Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I have been looking into getting some scoria lately. I went to a couple of landscaping places with no luck.
A guy at the last place I tried said the quarry in Victoria shut up shop (apparently the only place it came from within the country)
I have a couple of bags of the bunnings stuff but it's diameter is a little small for what I want, it also seems a little glossy on the outside and not as porous as others have described who are getting good results.
Have eyed off the bags of LavaRock in the BBQ section of bunnings but I am after about 100 litres so that would blow the budget.
Looking for stuff 14mm to 20mm or larger that I can attack with a hammer.
Can people share their sources in the greater sydney basin area? Not afraid of a drive to get what I need.

( I feel kinda silly posting......this stuff was everywhere when I was growing up, feels like I'm saying "need red bricks,I can't find them anywhere'' :)) )

you realize that 100 litres will fill 13m of 4" column?

Hi AL,

I do realise that.
I need about 35 litres, a mate needs about 20 litres and I'm adding a fudge factor for reject rock and such.
Just so people didn't assume I was adding a packed section on top of a 4 inch plated column.

What do you need it for? Packed section round one went to Bunnings had 10-15mm size rock was a fail 93 abv 4 plates 600mm packed. Went back to Bunnings all big rock bags gone now bags have small rock 5mm max worx like a charm 95+ :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Packed section round 1 vs round 2. Round 2 used the smaller rock. My advice grab it while it's small..

Thanks for your input.
I'll take that on board.
The small stuff in your photo looks great, the bags I got look like marbles, smooth on the outside almost glossy looking. Searched through the pile of bags to try and find good ones. Fail. Maybe I just got a bung lot??

Looking to fully pack a large column. No bubble caps.

Have you taken a photo and zoomed in to have a close look?

Lols, I'll take a stab, I think you gave it away with the 35l, 2m of 6"??

If that's the case, how heavily have you researched the size requirements for the packing, my readings suggest that 6" columns are much more finicky about size vs a 4"

What type of head do you want to use?

2m 6" epic reflux still.. :music-deathmetal:

Epic boka

Don't really want to talk about the build at the moment gentlemen.
Just want to hover in the shadows and do my R&D for a while.
Research has been happening for a few years ( as well as the build )
I am aware of the reflux distribution challanges among other things.
Will be VM not LM
Just wanna talk scoria on this one. And have the info sitting here for anyone in the future who are on a similar search.

Thanks for your input
Cheers

Column size will have a direct impact on packing size and type :-B

Yes, I do understand that.Thanks for the heads up. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
That's why I'm looking for scoria in 14 mm and 20mm size range.
I've read posts by others ie. Crow, saying that they would try a mix of sizes.
Some have said hit it with a hammer and and sort out the stuff till around 10mm (for a 4" column)
These are for packed sections above plated columns.
Haven't really come across anyone who is using a full packed column of scoria that I can remember.
Only a few scraps if info out there about 6 inch packed sections, if there are threads about packed columns of that size, they have eluded me.
Not a overly discussed topic.
The saga that was making SPP for my current rig has left me with a nervous twitch.I did not want to undertake such a mammoth effort on this one.
I wanted to start with a large diameter scoria. Test it. Repack with a smaller diameter. Test it. Pack with the small stuff.Test it
Just wanted options
Am going to use recommended SPP sizes/ratios as guidelines.
Wanted to see how the different sized packing work with mesh cones every 500mm like Riku has found.
And compare it to the reflux distribution plates that Harry has shown examples of when he was still active.
(If your out there Harry, your knowledge, advice and guidance are missed in the distilling community)

So, really I'm just asking if anyone knows of a place to buy run of the mill landscape scoria in the Sydney area. :D

I can't see why bigger sizes are needed. As long ad it's not packed so tight it blocks.. I would think larger stones would just decrease surface area. I gained 2% abv to switching to small rocks..Maybe some big stones to support the smaller ones on end plate. But I am very much a newbie when it comes to reflux setups. And just my 2c..

Bluc, the ratio of open space has to be maintained, with the smaller diameter stones it will pack in denser and flood quickly

Your setup hasn't got enough power or reflux capacity to push the 4" packed to the max, so the smaller rocks work for you

Ahh now I see bigger colum more power more reflux more open area :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Australian native landscapes

https://anlscape.com.au/Products/gravel ... ravel-20mm

Ahhhh!

I forgot about anal.
They have 14mm and 20mm! Half ton minimum for pick up.
I called too many places that still had scoria on their website but not in stock that when old fella at the last place said it was all gone it seemed real.

Hats off to you ant b
Cheers

They have it for sale in New Zealand a lot cheaper do they mine it there if so may be worth someone importing.

spiltdrink wrote:Ahhhh!

I forgot about anal.

Um :scared-eek:

:laughing-rolling: