plate size

[Nathan02]

Hey guys, my plates are about 1mm to small in diameter to the ID of my 4" column. I was going to wrap some white plumbers thread tape around the outside of the plate to beef them out a bit. My question being, is because it will be sitting in the alcohol bath, is it ok to use (ptfe?)? I thought I remember reading somewhere that the white was ok to use. Any clarification on this from someone in the know would be fantastic.

[db1979]

Should be ok. How are you installing your plates? If it's a plate tree then the PTFE will make it easier to slide in the plates.

[Nathan02]

Hi mate, no its not a plate tree its modular. They are just that touch to small and don't clamp in firmly with the modules tri clamped together. I am amso thinking that it may effect plate performance as it will give vapour a different path to travel other then up through the plates.

Cheers

[bluc]

Plates need to seal between modules or to wall of section. You could always solder them in in a pinch..I use some thread tape around edge of mine..just so you know the colour dissapears from the blue and pink white seems to stay white..

[db1979]

Looks like from your other posts you're building out of copper. Have you considered soldering your plates in place in each module? Soft solder can bridge gaps as big as 1 mm.

Beaten by bluc

[RC Al]

If you ok at soldering, maybe attach a bit of wire around the edge?

[bluc]

You can also use a hammer tap evenly round plate you can spread it but then you may end up too thin and not seal in that direction depending how much you have to increase dimension..

[bluc]

I have also seen u channel ptfe used round edge of plate to seal to wall of a glass tube may work also..depending on tolerences..

[db1979]

All good ideas. :handgestures-thumbupleft: