Stainless Steel Water Distiller Design

[MegaMontana]

The following water distiller design is derived from the design that Mike offered on the Troubled Times website. This design, with it's condensing pot, can produce a 1/2 gallon of distilled water every hour, or 1 cup (8 oz.) every 7.5 minutes. The parts are all stainless steel. Water distillation is the one and only method recommended by the Zetas to purify your water. In all likelihood, water distillation will be needed before the hour of the poleshift even arrives. Building a water distiller seems simple but it is not all that easy. An efficient water distiller that can be operated with any heat source, most importanly fire, cannot necessarily be bought, so many look to other ways of water purification, mainly the water filter. It will always be a matter of opinion, but for those with children who will depend on them, it is urged to take a hard look at reality and what a water filter can do for you in the long term. Survival is no easy matter regardless of preparations, but since water is one of the most important aspects of survival, it should be one of the first steps taken.

I've been experimenting with different distiller designs for several years now, all the while I knew Mike's design was the best. I was intimidated by it since I had no metal working skills and wood was hard enough to work with. All the designs I came up with didn't even come close to what Mike's design could accomplish, so I sort of gave up for a while. Finally I got my act together since I don't like giving up, and created a prototype using aluminum and copper parts, since they are easier to work with than stainless steel. There were a number of failures on my part and the feeling that I wasn't going to conquer this task. I do not have welding skills, but I bought a mini kit and soon found out that I can't even keep the flame lit once the oxygen is turned on. After about 10 seconds of trying to weld, the flame would burn out, and make a loud noise at the same time which added to my insecurity. I finally bought a simple and safer propane torch and decided on lead free solder. It took me a while to get the hang of it and I found that you need the soldering flux that plumbers use or the solder will not bond well. But once it's properly done, the connection is very sturdy. Finally I had a complete distiller made of aluminum and copper that performed to my expectations of a 1/2 gallon every hour. Then the complaints came in that distilled water leached aluminum and copper, making it unsafe to drink in the long term. Apparently only stainless steel was acceptable. I didn't buy into this myth because logic and common sense tell a different story (note water tests for proof), but in an effort to appease the crowd and hopefully make a difference in the lives of children that must rely on adults for their future, an all stainless steel water distiller was made which costs more and is a metal that is much tougher to work with.

Plans are provided by Howard based on the specifications given to him and these can be taken to a metal worker if you do not feel comfortable making one yourself. In fact, I would recommend it since welding would be considered stronger and more reliable than soldering. If you choose to solder like I did, it should be noted that solder does not bond well with stainless steel, so all connections will have to be made extra tight to begin with and the solder acts like more of a gasket. But with aluminum and copper, the solder bonds very well.

This distiller utilizes a stainless steel pot to boil the contaminated water. A stainless steel pizza pan then sits on top. By using a pizza pan, it can be used on just about anything that can boil water, making it versatile. The steam travels up the 4 stainless steel tubes, into the stainless steel pie pan, where it hits the bottom of the stainless steel condensing pot that sits on top of the pie pan. The water in this pot creates the necessary temperature change to condense the steam into distilled water, where it collects in the pie pan and empties through the stainless steel drain tube. A high temperature, inert food grade silicone tube can be attached to the drain tube in order to allow water to drain into a collection container of your choice. Make sure the silicone tube has the same OD (outer diameter) of the drain tube, in this case 1/4". If the silicone tube is even just a bit larger, chances are it won't fit tight enough. To enlarge the end of a silicone tube to fit perfectly, heat it up in boiling water and then insert an object such as a pen to enlarge the tube just enough to fit over the stainless steel drain tube perfectly.

The part that will have to be constructed consists of a 16" stainless steel pizza pan, a 9" stainless steel pie pan, 4 pieces of stainless steel tubing - 1/2" OD (outer diameter) - cut to 8" each, and 1 stainless steel tube - 1/4 " OD - cut to 7-8" as the drainage tube. High temperature silicone tubing also comes in handy. It's guaranteed inert for beverages and withstands temps of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. I use 1/2" OD silicone tubing, split down the middle with scissors, and place it around the lip of the bottom boiling pot to create a better seal so steam will not escape and the system remains pressurized. The top condensing pot provides weight that seems to keep things tight enough so steam will either not escape, or very little escapes. I find that even if a small amount of steam escapes, the production results are the same. If enough steam escapes though, the system won't be pressurized very well and production can be cut in half, which is actually still more water than most electric distillers on the market can produce.

Feel free to experiment if you wish with the design. Whether you make your distiller from all stainless steel, or an aluminum/copper combo, you will have a means of purifying any water source at your disposal in the aftertime. Bacteria and viruses will be killed by the boiling process and all heavy metals including lead and mercury will be left behind as the water evaporates on it's way to the condensing chamber. Further testing will be done to deal with chemicals that also evaporate and condense such as alcohol and petrol chemicals. You will know if this is in your water in any case from both the smell and the sheen it would produce on top of the water. I will be testing to see how long it takes to boil these contaminants off, or if they can be removed effectively enough through regular charcoal and/or sand. All results will be posted and it's encouraged that others try as well and post any constructive ideas.

The following water purity tests were conducted with a TDS meter. TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids which are the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts, or metals dissolved in a given volume of water. TDS, which is based on conductivity, is expressed in parts per million (ppm). TDS includes any conductive inorganic element present other than the pure water molecules. TDS affects everything that consumes, lives in or uses water, from fish and plants to plumbing and laboratories. For people, the lower the TDS level in the water you drink, the more efficiently your body's cells are hydrated. The higher the TDS level in water, the greater the probability of harmful contaminants that can pose health risks or hinder the absorption of water. The U.S. EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level of TDS for human consumption is 500 ppm. Though I've seen water testing done first hand at a water treatment plant, and after the first stage of purification, the water was at 500 ppm and it looked dirty and smelled rotten. The purest water after all treatments was 50 ppm and was worthy of any bottled water. After this water made it's way through all the pipes to your house, it would no longer be so pure. TDS meters can be used to check the performance of water filters and ensure your tap water is acceptable.

The TDS meter used for these tests is brand new and I manually calibrated it using a hydroponic calibrating solution set at 342 ppm. When choosing a calibrating solution, make sure to get one that is closest to your target readings to ensure maximum accuracy. For example, 1500 ppm would be too high, but would still give you acceptable accuracy. The TDS meter used in these tests has an accuracy discrepancy of +/- 2%, which is very acceptable. Each water sample was tested multiple times to ensure accuracy as well. Here are the results from round 1 -

Hot tap water stored in a tank - 200 ppm
Iced Tea sweetened with HFCS - 180 ppm
Cold running tap water - 145-150 ppm
Cold tap water run through a Pure Source 2 water filter - 130 ppm
First cup of distilled water from aluminum/copper water distiller - 10 ppm
Second cup of distilled water from aluminum/copper water distiller - 7 ppm
First cup of distilled water from all stainless steel water distiller - 2 ppm
Third cup of distilled water from all stainless steel water distiller - 1 ppm

That is correct. There were only 1-2 particles per million detectable in the distilled water from the stainless steel distiller. It just doesn't get much purer than that. There were a few more particles detected in the aluminum/copper distilled water. The condensing pot used with that distiller was also aluminum. A very old pot that looked questionable but I used it anyway for the sake of science. 7-10 ppm is still incredibly pure and is too small of an amount to cause any long term problems. I would be more concerned about what the 130 ppm is in the filtered water, but still, that is as pure of water as a person really needs.

That leaves one of the final arguments, which is that somehow you will lose minerals by drinking distilled water. This one is hard to prove but I advise would-be survivors to use their common sense here. Nobody can say they rely on water for their mineral intake. You get these from the edible greens around you. Dandelions and Amaranth, for example, have all your minerals. I'm willing to bet that your kidneys will be happy at the increase in your distilled water intake, as you're easing their work load. Here is a link to some information about drinking distilled water and various regions that rely on it. There have never been any tests or experiments that prove distilled water is dangerous in any way. Many doctors say there is nothing wrong with drinking distilled water. The purer the water, the easier it is for your body to utilize and absorb. Your body works hard to purify the fluids it's given and distilled water eases the burden. There will be real problems in your midst that will take all your focus and energy. Having distilled water on hand will only make your life easier in the aftertime.

Here is a full view of the distiller with condensing pot on top. I ended up using the smaller 12 quart pot on bottom and the larger 16 quart pot on top.

Here is the distillation unit that has to be constructed. A 16" pizza pan connected to a 9" pie pan with 4 stainless steel tubes.

Close up of drain tube.

Here is the drain tube connection from inside the pie pan. It must be as flush as possible to allow for instant drainage.

Inside of the pie pan where distilled water collects and drains. Notice how the center has been pounded up and the area where the drain tube is connected has been pounded as flat as possible.

Here is the bottom of the pizza pan that sits on top of the bottom boiling pot.

Here is the 1/2" silicone tubing, split down the middle, being applied to the lip of the boiling pot in order to create the tightest seal.

Here is the silicone tubing fully applied

And finally a pic of the copper/aluminum prototype

Here are the plans provided by Howard that can be used by a professional metal worker or anyone with welding skills that you might know.

[Quo Vadis]

MegaMontana- I think you touched on something that I have a big belief in "redundancy" . I have multiple sets of the same thing. Distillers, Lamps, wood stoves, firearms, tools all the same brands and models. Should one fail, I have another and the failed one could still be used for parts. I don't think it matters what "type" of distiller you have, just HAVE a distiller (or three).

This was a good topic to post sir

[Quo Vadis]

MaturING soul :  )

astrogal50 said:

Quo Vadis:  It is so nice to see a mature soul who obviously gets it!

[Howard]

Many thanks to MegaMontana for posting this most vital blog.  I highly endorse this distiller design due to it's efficiency, versatility, water purity and low cost.  I've tried other distilling techniques, such as the bundt pan and the juicer steamer, but these yielded far less than the output of MegaMontana's design, and are therefore more consumptive of fuel.  While there may be ways to improve the overall efficiency of this distiller, I believe the versatility of this design outweighs any slight efficiency enhancements.

This distiller is essentially an insert that can be placed between ANYTHING that can boil water less than 16 inches in diameter.  Also, as water in the top condensing pot warms, this heat can be recycled by using this water to replace that which is boiling off in the bottom pot.

This distiller not difficult to build.  The drawings were produced to convey the concept so anyone could present them to a metalworker for fabrication, but there's a broad tolerance to these dimensions.  For instance, one could use a 14-inch pizza pan instead of a 16-inch; use 5/8" OD tubing instead of 1/2" OD; etc.  This beauty of this design is how it affords great flexibility of available resources and can be used with just about any boiler.  Below are links where each component can be ordered:

9" Stainless Steel Pie Pan:  $16.57
16" Stainless Steel Pizza Pan: $12.99
1/2" OD Stainless Steel Tubing (32 inches):  $13.72
1/4" OD Stainless Steel Tubing (8 inches):  $2.52
1/2" OD Heat Rated Silicone Tubing:  $14.85

A word of caution regarding the use of modified pressure cookers and pots with lids that are mechanically secured.  Water that is boiled in such a device achieves temperatures that approach 250 F (121 C).  While modern pressure cookers are equipped with safety mechanisms that prevent dangerous pressure build-up, any modifications or damage that disables these safety features can have disasterous results.  The same applies to clamping lids down on ordinary pots.  Without some form of pressure release, these systems can be extremely hazardous and not worth the risk, IMO.

Finally, anyone who proposes "better" methods for purifying water is hereby challenged to provide repeatable test results that approach the production rate and water purity that MegaMontana has accomplished.   Any claims absent of clear methodology and proven test results are entirely without merit.

[Lavonne]

Many thanks for the above valuable information MegaMontana and thank you for your review, ideas, and the approx. breakdown cost Howard.  Also nice to know I can present these drawings to a metal worker for fabrication as I don't have the equipment or expertise to do this!  EXTREMELY HELPFUL!!

[Quo Vadis]

Howard- I think proclaiming this type of challenge is really unnecessary to the greater message of distiller use. If anything, help others and promote the message of ANY distiller use possible. I can see that you put a lot of effort and research into your post and we appreciate it. I for one will not be goaded into a distillation contest and I don't think anyone else should be either. I feel that if someone does not have the resources or mechanical ability to construct the same distiller as yours, and feel more comfortable  with a simple pressure cooker from Walmart, they should be able to do so without feeling put down by an unnecessary challenge, which is the message that I perceived from the ending of your post. Be supportive of ANY distiller use please. 

For those with Pressure cooker distillers good for you, you will be one of the few on this planet that has one after the pole shift and you can drink safe water. For those with MegaMontana's distillers good for you, you will be one of the few on this planet that has one after the pole shift and you can drink safe water. For those with a plastic sheet and a catch cup distiller good for you, you will be one of the few on this planet that has one after the pole shift and you can drink safe water.

After the pole shift, you won't care what type of distiller you have, you will just be grateful to have one, if you survived.

Be supportive of ANY distiller use please.

[Howard]

Quo Vadis said:  "After the pole shift, you won't care what type of distiller you have, you will just be grateful to have one, if you survived."

I believe most would prefer to have a safe and productive distiller than a plastic sheet and a cup.  My challenge is directed at those who propose supposedly better water purification methods without the supporting evidence of test results.  Anyone who feels "goaded" to provide these results has little confidence in what they're proposing.

[Malou (Marie Louise) Geleff]

Thanks for your input(s), Howard. I was happy to see you mention the juice steamer above, as I´m short of a lot of money but will be close to huge amounts of trees=firewood.

[MegaMontana]

Howard explained himself but I feel I should insist that he never intended for a water distillation contest. I tried to express that I have an average IQ, in fact I would be embarrassed to post what my results are. I have NO metal working skills, this was my first attempt to work with metal. I had MANY FAILURES until finally I got it right. I've never had anyone in my life to teach me skills that I need in life. Those who say this design is too complicated are simply dragging their feet and pouting at the same time. There is no time for these feelings. To even begin to feel this way is a sign that you're not going to make it very far. And not because you couldn't, but because YOU CHOSE to follow such a path. You had time and help at your disposal but chose to waste it.

[Caren Stevenson]

I think the design is fabulous.  I'm not blessed with any welding skills, but I get the general picture.  I'm hoping that the couple of juice distillers I bought will suffice.  I will, however, be buying a pressure cooker and pots of various sizes as well, plus extra tubing etc, just in case.

[Malou (Marie Louise) Geleff]

This blog post is greatly appreciated Mega Montana !   Thanks for all your time AND effort to share and educate .

[Quo Vadis]

For those interested in this design, yet have no welding or soldering skills. I can recommend "JB Weld" as a possible alternative to welding. JB Weld is a 2 part compound that when mixed together hardens really, really hard. I am not sure about any toxicity in the compound, but it is an alternative to welding. I have picked up a lot of this stuff as it is amazing when it comes to repairing parts on metal and plastic equipment. It will be very handy in the aftertime. Very, very durable stuff when it comes to high heat and it can be found at any automotive parts store like Checker/Autozone here in the US also at Walmart and it's pretty inexpensive.

[astrogal50]

Nancy's recent reply to a (declined) question addresses some of the resistance many appear to have to the Zetas' repeated, strong recommendation to distill all drinking water in the Aftertimes.  Buying water filters -- that will run out and cannot come even close to covering all the bases -- is easy.  Obtaining the means to distill water is not as easy but completely doable, now.  The Zetas' advice should have been the end of discussion about this important topic, but obviously it was not. 

Choosing the easy way out could be a fatal, naive mistake, so why even take a chance?  Why are ning members continuing to insist they know better and, therefore, they can disregard the Zetas' excellent advice with impunity? 

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http://www.zetatalk.com/ning/07ma2011.htm

Attempts to be in control, despite the whirlwind of change a pole shift brings, is only one technique man will cling to as the times get tough. We have mentioned hand wringing whereby agonizing over the situation is expected to bring change. It will not. We have mentioned hand holding whereby we, the Zetas, or some human who is clutched by the throat is expected to lead the nervous one down every step they must take. This may bring comfort to the anxious one but is not a long-term solution as such demands will not be tolerated for long. Wanting to establish absolute control and insisting that others cooperate with such demands will likewise fail to bring comfort. It will not work, and will not be tolerated for long by others. Rather than bringing you security, you will find that such demands turn people from you, and ultimately you are in any case left to your own resources. (Emphasis added.)