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Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:30 pm
by emptyglass
Hi all. I finaly got my drain installed, loosley based on Olddog's mods. While there, I added a refil port, This has proved to be the best thing I have done for myself, except for making the flute itself. I got sick of doing the old hot boiler dance trying to recover backset, now its easy, and a whole lot safer. Fill port was added so I didn't have to pull the still off just to refill. I still need a funnel, as I found with the first pour. Not so bad if the 20 litre buckets I use are only 2/3 full. I use a few marbles so I had to stop them plugging the drain. The M3 bolt did a good job, and it helps shut the marble rattle up too.
I had the idea to run the drain through the centre of the burner a while ago, but I had doubts as to weather it would be wise or not. Well' I still doubt the wisdom of it, but thats offset by the conveinience.
Burner support was/is the next problem. It's supported on the burner end by a hose clamp, the other end is sitting on a bit of SS box. I had to leave it short to get the burner in and out.
The legs and supports are only heavily tacked and nothing has been capped at this stage untill I know I'm happy with it. I'm thinking of leaving the legs uncapped, from a hygine point of veiw. I can poke the hose down them every so often, give em a flush.
I'm not real happy about the burner support, anyone got any ideas?
I know its not the first time this has been done, so if anyone can see how I can improve it, chime in!
Cheers.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:38 pm
by Kimbo
Looks ok to me EG. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
run it past me again what the marbles do?

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:42 pm
by emptyglass
They are just boil balls. Probably a hangover from the pot still, I'm just in the habbit of using them.
They did used to help with the pot, not sure if they are really useful with a flute.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:45 pm
by Kimbo
Fair enough, looks the goods mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:46 pm
by emptyglass
Thanks kimbo.
I still havn't worked out site upload limits, I didn't want to loose my post, so these are seperate.

The thermo usually sits loose on the top of the boiler, thinking of tapping a hole in the thick 4" cap.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:55 am
by Rockchucker22
Dude you and I see eye to eye! I'll post pics of my boiler mod too!

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:22 pm
by Rockchucker22
Image
4" Column connection, 3" fill port, drain on the left.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:48 pm
by SBB
EG......is that a BD747 modification on the 3 ring burner.........if so i like the idea :D

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:53 pm
by maheel
SBB wrote:EG......is that a BD747 modification on the 3 ring burner.........if so i like the idea :D



i think the drain goes right through it ?

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:23 pm
by emptyglass
No, its just a standard low quality indian made 3 ring burner. Maheel guseed it right.

I didn't have to take much out of the centre hole, just make it parralell really. I was a bit worried about the heat causing issues with the pipe coming through, but it dosn't seem to cause any issues, at least so far.

It's cut my batch time down by half an hour I reckon. Nothing to do with the distilling time, just all the other crap.

Clean up now consists of dropping the dunder, quick rinse with some water, close drain valve, add 2 litres water, boil for 5 mins, collect 1/2 cup of condensate, drop water. Place 4" computer fan on fill port and run for 12 hours to dry it out. It seems to be cleaning it up well enough and a damn sight easier than my old procedure.

Only disadvantage so far, is now I have to stand on bricks to see the top plate. I can see the bottom of the deflag easier, not that you need to.

Nice looking still Rock.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:57 am
by squid
I've been thinking of adding a tap to drain the boiler, how do the seals handle high powered lpg flames? I'm a bit worried they might melt and cause some off flavours.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:02 am
by bluenova
EG.......what type of solder & ect. did you use on that big-0 ferrule?

Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:10 am
by Sam.
Squid my gas tape hasn't melted yet
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1342138454.761681.jpg

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:16 am
by crow
Dude that's what I call a pretty good endorsement for thread tape :-o

Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:41 am
by Sam.
Its military aircraft spec oxygen tape. Don't know if the normal plumbing gear is the same

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:05 pm
by squid
sam_and_liv wrote:Squid my gas tape hasn't melted yet
That's some hardcore tape. Looks like I was worried over nothing.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:07 pm
by Cane Toad
I've got normal thread tape on my boiler drain and am using the 747 :handgestures-thumbupleft: and no probs

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:16 pm
by emptyglass
bluenova wrote:EG.......what type of solder & ect. did you use on that big-0 ferrule?


I guess you are meaning the fill port?

If so, it's TIG welded. It uses a triclamp teflon gasket. The ones with the ridges on both sides.

Re: Keg drain and refill port

PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:27 am
by bluenova
Yes, that would be the one. Thank you for the info.