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Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 4:01 pm
by Chocko6969
Hi all, just thought I'd share this little project with you.
I haven't soldered since high school so thought I would make something up with an old length of 32mm pipe I found lying around the yard of the house we bought earlier in the year. I was strictly using this as practice before commencing my bubbler build as I want that to be better quality than this.
For the last decade or so I've been using a plain old pot still and turbos, and very much looking forward to getting into better production with a bubbler, methods and recipes, can't wait to be honest. This is where I had the idea for 'The Trombone' Z-filter, as I have about 12ltrs of alcohol (Turbo's) to be filtered. I know there are some that still filter and this may be of interest.
First I cut all pieces, then soaked in Citric bath for half a day which worked a treat. First 2 attempts at soldering were disastrous and went back to some topics here from the workbench plus YouTube, and tried again. Much better result and put my head right as far as heat control goes.
The bottom union is so I can remove it to insert coffee filters and/or cotton wool for the carbon dust. SS 1/2" valve to control flow out.
There will also be a 4" to 2" reducer on top plus 6-9" of 4" pipe at the top for a reservoir to feed it. The whole thing will just sit on a hook and drip into a huge 23tr glass bottle.
I'm still sourcing all my copper for the bubbler but will hopefully get my hands on some soon and make a start.
Cheers!

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Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 4:10 pm
by bluc
Wont you end up with spirit trapped? Unable to empty the filter?

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 4:20 pm
by Chocko6969
bluc wrote:Wont you end up with spirit trapped? Unable to empty the filter?


Yes I reckon you're right, but the amount that will remain trapped should be minimal compared to what's going through. My plan was to use the carbon that will be in it to the extent that it's no longer working and then replace it. The 3 lengths are 600 and 700mm in length, so probably almost twice that of traditional plastic Z's so should be able to push a bit through with the head pressure alone. I can empty and change out the carbon with the union at the bottom, just a hose connected there and push water through.
The whole exercise itself was to practice soldering, and if I find it's not so great then it's just another bit of copper bling I can hang in my cave and admire the shiny bits!

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 4:24 pm
by bluc
Sweet :D looks good did good job of the solder btw better than my efforts :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 4:26 pm
by coffe addict
A few litres of water after the alcohol stops should push the last of it through albeit at a slightly lower abv.

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 4:28 pm
by Chocko6969
coffe addict wrote:A few litres of water after the alcohol stops should push the last of it through albeit at a slightly lower abv.


Yes good thinking, thanks!

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 6:49 pm
by Chocko6969
bluc wrote:Sweet :D looks good did good job of the solder btw better than my efforts :handgestures-thumbupleft:


Thanks for that, lucky you can't see the other side! :? I'll fill it with Citric wash and leave it for a day, that should tell me if there's anything ordinary!

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 6:03 am
by Dick Jane
coffe addict wrote:A few litres of water after the alcohol stops should push the last of it through albeit at a slightly lower abv.


Newbie question time.

Why wouldn't you just put a drain cock in the bottom and just drain it into your tails at the end of the run?

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 4:55 pm
by Chocko6969
Dick Jane wrote:
coffe addict wrote:A few litres of water after the alcohol stops should push the last of it through albeit at a slightly lower abv.


Newbie question time.

Why wouldn't you just put a drain cock in the bottom and just drain it into your tails at the end of the run?


Sorry mate I'm not sure what you're asking here? This is a activated carbon filter, not part of a still. There will be
"The bottom union is so I can remove it to insert coffee filters and/or cotton wool for the carbon dust. SS 1/2" valve to control flow out."

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 5:39 pm
by RC Al
A drain at the bottom of the first bend to recover all the product?

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 6:06 pm
by Chocko6969
RC Al wrote:A drain at the bottom of the first bend to recover all the product?


Yes great idea, probably wouldn't be too hard to fit one. Cheers! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 6:43 pm
by Sam.
I would also rethink the use of brass with spirit :-B

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 7:04 pm
by Dick Jane
Chocko6969 wrote:
Dick Jane wrote:
coffe addict wrote:A few litres of water after the alcohol stops should push the last of it through albeit at a slightly lower abv.


Newbie question time.

Why wouldn't you just put a drain cock in the bottom and just drain it into your tails at the end of the run?


Sorry mate I'm not sure what you're asking here? This is a activated carbon filter, not part of a still. There will be
"The bottom union is so I can remove it to insert coffee filters and/or cotton wool for the carbon dust. SS 1/2" valve to control flow out."


Fair enough. What I was trying to say was rather than tip water in to push the fluid through you could just drain the unfilted product out and use it elswhere.

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 7:23 pm
by Chocko6969
Dick Jane wrote:
Chocko6969 wrote:
Dick Jane wrote:
coffe addict wrote:A few litres of water after the alcohol stops should push the last of it through albeit at a slightly lower abv.


Newbie question time.

Why wouldn't you just put a drain cock in the bottom and just drain it into your tails at the end of the run?


Sorry mate I'm not sure what you're asking here? This is a activated carbon filter, not part of a still. There will be
"The bottom union is so I can remove it to insert coffee filters and/or cotton wool for the carbon dust. SS 1/2" valve to control flow out."


Fair enough. What I was trying to say was rather than tip water in to push the fluid through you could just drain the unfilted product out and use it elswhere.


Sorry mate I didn't quite get that from your earlier question, yes that's a good idea, might have to do that. Cheers

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 7:04 pm
by scythe
Could you not add an eblow to each end of the Z and use it horizontally?
It will still filter.

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 7:15 pm
by RC Al
The vertical bit helps with channeling, horizontal would be guaranteed to form a stream along the bottom and miss most of the carbon

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 7:22 pm
by Chocko6969
RC Al wrote:The vertical bit helps with channeling, horizontal would be guaranteed to form a stream along the bottom and miss most of the carbon


Yes I agree Al, plus it will only be a trickle exiting the valve to have a long contact time with the carbon.

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 7:34 pm
by scythe
Liquid will take the path of least resistance all day every day, horizontally or vertically.
My understanding of carbon filtering is that it is a slow process, so the fussel oils will have time to float on top of any stream formed and be filtered by the carbon.

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:29 pm
by Chocko6969
Sam. wrote:I would also rethink the use of brass with spirit :-B


Could you tell me more Sam, I wasn't aware there's an issue with brass contacting alcohol?

Re: Soldering practice - 'The Trombone' Carbon Z-filter

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:41 pm
by Chocko6969
Chocko6969 wrote:
Sam. wrote:I would also rethink the use of brass with spirit :-B


Could you tell me more Sam, I wasn't aware there's an issue with brass contacting alcohol?


Never mind, I've found the 365000 posts on brass ;-)