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 ...
20 ethanol = 20% ethanol
sheesh
Nam Vet
LOL
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.
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.
"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,
Do you happen to know what that gallon amount is?
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!
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?)
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.
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
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.
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." ;-)
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."
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.)
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!!!
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.
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