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Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 10:48 pm
by nuddy
Cheers gents, just trying to contribute back to the community that I've learnt so much off. Hats off to everyone that has helped blazed the well worn path I'm now walking down.



Alright, this was a big day today, time was not on my side this weekend but I've managed to get this boiler finished yewwwwwwwww.

First off, got the 50L keg welded to the 80L keg and sitting square and plumb. Pic from the inside showing the weld penetration and excess material I had to trim/flap disc back to get a nice smooth transition between the two kegs. Took a little bit longer than anticipated and ended up making a lot of mess. Welds came out decently without needing to back purge.
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Kegs welded together. Starting to see the end of this beast.
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2" fill port added and 6" view/access port getting ready to transfer cut lines down.
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Cut lines transferred.
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Keg end capped and tacked on.
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Fine control levelling system, s/s bolts with a captive nut welded to a piece of angle, with another nut welded on the end for more surface area. May end up putting a thin piece of flat bar underneath each levelling bolt if it starts to deform the box section.
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Works a treat.
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Finally its all finished. Gave it a quick run over with the scotch brite, shiny is better.
Outside getting a basic leak test done, filled to the brim with water. Thankfully no leaks with water, fingers crossed its the same with a more alcoholic liquid inside her.
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Reallllly happy how its turned out. Have wired up one element, however ran outta cable. Off to get some more tomorrow, need a few more bolts for the castor wheels, then fit everything onto the boiler and give it a vinegar and then cleaning alc run for good measure.

Huge thanks to everyone following the build so far, a lot of fun building this, a few lessons learnt and only a little blood shed so far.

Shoutout to Bigcam, love ya still mate, its got a lil friend now.

Just need to think of a name for it now...... last boiler/still was nicknamed 'the mistress'. However this one has a bigger ass and a little more wholesome german milkmaid look to it, gonna brainstorm but 'Gretel' has a nice ring to it. Whats everyone think?

For now I'm gonna run the 4" still off it, but a 6" still is very tempting right now. Want to make a few extras for this beauty... will see how fortunate I am with free time in the coming months, so many ideas so little time.

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 10:53 pm
by Matt_Pl
Certainly a boiler to be proud of mate. It looks amazing. Well Done!

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:37 pm
by RC Al
Schwing-ading-ding

That's beautiful man

I seem to have missed what type of welder your using?
You haven't mentioned pickling paste?

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 6:30 am
by Professor Green
That is an absolute cracker of a boiler, nice work nuddy.

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 7:23 am
by Nathan02
What an absolute pisser mate well done!

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 7:59 am
by db1979
Fantastic mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Looks like some kind of droid from star wars. Like a cousin of r2d2. Sorry, letting my inner nerd out.

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:07 am
by woodduck
That's definitely something to be proud of mate. It looks a ripper! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Love the name Gretel, suits her perfectly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 12:21 pm
by bluc
One heck of a boiler done extremely well :clap:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:53 pm
by tipsy
:shock:

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:50 pm
by nuddy
RC Al wrote:Schwing-ading-ding

That's beautiful man

I seem to have missed what type of welder your using?
You haven't mentioned pickling paste?


Welder is an everlast AC/DC 230EX, running with a water cooled torch.
Pickling paste was used on all weld, not sure of exact brand but choke full of hydrofluric and nitric acid, definitely not the nicest stuff to play. Use the PPE when handling everyone.

Thanks everyone, I'm pretty stoked with it as well.
Cheeky lil pic of it with 4 plates on top.
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Gave it a vinegar run this arvo and will finish the sacrificial alc. run later in the week. Ran wonderfully.

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 5:31 pm
by TasSpirits
WOW ^:)^

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 6:32 pm
by Plumby
Looking at your boiler gives me flashbacks of the urinal at school. Inadvertently looking at someone else's kit and thinking " you lucky bastard " :laughing-rolling:
Seriously though, that's top quality workmanship man, well thought through and put together with great experience. You should be well proud of yourself. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 7:03 pm
by dans.brew
That's one sexy boiler mate! :music-deathmetal:
You have every right to be proud of that.. some very tidy workmanship right there. :clap:
Just out of curiously, how much does she hold?

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 7:36 pm
by db1979
Professor Green wrote:Could be a contender to replace Milky's build as members featured build.

:text-+1:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:31 pm
by nuddy
dans.brew wrote:Just out of curiously, how much does she hold?


Going to measure out volume this weekend but a quick back of the napkin calculation I'm guesstimating around 110-115L.

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:52 pm
by dans.brew
Thats a pretty gud size to play with! :dance:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:33 am
by nuddy
dans.brew wrote:Thats a pretty gud size to play with! :dance:

I know, aiming for 80L wash fills and give the rum some head room to do it’s little dance.

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:49 pm
by dogbreath vodka
That's a slick bit of kit.
:handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:45 pm
by dans.brew
nuddy wrote:
dans.brew wrote:Thats a pretty gud size to play with! :dance:

I know, aiming for 80L wash fills and give the rum some head room to do it’s little dance.

Yep... you would get nearly as much with one pass as i did doing 4 strip runs and then a spirit run with my trusty old pot and 30ltr boiler!
Just a little quicker... :laughing-rolling:

Re: 18Gal+ boiler build

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:31 pm
by bigcam
nuddy wrote:Shoutout to Bigcam, love ya still mate, its got a lil friend now.


funny thing i had a 50lt all ready to go then got the18gal andthen got thinking outside the box and it turned out the way it did :handgestures-thumbupleft: allot more stuffing around sinking the 50 in and the fill port but what the heck :angry-banghead:

i would polish mine but i run on gas 8-} :laughing-rolling: saves having to polish and it stays out doors all the time might do one day when i go with the electric

you will need a thumper now :laughing-rolling:

cheers cam