The Copper Still Sizes People Pick Most, and Why

When people ask us what size copper still they should buy, they usually want a number. A better first question is what kind of experiments you plan to run. A copper still is a small lab. You control the heat, you watch the vapor climb and turn back into liquid, and you decide where the cuts fall. The right size is the one that lets you run your experiments the way you want, as often as you want, without fighting your equipment.

Below are the sizes people come back to most often, along with the reasons they give for choosing them. We've stuck to what we actually offer and what each size is good for.

A quick note before we start: owning a still is legal in the United States, and stills are used for distilling water, extracting essential oils, and making fuel alcohol (which needs a permit). Distilling spirits requires federal TTB permits. Whatever you make, follow federal, state, and local law.

Small Stills: 3 Gallon and 6 Gallon

The 3 Gallon: the bench-top starting point

The 3 Gallon Copper Moonshine Still - no thumper (from $229) is the cheapest way to get a real copper still on your workbench. People pick it to learn. It has a small pot, a simple path for the vapor, and nothing extra between you and the result. With a still this size you learn fast how small changes in heat show up in what comes out of the condenser.

It also suits people who mainly want distilled water or small essential oil runs, where a big pot would just take up room.

The 6 Gallon: where most people settle first

If one size comes up more than any other with first-time buyers, it's 6 gallons. The 6 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still with Thumper and Worm (from $699) gives you the classic three-part setup: pot, thumper, and worm. That's the full alchemist's layout. You see how a thumper changes the vapor before it reaches the coil, and you get a feel for the whole process, not just part of it.

Why people pick it:

• It's big enough to be worth the setup time and small enough to handle in a garage or on a stovetop-friendly burner setup.
• The thumper and worm teach you what each stage does.
• It's a size you won't outgrow the first month.

There's also a plainer 6 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still (from $699). If you'd rather plug in than run a flame, there's the 6 Gallon Advanced Model 110V Electric (from $999). The 110V part matters to a lot of people because it runs on standard household power.

The Middle Ground: 10 and 15 Gallon

The 10 Gallon: the serious hobbyist's pick

Ten gallons is where people go once they know they'll keep at it. You get enough volume to run longer, steadier sessions and enough room to really study your cuts. The 10 Gallon Advanced Model Complete Copper Moonshine Still (from $949) is the one we point most people toward at this size. The 10 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still Distiller (from $899) is a slightly lower-cost alternative.

If you want electric heat at this size, the 10 Gallon Advanced Model 220V Electric (from $1249) is the option. Check that you have a 220V circuit first.

The 10 gallon size is also where our patented FlameFlow™ design shows up. The Brilliant 10 Gallon FlameFlow™ Technology Copper Moonshine Still (from $1499) is for people who want that design in a mid-size pot. (A 6 gallon FlameFlow™ is available too, from $1199.)

The 15 Gallon: room to grow

People who choose 15 gallons usually already know 10 would feel tight. The 15 Gallon Advanced Model Copper Moonshine Still Complete Distiller (from $1049) and the 15 Gallon Advanced Model with EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch Thumper Port (from $1049) are the two complete options. The EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch thumper port are popular with people who want a cleaner, simpler connection when they set up and break down.

Going Bigger: 20 to 50 Gallon

Larger stills are for people who run often, run long, and want fewer, bigger sessions. Most of them have spent time on a smaller still first.

• 20 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still - Craft Distillation Unit (from $899). This is a lot of copper for the price, so it's a common first step into bigger pots.
• 20 Gallon 220V Electric Advanced Model (from $1199), for people who want electric control at a larger size.
• 25 Gallon Advanced Model Pure Copper Distiller (from $1100).
• 30 Gallon Advanced Model Pure Copper Moonshine Still - Complete (from $1200), or the version with a 6 gallon thumper and 6 gallon worm with 1/2 inch coil (from $1300).
• 50 Gallon Advanced Model Complete Copper Distiller with 10 Gallon Thumper and 10 Gallon Worm (from $1900), the largest unit we offer.

Before you choose a big still, think about the space, the heat source, and whether you can move and clean it comfortably. A large pot you dread setting up won't get used.

Like to Build? The EZ KITs

Some people want to build the instrument themselves. Our EZ KIT options are DIY kits that you solder yourself. They include the general EZ KIT (from $379), the 15 Gallon You-Build EZ KIT (from $629), and the 20 Gallon EZ KIT (from $649). For hands-on people, putting the copper together is part of the experiment. Choose a kit only if you're comfortable soldering.

How to Choose Your Size

1. Start with your purpose. If you're learning, making distilled water, or doing small essential oil runs, a 3 or 6 gallon still is usually enough.
2. Be honest about how often you'll run it. Regular, committed hobbyists tend to be happiest at 10 or 15 gallons.
3. Look at your heat source. Flame-heated stills, 110V electric, and 220V electric each need a different setup at home.
4. Check your space. Measure where the still will sit and where you'll clean it.
5. Decide whether you want to build it. If so, look at the EZ KITs.

Don't Forget the Measuring Tools

A good experiment needs good readings. The Hydrometer Set (from $29) measures alcohol proof percentage, and the Copper Proofing Parrot (from $119) holds your hydrometer at the spout so you can read as you go. Whatever size you choose, these let you see what's happening during your run so you're not guessing.

Still Not Sure?

Plenty of people are torn between two sizes. Call the shop at 603-997-6786 and tell us what you want to make and where you'll be working. We'll help you work it out. And whatever you make, keep it legal: get the permits you need, and follow federal, state, and local law.