The second wife build

Perforated & bubble cap plated columns

Re: The second wife build

Postby RuddyCrazy » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:45 pm

G'Day A&O,
Eh mate one thing I noticed when I looked at the still pic, that 1/2" pipe coming down off the PC doesn't have a breather attached which may cause a issue down the track. A 1/2" tee and 90 degree along with an off cut of 1/2" works a treat.

Cheers Bryan
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:26 pm

Yep your right Brian. That’s the outlet for the product to go directly in the collection jars. Please correct me if I’ve understood this wrongly, through the reading I’ve done the breather is for when it’s sealed to the parrot?

Anyway that mark 1 is about to be mark 2 as I knocked it off the bench and snapped the long outlet off, which may have been a blessing in disguise as I think it was too long.

The RC is soldered & pressure tested overnight. I’m laughing so much every time I look at is for all the solder I’ve used on it. It’s ugly as sin but fucked if I was going to get water leaks this time round. Luckily I had a couple of rolls of aqua safe donated from an ex work place.
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Re: The second wife build

Postby woodduck » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:03 pm

:scared-eek: hell that certainly is alot of solder :laughing-rolling: you definitely made sure of it this time. Hope she holds up well :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:30 pm

So as to not hijack AC3000’s thread.

RC Al wrote:I like your resourcefulness, but you may have to work out a way to make some individual height adjustment on the wheels or have a very good pad to sit it on. To a greater or lesser extent, most still types bar pots work best perfectly plumb/level


Yep got that under control. The wheels have a bolt going up into the leg. It’s as simple as loosening off the bolt & slip in a slotted washer as a shim. Until everything is together & bolted up, I really don’t know how straight she’s gonna stand. As much as I have tried to get the easy flanges flat, they are all a bit off so there will be a bit of a twist going on to get her standing reasonably straight.
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Re: The second wife build

Postby woodduck » Thu Mar 22, 2018 7:04 am

Do the best you can mate but it's not as critical as we might think. It will definitely help if you can get it level especially with a packed section as you want that reflux going straight down the centre of the packing. My stills do lean a bit because I'm too lasy to adjust the feet :laughing-rolling: and they still seem to work for me :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Sun Apr 08, 2018 12:53 pm

Look what I got!!!!!!

I’m going to be busy today.
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Sun Apr 08, 2018 1:05 pm

Has anyone ever used carpet underlay as insulation for their boiler??
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Re: The second wife build

Postby Lowie » Sun Apr 08, 2018 8:40 pm

Nope, but any insulation is better than nothing. Keep in mind though, if you make it permanent and you get any leaks (and you will) that insulation will get a bit on the nose!
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:52 pm

Oh boy, it’s looking good. But I’ve lost all my 4” silicon seals. Fucked if I can find them.

Anyway, started at the bottom. Put the 2” bend, adapter, reducer, valve & cam lock fittings together & put on the boiler.

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I splayed out the caster wheels and dropped the level on her big mouth, and spot on.

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All the glass sections had a bath in the dishwasher and the caps & plates in a bucket with citric acid. Stuffed the packed section with stainless scrubbers. God only knows if that’s done right. I’ve alternated the way I’ve stuck them in and tried not to pack em down too tight. So will see how we fair.

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AB23AD02-BE77-4815-83F5-9CD71766B886.jpeg


Not sure if I’ve left enough room at the top below the RC. It’s about 30mm, is that enough?

I’m so pissed off I can’t find my seals, but never mind, I’ll just order more. Then I’ll find em most likely.

So enough waffle, her she is, minus 1 glass section, need to get some couplers & 75mm bolts, then it’s gonna be 5 plates, 500mm packed section and bloody tall.
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:53 pm

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Re: The second wife build

Postby woodduck » Mon Apr 09, 2018 7:11 am

She's looking good mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

What sort of cap do you have on your fill port? Looks interesting...

Are those wheels nice a sturdy? They would scare me cause I can't drive a shopping trolly for shit, I'd be worried I'd have to chase it around the shed all day :teasing-tease: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby db1979 » Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:35 am

Well done mate :clap: been following this thread and it's awesome to see her done. Let us know how she runs :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby Plumby » Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:56 am

Looks great mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:
One thing I did notice is that your shed is entirely way too neat and tidy :laughing-rolling:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Mon Apr 09, 2018 10:24 am

Thanks guys, long time coming and finally can see light at the end of the tunnel.

8FF538B2-4832-43C9-ABED-43CF90EC0D70.jpeg


The fill port & top of the block head I knocked up as the stainless port covers I got were wrong size, fool me for ordering from China, I knew I shouldn’t have and karma bit me.

Yeah lovely clean tidy shed hey Plumby. My old one burnt down last May and haven’t collected enough shit to fill the new one up yet, the local garage sales are coping a flogging :handgestures-thumbupleft: :laughing-rolling:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:19 pm

Fucken bastard pricks have cloned the misses credit card and maxed the sucker out so can’t buy anything over the phone. So no flange gaskets this week. Might have to take a trip to Perth :whistle:
Last edited by A&O on Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The second wife build

Postby woodduck » Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:31 pm

Bastards! :violence-smack: Sorry to hear that mate. I hope they catch the bastards or you at least get your money back. How dare they stop production of a bubbler :teasing-nutkick:
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:36 pm

Yeah all will be good, bank are good for sorting this stuff out but it just takes so bloody long to get cards sent out.
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Re: The second wife build

Postby hillzabilly » Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:31 pm

Hey mate how many 4inch seals are ya chasein ?.cheers hillzabilly
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Re: The second wife build

Postby mattyb » Thu May 10, 2018 10:17 pm

Have you run this bad boy yet????
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Re: The second wife build

Postby A&O » Sat May 12, 2018 11:04 pm

Huge thanks to everyone for your help, support, criticism and encouragement :handgestures-thumbupleft: ^:)^ :text-thankyoublue:

Yep, mattb she lives, tonight was the maiden run.

Hillzabilly big thanks for those gaskets, your a legend.

Sparky finally came, wired up the elements & run separate earth to the keg from both elements, he didn’t trust enough contact between the element covers to the keg was enough. Who am I to argue.

Fired her up with a belly of water and she lives, but there’s a leak at the RV & blockhead, so after the mother’s day picnic hoping to get some time to investigate.

It’s going to take a bit of learning through practice but the hard work is mostly done.

So once iv got all the leaks sorted, I’ve got 20l of vinegar to run and 45l oh TPW waiting for a sac run.

Happy days :D
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