There's a lot of good info in this thread. My simplified version that I've been using for 20 years:
I make my still from a pressure cooker, removing the pressure gauge and attaching a double male fitting in its place. Buy a small roll of copper tubing -- I think I used 3/8"? -- that is already coiled in its box. I think I bought like 10 ft. Anyway, I straightened out a few feet of the coil of copper tubing, bent that end 90 degrees and attached it to fitting I inserted in pressure cooker lid. I then insert the still coiled end into a 5 gallon bucket, straightening the last 6 or so inches and inserting it through a predrilled home in the bottom/side of the bucket, then silicone around hole/copper line to seal. I attach a water hose to a fitting I inserted in the side, at bottom of bucket, attached to my sink, and crack the valve a tad to super slowly fill the bucket. Another hose fitting at the top side is attached to another hose that runs to the sink or to the yard for overflow water. Basically the water cools the copper coil.
I heat the pressure cooker on my stove, a hot plate or a little more dangerous propane turkey fryer base outside.
My mash is similar to the first one in the thread. I put 5 pounds cracked corn, 5 pounds sugar and a pack of yeast in a 5 gallon bucket and fill with spring water. Place a grain sack or large cloth of some kind over bucket. I taste with my finger daily and when the sweet is gone and the alcohol is strong, you are ready to strain off your liquid (beer) and add to still.
I strain my shine through a coffee filter as it comes out and throw away the first cup or so. The proper flow rate is drip, drip, drip, run a second or three, drip, drip, drip, etc. when the shine no longer ignites I stop and run for a second time, what I've already distilled. I usually get 3+ quarts of strong double run, that gets cut to 90 proof with KY spring water.
You can freeze 2 liter bottles of water and insert them into prefilled with water bucket, between coils, in place of running water. You can also just keep bucket filled with ice.