Linny's Potential Plater

[Linny]

Well, between my next door neighbour(he's a boiler maker) and my self (auto sparky) we have made a POT and a VM still, its weird since the pot still runs good for stripping i tend to use my smaller 5L CM to do spirit runs (i think because im too impatient to save up enough to run the VM properly). I have noticed that the further i get into this hobby the more i tend to be looking at making full flavours (rums and whiskeys) rather than essence's. And with all this talk about modulated plates etc etc .... i have already got my eye on building another one LOL :))

Turns out , i may or may not be able to get off cuts of 3-4" copper pipe. Im keen on making this happen , and i have a extra keg that im going to modify by welding a new tri clamp ferrule on, so im looking at a dedicated plater :handgestures-thumbupleft: ... since i just set up on gas , its what im going to run it as.

I think it will be a few months till its finished, but im sure that heart is set on it....

couple of questions ,,,, McStill did that thumper idea actually work well ? and do you think you lose much efficiency by using larger sight glasses ??? since i think that pic with the 4" sight glasses gave me a hard on. I'll repost here any pics and news

[emptyglass]

since i think that pic with the 4" sight glasses gave me a hard on.

Yeah, they are nice, but you want to get out more dude!

Sorry, couldn't resist. Go the bubbler, you will wonder why you messed around with other stills.
They do take some time to make. A few months is realistic.

[MacStill]

couple of questions ,,,, McStill did that thumper idea actually work well ? and do you think you lose much efficiency by using larger sight glasses ??? since i think that pic with the 4" sight glasses gave me a hard on. I'll repost here any pics and news

The thumpers do work very well & the big sight glasses I havnt tested yet but expect there will be little if any difference.

Keep us posted and lots of pics along the way please :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Linny]

No problems , just found out im moving ... so all my mashes are getting finished up and this is going on the back burner , still i plan i getting little things done

[Linny]

well not moving anymore ,,, so started looking for parts and thanks to kelbygreen and brendan. i have found this !

1.2m of 4" , 1.7m of 2.5" (should make a good shotgun and plates)


100mm plates (3 in a tree and 2 modules) = 500mm
300 mm rock basket
150 mm dephlegmator

450mm long enough for a shotgun , might be able to fit 5x (3/8)

[kelbygreen]

nice find :handgestures-thumbupleft: be able to use the 2.5" to make some plates out of :D

[Linny]

thats the plan :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[kelbygreen]

hope all this excitement hasnt driven you to the shed today. The thermometer in misses car said it was 48 outside 8-}

[MacStill]

450mm long enough for a shotgun , might be able to fit 5x (3/8)

I got 9 x 3/8 tubes in my 2.5" condenser, you could even get 5 x 1/2 in yours.

Make it as good as you can, with lots of tubes in it... :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Linny]

think ill be happier with the 5x1/2.... less soldering :teasing-neener:

[Brendan]

I've seen a few comments relating to the shotgun as product condensers...have there been problems with shotguns on bubbler's in the past?

I'm thinking maybe a graham...

[Cane Toad]

Every shotgun condenser I've ever had had no problem...no wait,I tell a lie...the one I made leaked :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: For knock down power and ease of construction I don't think you can go past em :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[emptyglass]

I've seen a few comments relating to the shotgun as product condensers...have there been problems with shotguns on bubbler's in the past?

I'm thinking maybe a graham...

No problems mate, they are just a bit tricky to solder.

[Linny]

How do i go about making flanges ? do i make the plate fit then and solder a ring onto the 4"

or

do i make the plate larger and solder the 4" onto it.. if so ,, how much extra should the flange be to fit a tri clamp ? will this way be strong enough ?

[kelbygreen]

hmm like that idea linny if it works. Mine are made to be sandwiched in between the 2 flanges, so like the second one but with 2 flanges holding it in place. Have a look at Mr-E build thats what I am going for :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Brendan]

Are you going for all easy flanges Kelby?

If I can pull off some good ezy flanges, I'm thinking of going completely modular for each played section doing all the flanges myself to save buying tees, ferrules, tri clamps...like you said...I'll see how I go with some ezy flanges on 4" pipe :p

[kelbygreen]

yeah I am not to sure yet, I didnt want to but not sure the direction I want to go yet 8-}

[MacStill]

easy flanges on 4" is a breeze, just make sure you keep everything plumb and square..... this is the difficult bit if you dont have quality tools ;-)

[emptyglass]

Its not hard to do a neat job with a dolly or steel bar, then a hammer.
Just dont try and form it in one go. You dont need a fancy bench, just something solid

[Yummyrum]

EG ,do you build up a tapered flange with solder or will the tri-clamp just work with the flattened flange alone ? thanks in advance