Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hey guys i've just kicked off a 3" bubbler build and I've decided to go a plate tree with 2 x 1" caps rather than perf plates. Just wondering with the seating of the plate tree whether or not I need a perfect seal around it. I've been struggling to get it to seal perfectly so any advice is much appreciated.

Have you got sight glasses? Really depends if it holds a bath. If it holds a bath should be fine.
Have you tried wrapping plate edges with thread tape to seal them?
How big of gaps are we talking?

Nah mate no sightglasses. Gaps are fairly small but the water does leak out fairly quickly. Have tried thread tape but i may need to go a little heavier on it. Seems to just be tearing and not making any difference.

You thought about adding a weir to the plate to aid in sealing it?

Honestly i hadn't since it seemed like a lot of effort and kind of beyond my skill level but i'll give it some thought.

How about some ptfe u channel? I think it was magnus who made a glasser from a full length boro tube. Used ptfe u channel round the edge of the plates to seal to the boro tube. Here the thread https://www.aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=8803 bottom of first page

Yeah I did see that and give it some thought however at this point I think I'm just gonna solder then in. Thanks anyway though bluc, really appreciate the help.

I would think, and I just asked woodduck the same question on his build, that you wouldn't need a perfect seal. Lots of dudes have a small single hole in their bubble cap plates to allow the plates to drain after flame out. The vapour will overcome them. If not, increase power, or reflux so it does.
Without sight glasses how do you make sure your not flooding plates? I'd want at least one?

Hey maddog I ended up being able to solder them all up so no dramas on that. Honestly just going off macs advice on the how to run a bubbler post and all the responses to it I figured I would try his method. A heap of people on there said that even without sight glasses they were able to run it fine by following his advice. The way I see it I'm not looking to sell my booze so a little trial and error shouldn't be too big of an issue :handgestures-thumbupleft: