should not expect the same results as you would get from passing your vapor, water, and distillate through a sophisticated reflux column still, despite the fact that it is an improvement over a conventional pot still. If the reflux column is properly constructed, it may still produce up to 95 percent alcohol by volume or proof, while also allowing for greater separation of the ethyl alcohol, esters, and ketones in the heads and the heavier fusel alcohol in the tails of the column. The fact is that some distillers do not appreciate this method because they believe it removes too much taste from the distillate, resulting in less palatable alcohol at a later stage.

(**According to the individual who enjoys coffee**) These purists choose a thumper because it allows them to keep the flavor of their distillate while yet obtaining the desired alcohol by volume or proof level.

Ultimately, though, if you want to obtain that greater alcohol by volume or proof without having to put your distillate through a more costly set-up, we propose a thumper distillation system.

What’s the Right Size of Thumper Keg?

thumper kegs should be 25 percent to 40% the size of your main boiler, as we said at the beginning of the essay. However, if you want to charge your thumper keg with a significant quantity of charge, whether it be botanicals, cheap wines, wash, or water, you should get a thumper keg that is at least half the capacity of your main boiler.

How Do You Clean A Thumper Keg?

Doing a vinegar run through your thumper keg will be the quickest and most effective method of cleaning it so that it is ready for use in your moonshine production.

1. Doing a vinegar run through your thumper keg will be the quickest and most effective method of cleaning it so that it is ready to be used for making moonshine.

It’s important to note that you only need to do this if you have a fresh new thumper keg on hand. Otherwise, simply repeat the process 2 to 3 times every year.

Thumper Keg Recommendations

If you’re looking to purchase a thumper keg and would like some recommendations, here is the article for you.

Stampede Stills 2 Gallon Copper Moonshine Still Thumper Keg (Doubler)

A copper thumper keg that is totally constructed from copper (20-ounce copper sheet). It has a capacity of up to 2 gallons of liquid. It also has a half-inch ball valve drain and two half-inch copper pipe handoffs for easy connection. HOWEVER! For your pot, you might check out this stainless steel thumper keg that is meant for use with a beer kegerator….

DIY 2 Gal 10 Liters Thumper

It is constructed of food-grade materials and high-quality stainless steel that is 100 percent lead-free, ensuring that the distillation process is as safe as possible. It’s even available in a variety of sizes!

Stampede Stills Copper Half Gallon Widemouth Mason Jar Thumper Kit

In order to ensure safe distillation, it is constructed of food-grade materials and high-quality stainless steel that is 100 percent lead-free.

Furthermore, there are several different sizes available.

Final Words

The moonshine industry is a big and diverse industry. This is only a small sample of the material that will be extremely beneficial to you as you work to develop your moonshine. Have a good time! Karl S. is a marketing leader, brewer, father, and spouse. Basically, he’s an all-around great person.

The Thumper Keg Explained – What it does and how it does it! – Learn to Moonshine

Thump kegs, also known as “doublers,” are a very old design element that was most likely brought to North America with the first settlers and incorporated into the stills they built upon arrival. While they are most commonly associated with backwoods whiskey stills, the thump keg, or “doubler,” is not (Fig. 1). Because some older European stills made use of what looks to be thump keg-like chambers, the idea was almost certainly well-known to colonists from both the British Isles and continental Europe when they arrived in North America.

Figure 1, Typical backwoods whiskey still. Smaller copper pot in center is thump keg.

In the absence of a thump keg, a standard pot still is capable of distilling a wash into merely a “low wine,” which will contain around 40-50 percent alcohol. A second or even a third distillation is required to attain the high alcohol concentration required to produce high-proof whiskey or other spirit at the desired strength. European distillers still employ swan-neck pot stills, and they will have two stills: one for distilling the wash to a low-wine condition, and another for rectifying the low-wine state into a high-proof spirit.

This is accomplished in an exceptionally smart manner by the thump keg, which utilizes waste heat from the still pot to do its task.

In fact, it is the thumping sound of the hot vapor exiting the still (Fig.

Because this hot vapor repeatedly warms the low wine to the boiling point of alcohol, it is effectively distilled twice, yielding a far higher-proof product than could otherwise be achieved in a single pass through the pot still.

Figure 3, Diagram showing flow of vapor through still and thump keg

In spite of the fact that it has apparent benefits over the traditional pot still, how does it compare to a more complex reflux column still? Of course, for the backwoods moonshiner, there’s the obvious advantage of having materials on hand at all times. The cost of purchasing enough Raschig rings or copper scouring pads to fill a big fractionating column is far less than the cost of locating and reusing an abandoned wooden barrel. A properly constructed column, on the other hand, is capable of producing alcohol concentrations that are close to the theoretical maximum, in some cases exceeding 95%, while also providing better separation between the ethyl alcohol and the esters and ketones in the heads and the heavy fusel alcohols in the tails.

1. These people include traditional moonshiners and connoisseurs of single-malt, pot-distilled Scottish whiskeys.
2. Although it is arguable to what degree this is genuine and how much is simply mythology, it is unquestionably true that the taste differences between cuts will be less noticeable and that more of the “whiskey” qualities will be present in the final product.
3. He even spends several thousand dollars to install a high-tech thump keg to replace the fractionating column in the distillery.
4. Finally, it should be noted that a thump keg may be used to impart taste in a different way as well: it can be utilized in the same way that a gin basket is used to give flavor.
5. Because more of the volatile flavoring compounds will be carried over into the final distillate as a result of this method, the taste will be fresher and more full-bodied than merely adding these ingredients to the mash.

The following video is a demonstration of a classic copper pot still, thumper, and worm set up that I discovered on YouTube. ” alt=””> ” alt=””> Any questions about thumpers can be asked in the comments section below, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Thanks for reading!

Best Liquid To Use in Thumper

Thumpers, as opposed to pot stills, are ideal for making moonshine because they effectively conduct two distillations in one—without losing the taste from the spirit, as occurs when reflux distillation is employed. If you have a thumper, it is customary to fill it approximately halfway with liquid before using it. For our Brewhaus thumpers, this is the case; however, if you are using another kind of thumper, verify with the manufacturer or modify the fill level as needed. How do you know what kind of liquid to use in your thumper while you’re creating moonshine, though?

Although that was my initial assumption, it turns out that water is one of the last things you’d want to use in a fire.

Tails From a Previous Batch: Best

Essentially, how the thumper works is that it draws water vapor from the head of your kettle and directs it via a tube to the bottom of the thumper. Once it enters the liquid in the thumper, it cools and condenses, while simultaneously heating the liquid in the thumper, which results in a condensed vapor and heated liquid. The temperature of the liquid in the thumper steadily rises, and the liquid vaporizes up into the condenser and out as product as a result of this. Ideally, you should use the liquid from a prior run to fill the thumper with tails from the current run.

If you do decide to utilize tails for this, be sure to use only the ones that you gathered first.

Some of Your Current Wash: Good

The utilization of part of the liquid from the distillation process might be another possibility. However, although while this will not include as much alcoholic content as tails from a previous run, it is preferable to water since it has some alcoholic content. Given that you’re going to be using it to produce moonshine anyhow, fill your thumper up approximately halfway and get to work distilling your concoction.

Water: Better Than Nothing

At first glance, I figured that thumpers were simply filled with water, but Rick explains that water would be the very last choice in such a situation. Despite the fact that it theoretically works, he asserted that if you use water, you would not get the benefits of utilizing anything that already contains alcoholic content. If you don’t have any tails from a prior batch on hand, he advises using at least a portion of your current wash as a substitute. Although there is no real harm done if you use water, you will not obtain nearly as much benefit from this “double-distillation” as you would if you used one of the other methods described above.

This information, I hope, has assisted you in learning more about what you should use in your thumper while creating moonshine. If you have any more queries, please do not hesitate to write us a message on Facebook or on our website. Wishing you a successful distillation!

Why Use a Thumper on a Distilling Kettle?

So you’ve chosen to start distilling for the purpose of making spirits, and because you’re a whiskey fan, you’ve opted to use pot stills in order to get the most genuine taste profile possible. Indeed, pot stills have the most ancient histories on the globe, and pot-stilled whiskies, rums, and brandies are among the most highly sought-after spirits on the planet. However, the catch here is that pot stills are not the most efficient technologies to utilize if production speed is a significant consideration in your decision to use them.

The pot still is also inefficient, which means that the distillate produced from a single distillation can be heavily polluted with high and low boiling-point ingredients, which can add a disagreeable flavor to the finished distillate.

Of course, all of this adds up to the usage of more resources in order to produce the most ideal pot-stilled end product.

What Is a Thumper?

Thumbers, as the name implies, are secondary distilling kettles which link to the primary distillation kettle. Heating the thumper is accomplished by the use of the heat that has already been generated to feed the primary kettle. According to the manufacturer, the thumper derives its name from the sound it produces while operating.

Thumper or No Thumper?

A thumper configuration makes it possible to do a secondary distillation without having to send the distillate through the apparatus a second time. According to the design criteria, the use of a parasitic kettle may require more BTUs to operate than the use of a single distilling kettle, but it is probable that the use of two fully distinct distillations will require less BTUs to operate. The presence of liquid in the thumper, which will permit another phase-change cycle, will also result in heat exchange within the thumper, which may result in a reduction in the amount of cooling capacity necessary to chill the completed distillate.

The significant savings, on the other hand, will be the number of man hours required to create a product that is more appealing for consumption.

This may result in the creation of additional carboxylic acids, which can enhance the complexity of the final spirit.

Similarly, the operator can add botanicals to the thumper in order to increase the output of gin. This permits the distiller to avoid contaminating the bigger, more time-consuming to clean main distillation kettle with plant oils, which would otherwise be necessary.

Enter the Double Thumper

In addition to a single thumper, a double thumper (also known as a double retort) can be employed in certain situations. The double thumper, like the single thumper, contributes to the ABV enrichment of the finished product by stabilizing the ABV of the distillate produced as a consequence of the distillation process. This type of apparatus, which is still in use for the production of traditional Jamaican rum, is perhaps the most well-known application of double thumpers (retorts). This application charges one of the retorts with low-quality wines, while the other is charged with high-quality wines.

As previously stated, this method permits an extra increase in ABV while also increasing the possibility of beneficial carboxylic acid production.

You might argue this style of arrangement infuses extra “rummyness” into the rum.

A More Flexible Double Thumper

The StillDragon twin thumper (retort) system takes this concept a step further by including extra elements that provide the operator greater freedom when in operation, as seen in the diagram below. In the StillDragon system, the vapor supply manifold (lyne arm) is fitted with three-way valves at each retort, allowing the operator to bypass one or both retorts at the same time. The operator will find this useful whether he or she chooses to perform a more basic stripping run or to send vapor to a totally separated distillation equipment.

• Each StillDragon retort is also equipped with a specific heat input capability as well as a traditional column attachment function, which is standard equipment.
• Other options are available for inclusion.
• In the following image, you can see a classic illustration of how several types of distillation instruments may be combined to create the most adaptable distilling apparatus.
• This system is also equipped with a specialized product condenser, which reduces the frequency with which the rectifier side of the system must be cleaned.

StillDragon’s sales staff may be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 561-845-8009 for additional information on how to include a thumper into your distillery plans.

On slobber boxes and thumper kegs

One of the most often asked questions we receive is whether or not it is required to put a thumper keg on our stills in order to be successful in distilling. We believe that it is not. First, it would be good to understand what this contraption is all about before we can respond to it. To put it simply, the term “thumper keg” refers to a container that is fitted in a distillation system between the still pot and the condenser. Traditionally, it was employed in hillbilly stills to raise the alcohol percentage of the distillate because conventional stills only produced products with an alcohol content of approximately 50-60 percent.

• Then, when additional hot vapor passes over this low wine in the thumper, it is heated to the boiling point of alcohol, resulting in a larger alcohol concentration in the vapor that flows into the condensing unit – normally about 85 percent.
• As an added bonus, it captures undesirable silt that might otherwise make its way into your finished product.
• We have a distinctive onion-head on each of our copper stills, which you can see when you look at them closely.
• In addition, our stills will produce whiskey with an alcohol concentration of roughly 70%, which should be more than sufficient for the majority of home distillers’ requirements.
• In a nutshell, the answer to the question of whether our stills require a thumper keg is no.
• Thank you very much!
• Regarding those sloppy boxes, what do you think of them?
• The onion-head design, which is both eye-catching and useful, eliminates the need for them with our stills once again.

What is a Mason Jar Thumper?

A common question we receive is whether or not a thumper keg should be installed on our stills in order to have success in distilling. One of the most common answers we provide is “no.” First, it would be good to describe what this contraption is all about before we can respond to your question. To put it simply, the term “thumper keg” refers to a container that is used in distillation apparatuses between the still pot and the condenser. While a result, it was typically employed in hillbilly stills to raise the alcohol level of the distillate, as conventional stills only produced products with an alcohol content of approximately 50-60 percent.

• Afterwards, when additional hot vapor passes over this low wine in the thumper, it is heated to the boiling point of alcohol, resulting in vapor with a higher alcohol concentration – normally about 85 percent – that goes into the condensing unit.
• Moreover, it captures any undesired silt that would otherwise make its way into your finished product.
• Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that our copper stills have an onion-head design.
• Aside from that, our stills will produce whiskey with an alcohol concentration of roughly 70%, which should be more than sufficient for the majority of home distillers’ needs.
• Briefly stated, our stills do not require a thumper-keg, and the answer to this question is “no.” The distillation process is simplified as a result, and your success is more likely to be ensured when using our stills.
• To those of us who are committed home distillers, a toast to you!
• Thumper kegs are similar in that they are put into conventional stills, but because the vapor they collect never bubbled up through the low wine, their role was essentially merely to collect sediment, rather than vapor.

The onion-head design, which is both aesthetically pleasing and effective, eliminates the need for them with our stills once again. byJason Stoneon November 15, 2009

How Does a Thump Keg Work?

One of the most often asked questions we receive is whether or not it is required to put a thumper keg on our stills in order to be successful at distilling. We believe that it is not. First, it would be good to describe what this device is exactly before we respond. Essentially, a thumper keg is a container that is inserted in the distillation process between the still pot and the condenser. Traditionally, it was employed in hillbilly stills to boost the alcohol percentage of the distillate because conventional stills only produced products with an alcohol content of approximately 50-60 percent.

• As a result, the thumper functions as a second distillation process, increasing the strength of the distillate produced.
• It is possible for your whiskey to lose flavor while stored in thumper kegs, which are increasingly often utilized for large-scale manufacturing runs.
• By enabling just pure vapor and no sediment to get through to the condenser, this specific design removes the need for a thumper keg.
• Is it clear where this is going?
• As a result, the distillation process using our stills is easier, and your success is more likely to be assured.
• Cheers to those of us who are passionate about home distilling!
• Thumper kegs are similar in that they are fitted into conventional stills, but because the vapor they collect never bubbled up through the low wine, their primary function was to collect sediment.
• Posted byJason Stone on the Internet

What Does A Thump Keg Look Like?

A thump kegi is a relatively simple piece of equipment. It is a barrel, thumper, or bottle that has two pipes running into it that has been sealed. The input pipe is often lengthy enough that it can reach the bottom of the thumper, where liquid may condense and condense into solid. Another pipe is short and serves as an outlet for vaporized alcohol, which may then be collected in a condenser or transferred to another thump keg.

What Materials Are Used For Thump Kegs?

In terms of design, the thump kegiis a straightforward instrument. There are two pipes coming into it from either side of a sealed barrel, thumper, or bottle This means that it can reach the bottom of the thumper, where liquids can condense, if the input pipe is long enough.

Another pipe is short and serves as an outlet for vaporized alcohol, which may then be collected in a condenser or transferred to another thump keg to be used again.

Glass Thumper

As a result of its flexibility, glass is one of the most commonly used thumper materials, particularly when Mason jar thumpers are employed. When it comes to moonshine brewing, the design of mason jars is great since these glass containers can be readily removed from the thumper gasket for cleaning and replacement. Glass thumpers are also a good choice because you can get thumper kits that are designed to fit directly on top of mason jars on the internet.

Copper Thumper

Copper is a particularly common material in moonshine kits because of its versatility. This is due to the fact that copper is an excellent heat conductor and that it helps to improve the flavor of moonshine. Copper also helps to eliminate some of the sulfur compounds found in alcoholic beverages, allowing the fruity flavor to become much more intense in your moonshine as a result.

Wood Thumpers

Many moonshiners like wood thumpers because the wood naturally insulates the thumper keg, making it more comfortable to use. The vapors and liquids that condense into the thump keg are kept heated by the condensation process. It then causes the liquid to evaporate once more, which is required for the distillation process.

How to Build A Moonshine Thumper

Glass thumper kegs are by far the most straightforward to construct and utilize. This is due to the fact that you can purchase the thumper attachment online and that mason jars may be readily unscrewed for cleaning or replacement purposes. Here’s how to make a moonshine jar thumper from scratch:

What You Need

• Copper mason jar lids and seals
• Copper piping and bend fittings
• Copper soldering wire
• Soldering machine and saw
• 1/2 gallon mason jar thumper

How To Build The Mason Jar Thumper Gasket

You must first construct a Mason jar thumper gasket before you can begin assembling your set. In the event that you do not have the necessary time or patience to accomplish this, you may purchase entire kits online. These kits are constructed of copper and already contain copper pipe, a copper jar lid, and a copper seal. They are compatible with all mason jars and are available in a variety of sizes. Additionally, you may create a gasket for a Mason jar thumper out of stainless steel. The usage of copper is equally as practical as stainless steel, but many people prefer it since it is easier to weld or solder and because it improves the taste of your moonshine.

Step 1

To begin, gather your copper piping and cut it to the appropriate length. One long tube and one short tube should be provided. The length of the long tube should equal to the height of the mason jar that you are using, and it should extend all the way to the bottom of the jar. You may solder the copper bend to the end of the long copper pipe using a soldering iron and a soldering iron. This bend should be positioned downward at the bottom of the jar.

Step 2

Take your copper Mason jar lid and drill two holes in it, one on each side of the plate, to complete the project. The copper pipes should be able to slide into the holes if the holes are just the right size. The copper pipes should protrude from the copper cover by at least 3cm.

Step 3

Take out your soldering iron and solder the copper wire into the holes in the copper lid using the soldering iron.

Take your time with the soldering because it should result in an airtight seal, so be thorough. Thank you for your efforts; you have now made your own own thumper gasket for use with a mason jar.

Assembling Your Mason jar Thumper

As soon as the gasket is finished, you can simply place it into your mason jar and seal it. It is critical to fit the rubber seal between the thumper gasket and the glass jar before screwing the lid on securely in order to ensure that the jar is completely airtight. After completing the final assembly steps, your Mason jar thumper should be ready to be installed in your moonshine kit.

Final Thought

Following the completion of your thumper, you will be required to modify your moonshine still kit. Installation of the thumper should take place between the still pot and the condenser. You may use more than one thumper keg in your system to produce a higher-quality spirit, if desired. Add particular fruits or flavorings to the thumper keg and use it to increase the taste of your spirits. You may also use it to store and transport your spirits.

Copper High Country Moonshine Stills

It will be necessary to modify your moonshine still kit after you have finished building your thumper. In order for the thumper to function properly, it must be put between the still pot and the condensing unit. You can use more than one thumper keg in your system if you want a higher-quality spirit. You may also utilize your thumper keg to enhance the flavor of your spirits by incorporating particular fruits or flavorings into the thumper keg before serving them.

Amazon.com: Slsy 8 Gallon Alcohol Still Water Alcohol Distiller, 30 Liters DIY Whiskey Still Stainless Steel Spirits Boiler with Copper Tube, Home Brew Wine Making Kits with Thumper Keg: Home & Kitchen

On June 29, 2021, a review will be conducted in the United States. Size: 8 GalAcquired with a verified purchase After applying magnets to all of the pots, we discovered that both little pots were magnetic The fermentation vessel was not made of stainless steel; it may have been made of aluminum or nickel. I’m quite concerned with the “misleading” promotion for stainless steel. I was irritated when I saw that I had to pay $31.50 to return the item to the seller. a rating of 0 out of 5 stars I felt compelled to give this a one-star rating in order to submit it.

1. Size: 8 GalAcquired with a verified purchase So, first and foremost, this.
2. With a few tweaks, this game can potentially be quite enjoyable.
3. It was necessary to purchase when my thumper’s lid didn’t really fight well.
4. No matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to keep my momentum.
5. And because of the stiffness, it is still a hassle.
6. You won’t be able to obtain an accurate temperature because the pot is barely 4 inches long, but I have no problems with the pot or the extremely little condenser / worm.
7. I’m talking about four bags.

Because of the way they’ve been put up, they’ve spilled like a sob.

And.

Because of this, water is used.

All of them.

You don’t want it to throw up on you.

A molassas cocktail is made using corn liquor.

I haven’t been this excited in a long time as I was when I first saw it begin to dribble down.

8 Gallon Capacity Verified Purchase It was just a few of days ago that I received mine.

It has a fantastic appearance.

When the temperature reached 212°, it began to send water out to me.

On May 31, 2021, a review will be conducted in the United States.

Others have complained of defects, packing issues, and missing pieces, among other things.

This is still a pretty nice deal considering the pricing.

The design of the thumper is right.

It has some instructions, which aren’t horrible in and of themselves, but they aren’t precise enough for the possibilities available.

I set mine up, took it apart, and clean it on a regular basis and have had no problems..

This is an excellent value.

The packaging is excellent.

Published on May 31, 2021 by Austin Brown This is a fantastic solution.

I’ve heard in other evaluations that the designs are poor, or that they’re plain horrible.

Each and every component functions as intended, and the packaging was extremely well-protected against harm.

The only thing missing are instructions on how to put it all together.

Additionally, it does not include the water pump that you will require.

There are only three latches on the thumper, so you have to be cautious to put the silicone ring properly when kissing it into place or you may have a leak that you won’t notice until you are in the middle of the run.

The photographs in this review On December 21, 2020, the United States will conduct a review.

The first attempt was difficult; the machine spat and blew continuously throughout.

I discovered that there is only one extension that fits into the thumper.

However, on the second attempt, there were little steam (vapor) leaks from all over the place.

We are unable to sufficiently tighten the nuts or to sufficiently reinstall the seals.

I didn’t want that to end up on the fireside.

I’m hoping the vendor will sell them separately.

5 Gallon Capacity Purchase that has been verified First and foremost, I observed reviews that complained about troubles with seals/gaskets; however, I believe that part of the problem is a lack of knowledge about how to deal with the specific type of seals used, and so I wanted to share recommendations to help people avoid annoyance.

For example, all of the seals are made of silicone, which is simpler to work with than rubber since it is more flexible, but it can cause problems when used with metal steam hose seals, which are particularly problematic.

It is possible that twisting the steam hoses in such a way that they rotate on the seals, which would not be a problem with hard rubber gaskets, will cause the soft silicone gasket to become out of shape and result in a leak if the steam hoses move when the seals are “pinched” by being tightened at all.

1. Always keep in mind that a pot should never be used as a high-pressure system.
2. The pressure generated is far less than that produced by an aquarium air pump, and is virtually non-existent.
3. When it comes to the main pot, you don’t even have to tighten the spring arms.
4. Clamps are the only thing available on the kicker, thus they must be utilized.
5. Check both pots carefully for dents and for warps in their general shape.
6. On May 5, 2021, a review will be conducted in the United States.
7. Because the seals are so poor, the pressure from the pot itself forces it out of the pot itself.
8. The cooling pot is also small, and the valves that are placed leak through the handle, which is a last problem.
9. Purchase that has been verified Early Reviewers Will Receive Bonuses (Can you tell me what this is?) This rack is just fantastic!

Apart from being useful, it also looks fantastic and has improved the amount of available storage space in my kitchen, making dishwashing an easier and even joyful process.

Thumper Thump Keg for Copper Moonshine Still for sale online

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Still Types and Techniques

Types of Stills and Techniques of Using Them Diana Yates2019-09-11T17:14:44:00:00https://www.dianayates.com/ Moonshining has always been a family business, with talents being passed down from one generation to the next. As wine poured out of the condenser, the Ingram family posed for a picture with their turnip still with pride. Franklin County, Virginia, in the year 1929 When the cap of froth has vanished, the mash is ready to be distilled into alcohol. It is possible for the moonshiner to determine how far along the fermentation process has progressed by touching the froth or by “cracking apart the cap.” The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, about 1970s.

The turnip, so named because of its squatty turnip-shaped boiler (also known as the “pot”), has been around for hundreds of years.

Turnip boilers in the United States were historically constructed of copper sheets that were hammered into form and then riveted and soldered together.

When making whiskey in a turnip still, mash barrels or wooden boxes are filled with a mixture of ground grain (such as corn, rye, or wheat), water, barley malt (or ground sprouting corn), yeast, and/or sugar, depending on the recipe.

It may take three to four days or longer for the fermentation process in the barrels, depending on the outside temperature and the amount of yeast and sugar that has been introduced.

During the Great Depression, Joel Quinn and his family posed in front of their mountain still site.

The flake stand, which is the box on the right, is filled with water and contains the copper worm, which is responsible for condensing the alcohol.

During fermentation, a foamy substance known as the “cap” develops.

(Although this combination is significantly different from store-bought beer, some people enjoy it.) The beer is put into the “pot,” which is fashioned like a turnip, and the distiller lights his fire.

When the temperature of the still near the boiling point of alcohol (173°F), the metal top of the still, also known as the “cap,” is screwed into the bottom of the pot.

If the fire is too hot, the mash may burn, or it may “puke” through the cap and into the worm, which will kill it.

In the 1960s, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia were photographed.

As the boiling alcohol vapors escape from the boiler, they pass through a cap and into the worm system.

The moonshine is captured in a jar, jug, or bucket and stored for later use.

A second run of the singlings helps to smooth out the flavor.

A felt filter or hardwood ashes are used to filter out any contaminants from the whiskey before it is bottled.

In the 1960s, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia were photographed.

By the 1920s, the submarine design was still in use, and within a few years, it had become a favorite among moonshiners everywhere.

A huge underwater pot (also known as a “boiler”) can contain up to 800 gallons of mash, which is significantly more than a turnip still.

While still employing the current “blackpot” style of distillation, the moonshiner in charge of a submarine’s distillation will combine the materials for the mash directly in the boiler.

Two 80-pound bags of wheat bran are dumped on top of the mixture to help keep the heat of fermentation in throughout the fermentation process.

A cap blowing off or a boiler bursting might cause surrounding motionless hands to be scalded by the steam and mash that is released.

After the mash has fermented into “beer,” the bootlegger warms the boiler, which is often heated with gas or oil burners, and stirs the mash to ensure that it does not ferment again.

The vapors from the boiler pass through the cap and into a “doubler” (also known as a “thumper”), which is a barrel that has been filled with weak whiskey or mash beer before entering the boiler.

Consequently, the alcohol previously contained in the still undergoes a second distillation, softening the taste of the whiskey and saving the moonshiner time and work by eliminating the need to pass “singlings” through the still a second time.

(On a few occasions, properly cleaned automobile radiators have been used as condensers rather than worms.) Following one more run through the blackpot, additional sugar is added to the mash that has remained in the boiler, and the entire process is repeated.

Old-timers believe that six or seven runs are the maximum number of runs that may be obtained from a single batch of mash.

The sugar added to the mash recipe accelerates the fermentation process, resulting in a larger alcohol concentration and, thus, more whiskey for the moonshiner’s efforts….

The fact that steam boilers do not burn the mash allows them to be erected much taller than turnip or underwater stills, which would otherwise be impossible.

The Steam Is Still Burning The steam still has also been employed by moonshiners in the Blue Ridge Mountains, though it has never been as popular as the turnip and submarine stills.

Steam is generated by heating a boiler containing water, and the resultant steam is either discharged directly into the fermented mash or piped through the mash.

It is vital to note that using a steam suit ensures that the mash never scorches.

It is not essential to stir the mashed potatoes.

Some moonshine consumers believe that whiskey produced in a steam still has a superior flavor than that produced in a still.

It is necessary to boil water in the horizontal boiler (far left) in order to force steam through two pipes and into the mash-filled “pot” when operating the still (center left). Mountain range in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in 1982. a link to the page’s load