Tassies 4" Reflux Bubbler

[TassieStiller]

OK, it is about time I posted a few pics of my setup. I am only a learner, but with the research I was doing, I decided to go all the way and get the good stuff first. I started looking at a T500, but quickly looked beyond that and as luck would have it, Empty Glass was selling one of his custom made stills. After a few emails to and from, I decided this is what I want and it was soon on its way to its new owner :D

Having only just started, I had (and still have) a steep learning curve and a fairly expensive initial setup. All wort it though as once I am set up, it will all be top quality stuff that I wont have to replace. Before long, I had a very well packed parcel (2 actually) waiting for me at the post office. I eagerly picked it up and put it together, which was quite simple. Below is the first pic of my new baby the afternoon it arrived

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The boiler. 2" ferrule removed and 4" in its place. A 3" sightglass to see what's going on and will be used as a fill port. I have a 3" extention coming so it can be clamped down with sight glass on that permanently, then a quick release for filling.

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Closer look with column on

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Temperature Port

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[TassieStiller]

Element Port

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Element from Romar, cable hard soldered on as crimp seemed a bit inadequate for the stresses involved. Element Guard attached as well with cable breakout shroud

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Thermocouple - I have one in the boiler and one in the Column

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Element and thermocouple attached to the boiler

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Thermocouple in the column

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[TassieStiller]

Altered Cooling Management from original. I can adjust cooling in both condensers independently. I have kept the original 3 way valve in case my plan goes awry and I need to reinstate it

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Nice elegant and clean look from the front with part of the keg cut away (an idea borrowed from Empty Glass)

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Finally, a nice front on pic of it all put together
You can see at the end of the cooling tubes, I have two temperature monitors. One for Dephlem and one for condenser, along with valves on the output of each to control flow

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I am really looking forward to experimenting with some Bourbon, Rum and Whisky. Starting with a TPW as it is pretty cheap and a good way to learn how to operate the still.

A big thankyou has to go out to Empty Glass for constructing such a great looking piece of kit and providing great instructions, both paper based and vid based. I am sure I will be thanking once I have product running through it. Also thanks to chocoholic for his assistance in getting me up to my current level of knowledge. I hound him a bit with questions Thanks guys

:text-thankyoublue:

[MacStill]

Nothing like hand crafted copper, simply stunning :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Kimbo]

Noice mate, very noice :mrgreen:

[TassieStiller]

True with the hand crafted copper McStill.

I love the look of it. Would set it off nicely with a nice big copper boiler underneath it :)

Cost at the moment I think is a but much though. One day maybe :think:

[googe]

very nice mate, beautiful pics!!, thats a work of art!!.

[crow]

that's a serious nice looking still you got there, just can not beat the quality of hand crafted copper :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Goldie]

Great rig mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[punchy21]

Very nice
:clap:

[Aussiedownunder01]

WTF first photo [as it arrived shows tri clamp site glass all the others they are screwed on ]

[crow]

WTF first photo [as it arrived shows tri clamp site glass all the others they are screwed on ]

I'm guessing that the owner changed them (some ppl like the porthole look)

[Aussiedownunder01]

WTF first photo [as it arrived shows tri clamp site glass all the others they are screwed on ]

I'm guessing that the owner changed them

Why would you tri clamps look cool

[Cane Toad]

Very sweet Tassie :handgestures-thumbupleft: And a great job EG :handgestures-thumbupleft: Mate,you won't be sorry,I started off with a 4" bubbler,courtesy of Mac,and have never looked back :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:
They may seem a bit daunting at first,all those windows and hoses,but once she's up to operating temp just take her nice and steady,don't try and push her too hard.After 2 or 3 runs,you'll be driving her like a pro :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Cheers
CC

[emptyglass]

WTF first photo [as it arrived shows tri clamp site glass all the others they are screwed on ]

I'm guessing that the owner changed them (some ppl like the porthole look)

It was supplied with triclamps, I hope the sight glass kits hold up ok.

Tassie, it looks like you have some automation planned....
As I said, if you strike trouble, give me a yell. I think you'll be kicking goals soon.

[JayD]

very nice unit, Congrats and enjoy....remember "if you cant be good, be good at it" we might bump into each other as I travel around Tas on my tours. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[TassieStiller]

Next little stage complete.
I have completed the build of my automatic voltage controller.

Instead of the most often used circuit where a pot is adjusted via an SSR, I have used a PID temperature controller, with temperature sourced from both the column and boiler. I have used two PID's and control is switched between them via a 3 way switch. LED's illiminate to indicate which PID is controlling the power flow. I didn't want to take the supply off the PID as such as it will be interesting (however, not really useful) to see the temperature of both boiler and column. I also have temperature sensors in the coolant outflows, both Deflag and condenser - just because I could :-B
It has a push button start, or "energisation" button and an emergency stop button which is latched. These are low current rated switches, so I had to connect them to the higher power part of the box via a relay (bottom right in the last photo)

Now, all I have to do is decipher the Chinglish instructions provided from the PID manafacturer (Sestos D1S) so I can get it programmed to reduce power once it gets to my set temperature. With the googling I have been doing, it may take a little while.

The wiring took a bit to work out, but after about 10 separate wiring diagram plans, I got it nailed and it worked first time :o .

I am pretty happy with it, however, the 1m long thermocouples are not quite long enough, so I will be ordering 1.5m long ones to allow a bit of extra room.

Box powered up, switch in the centre position which means no flow of power to the element

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Switch in position 1, say for the boiler temperature control

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Switch in position 2, say for the column temperature control

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The box opened up to see the wiring work done

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I have put test lugs on the back of the box to take the incoming sensor inputs from the four thermocouples to allow for nice, easy, and quick assemble/disassembly. That part was not pictured quite so well though