Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Well after being away for a few years I moved back to Aus and well what do you know 5 Star has taken the trouble to move to Brisbane after being Jealous of our Western Neighbours previously.

1st off, I really enjoy making stuff, so if it is possible without being too much of a PITA then I'd prefer to build but I'll be honest, I have peeked at the SSG.

Anyways:

1. How do you mount the bubble plates in the column? Are these just placed onto a shelf or are they soldered in place or tolerance fit?
2. Are Easy flanges easy enough or are stainless ferrules a better solution? Do the ferrules create a shelf/restriction which inhibits putting in or taking out of the bubble plate (depending on the answer to point 1)
3. Would a MAPP Pro torch be sufficient for silver soldering a 4" pipe onto a SS ferrule?
4. How are the sight glasses mounted? Does this need a ferrule with a triclamp? Could one use a different option by fitting glass within a flared 2" or 3" fitting e.g. that comes with a 100 x 80 reducing tee?

I am sure I have plenty more questions, but taking this first step will hopefully kick off the process.

Thanks

1. People with a lathe can machine a lip into the ferrule, otherwise its a squish in between the joins with a bored out gasket or as you said soldered in (not ideal due to proximity to the flange)
2. Plenty of successful easy flanges out there, personally I prefer the ss ones for long term hardiness and a good gasket seal. The pipe will need to be expanded to solder them in, otherwise a tig is the best option for a butt join - it also can be Brazed with oxy gear, you would want the welder to know well what their doing with either case.
3. Yes, Im going about 50/50 sucess rates with just propane - I doubt more heat wont help the issues im getting I believe though
4. What your saying with those sounds like a home built version of what 5 star sight glasses are? A screw on collar? not sure how you plan to attach to the flare otherwise?

Good luck :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Full flame lpg torch on 9kg bbq bottle will get 4" cherry red for hard solder/silver braze. Easily do soft solder. Given the choice though would do it with oxy.

Cheers, I think i'll stick to the SS ferrules for now, they'll add a bit of cost but will make it that much easier i think.

I couldn't find any but does 5 Star ever sell the screw in sight glass fittings?

bluc wrote:Full flame lpg torch on 9kg bbq bottle will get 4" cherry red for hard solder/silver braze. Easily do soft solder. Given the choice though would do it with oxy.

Just curious as i have had the TS8000 on the wish list for a while and this would be a good justification for one, it is supposedly one of the better performing Mapp torches. Otherwise I'll look into Oxy which does have its own benefits other than this.

vovo wrote:does 5 Star ever sell the screw in sight glass fittings?

Sorry to say that we dont have them yet.
They are on the “to order” list