Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

After months of learning from the forum it looks like I’m building a 4 inch bubbler. I am time poor at the moment so I am only building up a prototype 4” tee, once I have figure it all out I intend to build a 5 plate plus packed section modular bubbler probably on a 50 litre boiler.
I’m using 4” stainless steel tri-clamps and ferrules and 3” screw on sight window coupled with a plumbing 4x4x3 female copper tee. They are not soldered at the moment but the important thing is they fit together. For the plate I split a short length of 4” copper and flattened it (harder job than I thought) I cut out 5 discs 106.2mm diam x 1.6mm using a jig saw then finished off the size in the lathe. I mounted a tri clamp ferrule in the 4 jaw chuck in the lathe and recessed the flange for the depth and diameter of the plate. This allows me to use the standard ribbed PTFE gasket. Still have a lot of learning to do, bubble caps/rc size/pc size/parrot size/boiler. Luckily I’m not in a hurry. Pictures may help have a look.
Cheers Gixxer
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Bloody show off!

Seriously though, looks magnificent, looking forward to the rest!

Chocko

People like you just make me . . . . wish I lived next door to them.
Beautiful work. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Excellent set of skills. I can't wait to see how this build progresses.

Very nice work :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Good stuff mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Just one question, where the heck is Rydalmere? Always check the bench or background before posting pics :teasing-tease:

Doubleuj wrote:Always check the bench or background before posting pics :teasing-tease:

He would have, but clearly he didn't have his glasses on :teasing-tease:

Nice work, love seeing new bubblers being built.

Prime job.

Keep uppa, don’t lose momentum. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Good job keep it up. Love watching bubblers born :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Hi all, I had a bit of time yesterday and had a go at making a bubble cap and downcomer. I used straight pipe and silver soldered a cap on the end after cutting slots etc. These are only prototype but I've decided to go with 5/8" upcomers with 20mm flood height and 3 rectangular slots 6x12mm at the top. The caps are 1" with 10 slots 3x7mm. The downcomer is 3/4" with a 19mm flood height a 5/8" tube is soldered inside to extend downwards, the same slots and bubble cap are used for both bubble cap and downcomer.
From reading the forum it would seem the popular choice for bubble caps would be 3/4" upcomer with 1" cap but when I checked the cross sectional areas I found the 5/8" gives a more balanced equation. I was comparing the square millimeters of the upcomer tube/bubble cap annular area and then plan for slots with similar area. If I get past the design stage I will need to make a few jigs and gismos to ease the pain of 55 caps and 5 downcomers.
Cheers Gixxer

edit, not 55 caps more like 25....oops

Yep the pain of cutting slots is real :laughing-rolling:

I would rethink your slot size though... generally they are 1mm thick, 5mm high and every 5mm around the cap. This will give you smaller bubbles and will help the vapor infuse the liquid better.

Watch your fingers while cutting them slots! Good luck

I would suggest an old 18 gallon keg. U can always put less in it :handgestures-thumbupleft: and they good size for a 4”

Thanks woodduck and wobblyboot all advice is welcome.Woodduck, I will review the bubble cap slot sizes and hopefully I can build some sort of jig to avoid setting out and cutting hundreds of slots. Wobblyboot, that is good confirmation as I have an option on 2 x 18 gal kegs for less than mates rates. I'm not in a hurry for this build as really haven't enough room to operate where I currently live but I do want to be sure of the design and my ability to make or obtain all the parts when the time comes.
cheers gixxer

Your current a lot style will work for the downcomers just not for the caps, so that saves a few slots.
If you have access to an indexing head that would be a win.

Set up a slitting saw and make a cut, index and go again.
You would only have to do 1/2 the number cuts as the slitting saw will cut both sides of the cap in 1 pass.

Or maybe set up a frame in your tool post and lock the lathe chuck in low gear, rotate the chuck a bit and make a pass.
Might not be able to do both sides of the cap in 1 go depending on how much overtravel you cross and compound slide will give you.

If you dont have an indexing head, print off a large protractor (Automotive cam degree wheels are available to download readily)

I do have an index disc and spindle lock on my lathe that I use for slotting keyways and cutting gears but I don't think copper will like that much, might need some sort of toolpost grinder with a disc or slotting saw.
Cheers Gixxer

I like your idea for plate placement, don't have your gear or skills, luckily I have a brother in law that does, I'm contemplating another build for white sprits and gin. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Yep I have tool envy too. My builds are done with hacksaw, files, hammer and angle grinder. Oh and step drill bits are a huge help. Don't even have an anvil, a stoning hammer is my anvil.

Good work gixxer, keep going.