30 Gallon Copper Moonshine Stills

Choosing the Right 30 Gallon Copper Still

All six stills here hold 30 gallons in the pot. The main differences are what comes with them, how they heat, and whether you build them yourself. Start with how you plan to work: do you want to unbox and run, or do you want to solder it together?

Here is a quick way to sort the options by the product titles:

• Advanced Model, Complete ($1,200): a ready-to-run pure copper still with pot, thumper and worm.
• Advanced Model with 6 Gallon Thumper and 6 Gallon Worm, 1/2 inch coil ($1,200 to $1,300): a complete setup with a larger thumper and worm listed by size.
• Patented Flame Flow™, Complete ($2,999): our top model, built for faster heat-up and more even temperature.
• EZ KIT Advanced Model ($699): a you-solder kit with an EZ Seal Cap and a 4 inch thumper port.

What Comes With a Complete 30 Gallon Moonshine Still

A complete still has three main parts. The pot holds your liquid and is heated from below. The thumper catches hot vapor and redistills it once more, which helps clean up the run. The worm is a copper coil in a tank of cool water. It turns vapor back into liquid so it can drip out the end.

On several models, the 6 gallon thumper and 6 gallon worm with a 1/2 inch coil are listed by name. If you want to learn more about that middle piece, read what a thumper keg is and how it works. Heat sources like burners are sold separately in our parts section.

Flame Flow™ or Advanced Model?

The Advanced Model is our classic copper design. It is a good fit if you want a proven, simple 30 gallon still at a fair price.

The Flame Flow™ still uses our patented technology (U.S. Patent 10,561,960). It is built for faster heat-up, even temperature, less wasted propane and less scorching. With a pot this big, those things matter more, because there is a lot of liquid to heat. If you run often and want the most control, Flame Flow is worth a look.

Why Heavy Copper Matters on a 30 Gallon Still

A 30 gallon pot holds a lot of weight when full. Thin copper can dent, bend or warp over time. We use 20 oz, 22 gauge American copper, which is much heavier than the thin copper on cheap imported stills. You can learn more in our guide on what thickness copper you need for a still.

Every still is cut, rolled, formed, soldered, tested, adjusted and inspected before it leaves Fort Wilkins. As Alchemist G.G. Wilkins, I like to say copper, heat and vapor reward the careful hand. A well-built still makes your work as an alchemist easier and more repeatable.

Is a 30 Gallon Still the Right Size for You?

A 30 gallon still is for people who want bigger batches without jumping to a large commercial size. It suits hobbyists making distilled water or essential oils in volume, or fuel ethanol with a free TTB permit. Don't fill the pot to the very top. Leave room for foam and vapor.

Not sure? Our sizing guide can help. If 30 gallons feels too big, see our 20 and 25 gallon copper stills. If you need more, look at our 50, 60 and 100 gallon stills. Like building things? Check out our DIY kits you solder.