A friend of mine is fixin' on building a still.

[JVS]

I was telling him that it is a bad idea. He is aware of the fire hazzards and accepts them, but the only thing that he says will keep him from stopping is if there is a chance that the shine will be poisonous. So, I ask you fellow lounge lizards, are there any risks of the still producing poisonous liquor?

[Lars39]

1. Yes. Depends on the parts used.

[JVS]

2. Could you elaborate please?

[Lars39]

6. You don't want to use used parts, from cars or whatever.

[JVS]

7. No, they have friends in the Chem department and can get equipment

[Waistdeep]

3. A quick google search yields

http://homedistiller.org/methanol.htm

[JVS]

4. Thanks

I will forward this to my pal

[TXlib]

5. If you're not careful

the still can concentrate methanol, and other nasties.

There are some good books out there on how to operate a still safely, but unless he's a chemical engineer or chemist and is going to be a total nerd about it, I wouldn't recommend it.

Plus, it's illegal, unless you're distilling water.

[JVS]

9. The people at his house who are doing this include

2 engineering students, a math major and a physics major. I am sure they will be total nerds about it.

[dweller]

18. actually, you are allowed up to

a certain amount non-taxable, for home consumption.
varies by state, or probably gov. regulations.

the info is on the net, if you do the research.
dp

[TrogL]

8. Watch the solder joints

If you do them wrong, you get mercury and/or lead poisoning.

[Nailzberg]

10. He'll need a good bootlegger car, preferably a Charger

with a horn that plays Dixie and axles that can withstand jumping over ravines and randomly placed haybales.

[JVS]

11. Yeehaw!

I try to tell them that if they want to make their own alcoholic beverages that they should stick to beer. But they don't like beer, maybe they could do wine though.

[Waistdeep]

13. At least

rent a copy of "Thunder Road" with Robert Mitchum.

[supernova]

12. It's "fixin' to" not

"fixin' on". Minor grammar point. If you're going to be a redneck, do it right. :P

[JVS]

14. we say fixin on around these parts

[alwynsw]

15. DO NOT use a radiator as a condenser

I've been involved in a few productions of that sort, stills that is. It was a sort of rite of passage in my little part of Kentucky. Always use clean, preferably new copper tubing. Ethylene glycol, found in most antifreeze formulas is deadly poison.

Aside from that, a little cracked corn, a little yeast, a little water, a little time, a litle cooking and you got yourself a snort.

[JVS]

16. That has never been part of the plan.

All parts will be from the Chem stock rooom

[TacticalPeek]

17. "Don't use no green nor rotten wood,

or they'll get you by the smoke."