1st time at this level.....

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
The distiller sounds pretty cool what's the price tag on one ?.
I went looking for the one I wanted to buy but couldn't find it now. It was just like this kind but had adjustable temp control so you could dial it down for alcohol and was $169. These ones are just fill up with water then turn on but no temp control. I'm pretty sure I could control the temp with my variac but then I'll have to watch it all the time when doing alcohols or naphtha and I wanted more set and forget action.


I did find this one which would work like my DIY unit for $195 but is a bit nicer being all stainless steel with the condensor built into the top. 10L capacity too so that would be nice for doing mash but I'm not actually brewing my own own alcohol tho have. My DIY unit uses a glass bottle inside a big soup pot on a hotplate with a copper tube running to a copper coil in a coffee can full of antifreeze. A 2L pop bottle full of salted, frozen water sits in the coffee can coil to provide cooling. It holds 4L plus I have a smaller bottle that holds only 1.5L for smaller batches.


My DIY condensor.

StillCondenser01.jpg

:peace:
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
I started talking with a guy that has some used equipment. Thoughts??
Prices seem decent if it all works. A new 630w CMH isn't cheap tho if for sure it's the bulb that's shot and not the ballast cause tho aren't cheap either.

A 1000W HPS is a hot light so cooling may be the next expensive thing to consider. A/C isn't cheap to run either. I'm lucky as I have a cool basement to grow in so I have no problem running my 1000W light. I just picked up 3 used 600w digitals with Hortilux SHPS bulbs and reflectors for $60 each set at a hydro store in BC when I was out last Dec. With our power costs it's $90/mth to run 1000W 12 hours/day so there's another expense. I'm liking the 600s and bought a new 600w MH conversion bulb so I can use one for veg if I want but I have a 400MH and 3 - 400W HPS magnetic ballasts and bulbs too.

:peace:
 

KootenayDIY

Well-Known Member
Try growlights.ca indoorgrowingcanada.ca and Amazon.ca. I’d say buy new over used. Most growers won’t sell stuff that works just the stuff they moved on from.
 

etruthfx

Well-Known Member
I started talking with a guy that has some used equipment. Thoughts??
Personally I would stay away from used equipment from secondhand. Maybe the used section in the grow store might be different but chances are something is funny when dealing with used equipment. Unless you get it at a remarkable low deal I'd not do it. Anything could be wrong with the ballast and those are 250$ for a CMH.
Last week my 315 CMH ballast went out and I was panicking. I took it to my local grow store where I purchase everything and they swapped it off the shelf with no cost, luckily my 3 year warranty had 2 months left.
That's what you are paying for when you go to the grow store, the ease of warranty to swap it out without sending it in. So if it's an emergency item like a ballast go through the local guy so don't have to send shit in. Amazon has warranty policy aswell but you have to wait, don't want to be stuck with your plants in the dark and no money for a ballast.
Oh yeah sometimes the local stores have ballast + bulb deals that might not be listed. It's worth asking about.
 

FastFreddi

Well-Known Member
Even on a budget, plan accordingly. Having extras of the most important items for grow equipment is a must if you are serious about growing.
When a light goes out in flower, during say holidays? No one is open...local or mail. Then what?
So if possible....
FF
 
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