New boiler and still

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New boiler and still

Postby dave from downunder » Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:39 pm

Hi All

I have almost finished my new boiler made from a 50lt beer keg (one of the wide ones).
I have fitted 2 x 2000w elements to the keg and have had a top cut from 5mm stainless.
I am looking at fitting a duel 2 inch bubbler followed by a 48 inch reflux riser and then to a gattling gun condenser.
I am looking at dual water supplies with a separate pump for the condenser and the reflux.
As an electrician I have access to copper wire and will load the colomn with large amounts of copper strands scrunched into balls from 0.012mm copper strands.
This will be my first build as I have just finished a proofing parrot and I am running all grain recipes and the last two wer an oat whiskey and a rye whiskey.
I currently have about 30lt of strip from each.
I have a question though..
How far from the top should the take off from the reflux column be.
I have a 65mm t piece and the t is at about 3.5 inches from the top.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated .
I am slowly working my way through the tried and true recipes and I do like the tpw for vodka although I find it better after sitting the 45% spirit on activated carbon for a week then filtering. seems to have an almost sweet taste after that.


Cheers and Thanks in advance
Dave
dave from downunder
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:49 pm
Location: Brisbane
equipment: Turbo 500 boiler
Still Spirits Alembic pot still
Still Spirits t500 reflux still
50 lt dual element Keg biler
2.5 inch tri-clamp column 750mm long
Modular 2.5 inch sight glasses with bubble plates.
2.5 inch pot with 400 mm riser and sight glass.
50mm condenser with 4 x 12 mm tubes spiralled inside
fFull safety plc controlled boiler and still control box

Re: New boiler and still

Postby dave from downunder » Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:49 pm

y the way I can highly recommend the oat whiskey.
It takes quite a long time to ferment and is fairly thick but thins out as it ferments.
It only dropped to about 1.25 on the hydrometer and could not get an accurate start reading as it was so thick.
The smell coming from the still was great and the taste is very yummy and unique.
And to add to that it was only 18 dollars for 20kg of hulled oats from the produce.

I can not wait to taste it after being in the oak barrel for a while.

I have just ordered 4 x 10lt oak barrels and 2 x 28 lt barrels. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers
Dave
dave from downunder
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:49 pm
Location: Brisbane
equipment: Turbo 500 boiler
Still Spirits Alembic pot still
Still Spirits t500 reflux still
50 lt dual element Keg biler
2.5 inch tri-clamp column 750mm long
Modular 2.5 inch sight glasses with bubble plates.
2.5 inch pot with 400 mm riser and sight glass.
50mm condenser with 4 x 12 mm tubes spiralled inside
fFull safety plc controlled boiler and still control box

Re: New boiler and still

Postby Zak Griffin » Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:50 pm

Dual 2" bubbler? Top made of 5mm plate?

Gunna need some pics here man, not really sure what you've done haha
Zak Griffin
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: New boiler and still

Postby bluc » Sun Nov 05, 2017 8:06 pm

:text-+1: we need pics :D
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: New boiler and still

Postby A&O » Sun Nov 05, 2017 8:35 pm

Mate, who did you get your barrels from?

:text-worthless:
A&O
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:01 pm
Location: Albany, WA
equipment: 4" 7 foot Blockhead Column - 5 Plate + 500mm Packed section
50L Converted upside down keg

Re: New boiler and still

Postby hillzabilly » Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:16 am

Hey Dave ,sounds like ya doing a one of a kind still,nothing wrong with that but the lads could probbably help you more with a sketch or pics,the benefit of the forum is a few of us have tryed going of track from the herds ,can work out well or leave ya with an expensive paper weight,I have one or two myself wich is ok because I love building and makeing things and there are not many places were you can do what ya want these days,I would recommend starting out with a known quantity and learn the basic fundermentals then add your spin to it ,and donot underestimate the dangers of distilling a floored desighn could lead to a serious fire and personell harm wich is not good for the future of hobby distilling or your health and home.cheers hillzabilly ;-)
hillzabilly
 
Posts: 1509
Images: 0
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:18 pm
Location: PERTH WEST AUSSIE
equipment: 10 gallon OZARK pot still ,2inch and 3inch Nixon Stone coloum stills ,10 and 18 gal beer keg boilers,5gal thumper keg.And the one and only 4" Five Star Southern Cross .

Re: New boiler and still

Postby dave from downunder » Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:10 pm

A&O wrote:Mate, who did you get your barrels from?

:text-worthless:

I buy them from a local guy up near Redclife .
He makes really good barrels at a very reasonable price.
He is on ebay and sells under the name "coopercreations".
They are made to order and toasted and charred to your requirements.
I have bought a couple of other barrels of ebay and they are crap in comparison.
dave from downunder
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:49 pm
Location: Brisbane
equipment: Turbo 500 boiler
Still Spirits Alembic pot still
Still Spirits t500 reflux still
50 lt dual element Keg biler
2.5 inch tri-clamp column 750mm long
Modular 2.5 inch sight glasses with bubble plates.
2.5 inch pot with 400 mm riser and sight glass.
50mm condenser with 4 x 12 mm tubes spiralled inside
fFull safety plc controlled boiler and still control box

Re: New boiler and still

Postby A&O » Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:29 pm

Nice, thanks
A&O
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:01 pm
Location: Albany, WA
equipment: 4" 7 foot Blockhead Column - 5 Plate + 500mm Packed section
50L Converted upside down keg

Re: New boiler and still

Postby bluc » Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:39 pm

My rum barrel is from him. Nice barrel does a good job :handgestures-thumbupleft:
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: New boiler and still

Postby scythe » Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:37 am

Given Mac does not make barrels posting this should be fine:
http://stores.ebay.com.au//thecoopersshop
scythe
 
Posts: 1860
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 6:34 am
Location: Central West NSW
equipment: Dreaming of a 4" bubbler

Re: New boiler and still

Postby warramungas » Wed Nov 08, 2017 10:20 am

Dual columns running at the same time are not the best option if you can avoid it. The vapor will travel up the path of least resistance so if one has a little less pressure more vapor (possibly all unless you really pump juice into it) will head up that way.
Also 2" bubblers work but bang for buck are really slow. Trust me, I know.
A pic or drawing of what you're intending to do would help.
Cheers,
Warra
warramungas
 
Posts: 1436
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:38 pm
Location: Nor Perth
equipment: 180 litre fermenter x 2
30 liter boiler
PDA-1
2" four plate modular bubbler
2" one meter long LM column
110 liter boiler with 25 liter (max) inline thumper
4" x 4 plate bubble cap still


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