Glasser build

[huggy_b]

So nuts to stripping 200L washes with a 30L boiler, storing low wines, doing a spirit run - uuuugh, too bloody hard. Definitely time to build a plated column and our crew of 3 has decided on a glasser after reading the builds of wiifm / bac / bt1.

So we've grabbed a boiler for sale here (thanks timboss) that's got the fittings for 2 elements, 3" sight glass and a 4" neck - perfect. So I've ordered the elements and sight glass from Mac, plus picked up 5 x large primus laterns from my local BCF. We are going to swap between 4 and 5 plates depending on what we are running.

We are lucky enough to have a mate who has a property full of "treasure" (or hoarded junk to others) and we've picked up all the copper pipe we need, and the rest of the components will be from 5 star (namely the reducers, bends and clamps/seals etc) so it'll be a mix of copper and stainless.

We are also lucky enough to have a mate who will water jet our perforated plates for us in return for some grog. Now one member of our trio wants to make this a piece of art so has decided we will have rounded plates to match our round glass (per my basic paint diagram) rather than the usual square plates.....



with the glass being 110mm diameter, I was going to make the baking tray seal 20mm thick basically leaving me a 4" diameter space inside to perforate. Plan was 1.6mm holes on a 5mm grid (will that be enough / too much?) - the plate is 3mm thick. I've also bought the downcomers from Mac so I'll just watercut the 16mm hole for them as well as 11mm holes for the threaded rod. And for that matter, will 5 M10 rods and 3mm plate be adequate?

The only other query I have is the top of the column - on the last glass tube do you put a perforated plate or just an open hole above it with a neck section to connect to the RC?

Construction hasn't quite started yet, but I'll post pics when we get underway.

[7evan]

Sounds like a solid plan champ.
These things look awesome running.
Looking forward to seeing this progress.
Good luck mate.
Push through those road blocks you'll no doubt come across. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[wiifm]

So nuts to stripping 200L washes with a 30L boiler, storing low wines, doing a spirit run - uuuugh, too bloody hard. Definitely time to build a plated column and our crew of 3 has decided on a glasser after reading the builds of wiifm / bac / bt1.

So we've grabbed a boiler for sale here (thanks timboss) that's got the fittings for 2 elements, 3" sight glass and a 4" neck - perfect. So I've ordered the elements and sight glass from Mac, plus picked up 5 x large primus laterns from my local BCF. We are going to swap between 4 and 5 plates depending on what we are running.

We are lucky enough to have a mate who has a property full of "treasure" (or hoarded junk to others) and we've picked up all the copper pipe we need, and the rest of the components will be from 5 star (namely the reducers, bends and clamps/seals etc) so it'll be a mix of copper and stainless.

We are also lucky enough to have a mate who will water jet our perforated plates for us in return for some grog. Now one member of our trio wants to make this a piece of art so has decided we will have rounded plates to match our round glass (per my basic paint diagram) rather than the usual square plates.....



with the glass being 110mm diameter, I was going to make the baking tray seal 20mm thick basically leaving me a 4" diameter space inside to perforate. Plan was 1.6mm holes on a 5mm grid (will that be enough / too much?) - the plate is 3mm thick. I've also bought the downcomers from Mac so I'll just watercut the 16mm hole for them as well as 11mm holes for the threaded rod. And for that matter, will 5 M10 rods and 3mm plate be adequate?

The only other query I have is the top of the column - on the last glass tube do you put a perforated plate or just an open hole above it with a neck section to connect to the RC?

Construction hasn't quite started yet, but I'll post pics when we get underway.

Love the idea of round plates. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I cut my baking tray seals by tracing a 4" triclamp fitting. Worked perfect to size on the large primus glasses and there was no interference with the threaded rod and nuts.

I used 6 M6 threaded rods and it is solid as a rock so 5 M10s will be more than adequate.

For the very top plate, I made mine open.

[MacStill]

the FSD plates are 106mm, a little creativity with seals and you could save yourself a lot of work..... but seriously after wiifm's build how can you not go bubble caps ?

I had to order 50 of those sight glasses to get 10, hope you inspire others to grab some :))

[huggy_b]

the FSD plates are 106mm, a little creativity with seals and you could save yourself a lot of work..... but seriously after wiifm's build how can you not go bubble caps ?

I had to order 50 of those sight glasses to get 10, hope you inspire others to grab some :))

If it was up to me I'd run bubble caps - much easier I reckon! But I've been out voted......

[northernbrewer]

Which sight glasses are those mac? Cylinder ones? Might need to change up my order a bit

[MacStill]

nobody said you had to buy them :teasing-neener:

IMG_0984x.jpg

[MacStill]

Which sight glasses are those mac? Cylinder ones? Might need to change up my order a bit

yes borosilicate cylinders as OP posted above :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Dusty_ben]

Are they in the store mac? Might build a 5star cross copper/ glass bubbler if I can glass easy
Cheers ben

[MacStill]

no not yet, about a couple of weeks away, My payment hasnt cleared the suppliers account yet as they were only confirmed and ordered a couple of days ago.

40 left at this stage.

[Yummyrum]

You'd better start a thread on them Mac
How much ?
How big ?
How much more robust that Primus ones ?

and will they have 5Star etched into them :D

[Dusty_ben]

:text-+1: agreed. Keen

[MacStill]

When they get here I will :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[MacStill]

When they get here I will :handgestures-thumbupleft:

ah bugger it!

$45 each

Borosilicate 3.3
ID - 100mm-102mm
OD - 113-114mm
L = 120mm

Email 5star to pre order, it's not something I'll stock regularly, as it's a real pain in the arse to order amounts less than the 500 pieces I don't have room for :roll:

[bt1]

Huggy,

nice design.. like it on that top plate question if you want to run Gins then a perf plate with 5mm holes or larger suits. You can use the joiner space for the botanicals.

Good move Mac reckon you'll sell a pile of em.

bt1

[bt1]

Mac,

just a stray idea...if you can find a way into the wine/dairy mags to advertise the lens replacements for 4" and a lot of other common parts in SS...you'd clean up given WEMS and others units costs are well over that price.

bt1

[huggy_b]

So we got a fair chunk of the more basic part of the build squared away over the weekend. Still have the condensers etc to make, but we are underway at least!
We've taken bt1's suggestion on board and have perforated that top plate with 5mm holes and we are going to create a gin caddy of sorts above that top plate before the RC.

Not sure how long the "polished' look will last when we start using it, but it looks good right now! :))

[C2H6O]

That thing looks bloody awesome!! Very impressive mate.. ^:)^

[1 2many]

Wow these glassers are looking great nice work mate. :clap:

Oh btw you forgot to drill out one of the plate bolt holes. :O)

[TheMechwarrior]

Holy shit huggy!

That's some copper porn right there! :o :clap: