Coil condenser

[Hagrid]

Is there any reason why people do not seem to be using coil condensers with pot stills. I am just starting to make my own and was planning on using a coil.

[R-sole]

You mean a coil in a bucket?

like this...

1gonzo7.JPG

Works well and the most efficient use of water you can get if you leave the water in there.

[Hagrid]

Yes that is what I mean. Only I was going to use a 20lt bucket.

[R-sole]

You'll still need running water with a 20l bucket, depending on the size of your boiler

[maheel]

you could use a 25L fermenter with a tap. hook your water in to the tap and drill a outlet at the top
when it gets warm just slowly flood it from the bottom for a while

then you wont disturb the laminar heating effect of the water as much as you will push out the hot water at the top

[Hagrid]

I have a 40lt urn that I was going to use as the pot. I am just tring to workout how I am going to cone the neck to the lid. I have a 50mm sink trap and 18mtr of half inch coil.
I only have a propylene torch so I was going to solder with lead free solder.
I also have a fish pond that I was going to pump out of and return to.

[Hagrid]

Okay I have run into a bit of a problem.
I thought I could silver solder the copper to the lid of the urn. Turns out I can not. Does anybody have some advice on how I could attach it.

[Kimbo]

Okay I have run into a bit of a problem.
I thought I could silver solder the copper to the lid of the urn. Turns out I can not. Does anybody have some advice on how I could attach it.

:text-worthless:
Hi Hagrid, post some pics so we can see the your set up and we can advise accordingly ;-)

[bt1]

Bloke,

immediate answer to your question is a a compression body seal would do the job...made of SS they are simple to use contain no dogdy seals etc. there's a few links about on them here some where.

A rule of thumb i've stuck to for selecting cooling size is the vol of cooling needs to be twice that of the vol of liquid in the boiler. If your intending to use a 40lt boiler full, suggest closer to 100lt would be better. In real life u can buy a 240 garbage wheelie bin for <$30 and they're generally 240lt...great for summer.

Last thing you need is hot ethonol about the place imho....temp correcting for abv is pain.

As a side thought you have a pump, copper and a fish pond....a smaller Leibig is very achieveable on prop or butane gas in 1/2" - 3/4 " might save a lot of stuffing about.

cheers
bt1

[Hagrid]

Thank you for the reply.

i found the posting on soldering and was sure i could do it so gave it another go and seems to of worked.
i have already wound the coil

thank for the calculations on drum size.

[MacStill]

I got a sore neck looking at your pics :))

[Hagrid]

Well I must say this is not working out as well as I had hoped.

[maheel]

whats the issue Hagrid ?

[kiwikeg]

whats the issue Hagrid ?

+1 PLEASE elaborate i have wound a worn/coil and am looking for a cooling vessel so please elaborate before I make a f-up...

[Kimbo]

Hey Hagrid, are you planning on using all that coil in the pic?
i recon you'll need about a 1/3 of that ;-)

[MacStill]

Well I must say this is not working out as well as I had hoped.

Dont get disheartened mate, you have the basics to make a brilliant pot still there.

Let us know where your problems are so we can help you overcome them before you go blowing money getting me to build you one, I'm happy to build for you but would rather see you sort out the rig you have already :D

Replied to your PM ;-)

[Hagrid]

So what's gone wrong.
The seal around the urn lid is not. Cheap urn not made round. I have found some clamps and some silicone tape. How ever I now have leaks around view glass from the urn.
Also it is so slow heating up.
I think it is time to buy a unit.

[Hagrid]

I have sent a pm To McStill and 5Star about a complete unit. They have the tools to do a proper job and from what I have seen they have good work. Not that others dont but my work is shocking.

[MacStill]

5Star is your man, he's on your side of the country and I'm struggling for time at the moment :angry-banghead:

[Hagrid]

Thank you McStill.
5Star has been quick to reply and I am just looking at what I can afford.
I have just taken down my photos as they have my address attached. I am not the most popular person with our local constabulary at the moment. We had a heroin dealer here and they were less than enthusiastic about doing anything till I spoke to the press.