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Police find a still in a Maplewood apartment
Minneapolis Star and Sickle (Star and Tribune) ^ | December 11, 2006 | Herón Márquez Estrada

Posted on 12/12/2006 7:00:25 AM PST by akorahil

Residents and building staffers are curious about just what it is that their neighbor, a self-described chemical engineer, has been cooking up in his Maplewood apartment. That's where police found a still operating on top of a stove, along with several gallons of "product" that might or might not be moonshine.

"In my 18 years, I don't think I've ever even seen a still, except on the 'Beverly Hillbillies,' " said Maplewood Police Lt. Dave Kvam, who raided the apartment Friday.

Police have more questions than answers because they haven't yet talked to the apartment dweller about the still and fermenting corn. He didn't appear to be home Monday.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: alcohol; still
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To: Al Gator

20 ethanol = 20% ethanol

sheesh


41 posted on 12/12/2006 7:51:11 AM PST by Al Gator (Refusing to "stoop to your enemy's level", gets you cut off at the knees.)
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To: akorahil
Far be it for me to defend the Feds here but a still is basically a fuel air bomb in the making.

You guys do know that.

Right?

Beyond the Tax reasons, most of us would not look kindly on having our neighbors creating bombs.

I for one am glad that it's hard to get a permit for a still.  

BTW, I am also a Homebrewer.  

Cheers,

knewshound

Latest article;
42 posted on 12/12/2006 7:52:11 AM PST by knews_hound (Sarcastically blogging since 2004.)
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To: bert
Ahhhhh .... corn squeezins. Been years since my old uncle Art let me swill some of his.

Nam Vet

43 posted on 12/12/2006 7:52:53 AM PST by Nam Vet (Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding liberals that stops bright ideas from penetrating.)
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To: Manic_Episode

LOL


44 posted on 12/12/2006 7:54:08 AM PST by wallcrawlr
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To: Oberon

Correction to my own post, after calling the BATF.

All distallation is apparently forbidden, but there is apparently either no criminal penalty (or a policy of not prosecuting --- he wasn't sure) for amounts under a certain gallon amount.


45 posted on 12/12/2006 7:56:01 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: knews_hound

lol, You got that right!

How many idiots have ended up in little pieces!!

Tell St. Peter how you went for that fourth step, and then developed a pin hole in your slobber box. End of story.

HeHeHe, St. Pete will let you in, but assign you to the stupid section.


46 posted on 12/12/2006 7:56:36 AM PST by Al Gator (Refusing to "stoop to your enemy's level", gets you cut off at the knees.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

"but there is apparently either no criminal penalty (or a policy of not prosecuting --- he wasn't sure) for amounts under a certain gallon amount."

I don't think I would want to be trying to sell that line to a judge.

LOL,


47 posted on 12/12/2006 7:58:17 AM PST by Al Gator (Refusing to "stoop to your enemy's level", gets you cut off at the knees.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Do you happen to know what that gallon amount is?


48 posted on 12/12/2006 8:02:07 AM PST by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: MeanWestTexan

http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml

Also, Title 26, Chapter 51, Section J, Part I, para 5601 has the fedgof laws about separating alcohol and water.

I know of no small quantity exemption for distilled spirits, but if there is one I'd really like to know! Can you post it?

Thanks!


49 posted on 12/12/2006 8:03:20 AM PST by DBrow
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To: Al Gator
My brother is a Mechanical Engineer and when I started asking him about building a still a few years back he looked at me like I was nuts.

The pinhole scenario was exactly what he said.

I will stick with brewing. I can get the same alcohol content with none of the hazards.

Cheers,

knewshound
50 posted on 12/12/2006 8:04:42 AM PST by knews_hound (Sarcastically blogging since 2004.)
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To: jdm

Why do I always think of Jonathan Edwards delivering his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon when I see this picture of algore? (It couldn't be that he is constantly preaching to us, could it?)


51 posted on 12/12/2006 8:04:54 AM PST by Polyxene (For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel - Martin Luther)
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To: akorahil

I think it is completely illegal to make your own distilled booze, anywhere in the country. Federal revenoorers you know. Wine and beer is ok, with limites. I have thought about building a still myself, so I researched it a bit.


52 posted on 12/12/2006 8:05:07 AM PST by petca-tim
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To: knews_hound
I've got the plans for one in an old "Foxfire Book" somewhere.

Truth be told I'd rather make a nice IPA or a smoked Heffeweisen.

As much as I hate to say it, this is one are the Feds clearly have Constitutional authority to regulate. General Washington himself settled the matter rather decisively.

But for the record, he wasn't happy about doing it.

L

53 posted on 12/12/2006 8:09:36 AM PST by Lurker (Historys most dangerous force is government and the crime syndicates that grow with it.)
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To: knews_hound
Far be it for me to defend the Feds here but a still is basically a fuel air bomb in the making.

Oh come on. Hundreds of thousands of organic chemistry students use the same distillation techniques every year. Don't sensationalize things.
54 posted on 12/12/2006 8:11:09 AM PST by newguy357
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To: newguy357

Homemade stills blow up. Period.

Stills in a classroom are inspected and run small quantities.

A large still, handling several gallons of ethanol, is in fact a bomb and can flat level a barn, chicken coop, or whatever other building its hidden in.

That's in addition to exciting the atoms in your body to the tune of a few thousand feet per second. Which means you will basically fly into lots of little pieces.


55 posted on 12/12/2006 8:20:38 AM PST by Al Gator (Refusing to "stoop to your enemy's level", gets you cut off at the knees.)
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To: ping jockey

My 19 year old, straight A, college attending, frat boy son asked for a still for Christmas. IIRC, he specifically mentioned the reflux stills readily available on ebay. I declined for one reason. When he gets caught making his own whiskey, I just know law enforcement will ask, "Where'd you get the still, boy?" I know he'd innocently reply, "My mom." ;-)


56 posted on 12/12/2006 8:21:58 AM PST by Quilla
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To: Al Gator
Homemade stills blow up. Period.

I know a guy who went to federal prison for making sugar liquor in commercial-size batches. Though many bad things happened to ol' Joe, he never blew himself up.

uh..."period."

57 posted on 12/12/2006 8:24:27 AM PST by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Oberon

Not with any confidence level, no.

I believe it's like "theft" in Texas.

All stealing is illegal, but there is no criminal penalty for stealing something worth less than $1.50. (The candy bar exception, so to speak.)


58 posted on 12/12/2006 8:27:17 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: digger48

That reminds me of a story my 102 year old mother likes to tell. It seems that when she was a young child and the oldest, they got into her father's medicinal drink. They gave it to the baby who fell off the porch. She said they thought the fall had killed him but he was too drunk to be hurt. All of them got their punishment when my grandparents got back to the house. She said they all kept telling each other to get off the porch when the house came around the next time. They never, ever touched alcohol again!!!


59 posted on 12/12/2006 8:29:52 AM PST by MamaB (mom to an Angel)
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To: Oberon

That's not the point. There are a lot of moonshiners that have good equipment and know what they are doing.

On the other hand, the process is dangerous. And a homemade still will blow up for no apparent reason.

The other poster was trying to compare the safety of a professionally designed still used in a classroom with a still made in a metal shop by someone of unknown skill.

In this comparison, the homemade still is the most likely to blow things up.

Clear now?

BTW, the guy you know probably took really serious precautions and used a lot common sense.


60 posted on 12/12/2006 8:30:37 AM PST by Al Gator (Refusing to "stoop to your enemy's level", gets you cut off at the knees.)
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