Rob's 2.5" Pot still build

[robduca]

Hey guys.
Thought I would start a thread with my build progress.
I found a heap of copper pipe on an old chiller unit at work so thought I would try my hand at making one.
I was a bit worried at first as I have never soldered before, but once I had a go, I kinda enjoyed it. They arent going to be the prettiest joins, but I don't really care :))

Firs off was building the shotgun condenser. It is 2.5" 500mm long with 6 1/2" inner tubes.
I cut a bit of the 2.5" pipe and flattened as best I could, marked the pipe, tek screwed it to a bit of ply to hold it flat and in place and began drilling the holes, starting small and working up to the correct size hole for the tubes.



Next, was cutting the plate and filing away until I had a nice snug fit in the main pipe. (this took a few beers to do)



Soldered the plates on (as per Macs instructional, thanks Mac), drilled the 1/2" holes for water and soldered the inner pipes in place. This was a bit messy and fiddly and only had 1 leak so I was happy.



Repaired the leak, cut off excess pipe and cleaned up. Looks good enough for me :D



Cut the pipe for the main column. Only had this left over so the column is 360mm high. Just need a few elbows and reducers from the condenser for product collection and all done



Just have to find a keg, decide whether to go gas or electric heat, connect it up, clean, run and start making some decent whiskeys.
Oh, and make a parrot!

Any advice or criticism welcome.

Cheers guys.
Rob

[Meatheadinc]

Looks good mate.
A triclap union at the elbow for the PC may be useful to change PC angle and adjust take off height but not necessary.

I would go electric.. No flames and can be run indoors. But its up to you.

[Zak Griffin]

Nicely done!

:text-+1: on the union at the top. It's the one thing I wish I did with my pot when I built it. No reason you can't do it later, but it'll be easier to do now.

The solder looks fine to me, the external soldering (elbows etc) will be neater because the solder just sucks itself into the joint :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[robduca]

Thanks guys.
Is there any reason I shouldn't solder the condenser straight into the elbow?

[benpandaae86]

Only if you want to use it later on a bubbler

P.S
Postage maybe a killa but deejae has a nice boiler in the for sale section ready to go

[Zak Griffin]

Just have to be really gentle with the heat, so you don't unsolder the inside...

[robduca]

Any suggestions for where to get the unions from>
Tradelink in Bunbury haven't got any and 5Star store says out of stock.

[Zak Griffin]

Send Mac an email through the store, he's got stock coming in all the time, and can't always keep the website 100% up to date :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[robduca]

Cheers Zac. Was planning on doing that once I have worked out exactly what I need.

[1 2many]

Nice progress rob coming along nicely, if it was me I would future proof your shotty by putting a triclover ferule straight to the end that way your set up for when you build your bubbler. :)) :))

[woodduck]

:text-+1: on having your rc removable, your bound to want a bubbler eventually :laughing-rolling: it my cost a few bucks more but it will be worth it.

Well done so far it looks great. The more soldering you do the better you will get so you'll be fine for your other joins and remember it's soft solder so it's easy to clean up anyway :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[robduca]

Got a bit more done. The joins are a lot easier and cleaner to solder. Chucked a 90 on the column and a short piece on ready to join triclamp to.
Are they normally stainless? How do you join copper to stainless?
Also put the water inlet and outlet on the condenser. I probably drilled the he's a touch too big so I cut a 1/2 inch elbow up, soldered a small length of pipe in that and soldered the cut elbow to the condenser if that makes sense.

[woodduck]

Check out macs "how to easy easy flange" thread. It will all make sense then.

Good luck

Edit: added link viewtopic.php?f=41&t=76

[Urrazeb]

That is gonna be one weapon of a condenser :clap: :music-deathmetal:

[robduca]

Got the keg. I was talking to a mate at work yesterday and said the holdup now is finding a keg. He said "I have one in my shed. It has been there for about 7 years and I don't want it!"
Score

[sp0rk]

That is gonna be one weapon of a condenser :clap: :music-deathmetal:

My 500mm long 2.5" shotgun PC with 7 x 1/2" tubes was doing 5L an hour stripping on sunday, I possibly could have pushed it further but I didn't want to waste water/gas
Rob's should hit pretty similar figures :)

[7evan]

That is gonna be one weapon of a condenser :clap: :music-deathmetal:

My 500mm long 2.5" shotgun PC with 7 x 1/2" tubes was doing 5L an hour stripping on sunday, I possibly could have pushed it further but I didn't want to waste water/gas
Rob's should hit pretty similar figures :)

I think you'll find it will be more like 12-15L per hour. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Waste that gas. Crank it up!!! :music-deathmetal:

[Zak Griffin]

I push over 8L/hr out of my 500mm x 2" shotty with 7x 3/8" inners... 10L/hr out of this thing will be no worries :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[robduca]

What size element would you recommend for this?
Just working out what I need to finish it off.
Element
2" Triclamp union to attach to keg.
2.5" to 2" reducer to attach to column
2X 2.5" triclamp union. One to be able to remove the condenser and one to be able to change the angle.
Reducers and pipe for product from the condenser. Is there a commonly used size for this? Is 1/4" too small?
Parrot

Anything else?

[robduca]

If I was to solder the lot together with no triclamps, would there be a preferred angle to have the condenser at? Cant seem to find an answer to this and not sure if it is crucial.
If I don't get hold of some clamps straight away, I will have enough pipe to cut and put them in later on.