Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi

Does anyone know what actual difference it makes using a ball valve instead of a gate valve is on a VM still.

Anyone have experience of both? Any feedback on using ball valves?

Lou

Finer control using a gate valve

yeah highly recommend the gate valve mate, you have to turn the handle 14 full turns on a 1" gate valve to go from full close to full open, whereas with a ball that takes 1/4 of a turn.

Ball valves will work as would most valves but you will be stuffing about for ages to get things right. As has been said a Gate or even better conical valve will give much finer control that is easily repeatable.

Remember to make notes of how many turns open the valves are so you can return to that setting repeatedly.

I have a ball valve , can't recommend them, fine for filling a sheep trough bloody hopeless for adjusting flow on a still ;-)

Ball valve only good to drain the boiler

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Would a 1" needle valve be better that 1" gate valve for finer control?

Dave wrote:Would a 1" needle valve be better that 1" gate valve for finer control?

Na! not enough through put, go the gate valve :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Needle valves are for LM stills mate

McStill wrote:

Dave wrote:Would a 1" needle valve be better that 1" gate valve for finer control?

Na! not enough through put, go the gate valve :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Needle valves are for LM stills mate

A 1 inch needle valve doesnt have a 1 inch opening, like mac said they are very restrictive and more expensive :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I use a 1.5" ball valve on mine worries.

Trick is to mark it with a texta at the point where it just closes off.(Look through it and see where BEFORE you install it).

When I first turn the valve on after refluxing ,it takes about 1-2 minutes before the first drop appears but at least I know exactly where to set the valve to get this.

Just to clarify.Realized I lied :scared-eek: It was a 1 1/4" gate valve .But whose measuring :-p