re: anyone on here ever have any experience in the manufacturing of moonshine?

Well, the still part is simple - copper and stainless only in the vapor path as anything else can leach toxins over into the final product - Nothing - I mean nothing but copper and stainless. I build all of my stills out of a 15.5 stainless keg which you can get from just about any store that sells them. The most I have ever paid for one is like 75.00 from there you need to build you head - out of copper of course. a 2 inch copper pipe fits up nice with the keg and you can get a adapter from hillbilly stills to save some time and effort. ask any questions you would like - I will do my best to answer them.