Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Pot still design and discussion

Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:29 am

Yeah im gonna do a double wrap with it and I have some black fabric backed tape. Will make slots where the elements and drain are so I can slide it on and off if necessary.

I have my elements slightly offset heightwise but I'm hoping I'll never do a run that won't cover them.

I also have a spare keg here which I was going to use for my lowines storage for spirit runs but I can always dice it up for boiler
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Tue May 05, 2020 7:52 pm

Think I may finally have it under wraps. This pot still is definitely only going to be a short term option for me. I might rebuild it (slowly) or try may hand at a bubbler. Because this thing is UGLY.

Got the last 2 easy flanges on. It was pretty dark so they're rough, going to try and grind some of the imperfections out of it so they fit into the clamps better and seal.

Just praying to God it doesn't leak, because I have my sac wash ready and my first grain mash ready and I don't want it to go bad, dem grains ain't cheap.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Fri May 08, 2020 5:27 pm

Snapchat-1359443179.jpg


Got it all set up today and did a vinegar run. No leaks so far which is good.

Snapchat-108004102.jpg


Ran it in the shed so I could recirc the rain water which worked good... But the shed hasn't got power yet so running power leads was a pain. Guess I need to do the power now :angry-banghead:

Hopefully fit in a TPW sac run tomorrow and strip the MrsMacsBourbonKnockOff I've had sitting there for a few weeks.

So happy its done. Now to start a new one, taking my time and making it super clean and pretty.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Lesgold » Fri May 08, 2020 6:10 pm

Good to see it done. Well done Birdman. Now you can have some fun. If it doesn’t leak and it works, what more can you ask for? A pretty, highly polished piece of work doesn’t make ethanol any better than an ugly duckling. And yours looks good anyway. Don’t sell yourself short. Treat it as the first step in the learning curve.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Fri May 08, 2020 6:54 pm

Lesgold wrote:A pretty, highly polished piece of work doesn’t make ethanol any better than an ugly duckling. And yours looks good anyway. Don’t sell yourself short. Treat it as the first step in the learning curve.


Yeah I know that but I rushed this one, I just want to make a new shotgun condenser and some modular parts to tie in with my eventual plater.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby bluc » Fri May 08, 2020 7:20 pm

:text-+1: looks like a rippa pottie :handgestures-thumbupleft: pretty dont make it better...just makes it pretty.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby RC Al » Fri May 08, 2020 7:53 pm

:clap: Nice one man

That excess solder will clean up easily, dont stress it, Working is the important part

Have a look into insulating your keg, even getting it off the floor a bit will help as the concrete slab is a big heat sink

Your pump will appreciate bigger hoses (20-25mm) and a bypass to reduce the resistance the pump feels, it will chew a smige less power and last much longer, it looks kinda big

Shed Power - 3 PHASE, do it now, reap the benefits forever....
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Sat May 09, 2020 4:02 pm

Halfway through my sac run at the moment.

I cannot believe how quick this bloody thing gets to boil.

Snapchat-483802233.jpg


Turned it on, both elements and water running at about half pressure. Ducked inside to give the misso a hug (she's been missing me lately with my alcohol brewing obsession). Came back out 10min later and it's boiling.

First drips at 12min, produced a litre by the 20min of power mark.

Unplugged one element and let it run its little heart out and 11mins on 1 element I have another litre. Running 60abv.
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Last edited by Birdman85 on Sat May 09, 2020 4:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Professor Green » Sat May 09, 2020 4:19 pm

Birdman85 wrote:Ducked inside to give the misso a hug (she's been missing me lately with my alcohol brewing obsession). Came back out 10min later and it's boiling.


Nice work on the hug however you should never leave your still unattended whilst it's running. Ever. :law-policered:

Many things can go wrong with distilling and they can go wrong very quickly. If you're not there to deal with the result could be catastrophic.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Sat May 09, 2020 4:39 pm

Yeah I understand Prof, I'm never far away from it and I was only out of eyeshot from it for less than 3mins. The other time was spent arguing with kids. :angry-banghead:

Just poured a few litres of the product into my second keg which I'll be using for my whiskey lowines storage. Gave it a good shake to clean it (also did this a few times with the vinegar run). Turns out some absolute turd put a pinhole in it down toward the base. So... I'll have to try and solder it up or something until I can buy another ball valve tap to put in its place.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Lesgold » Sat May 09, 2020 6:45 pm

You’ll be pushing out the good stuff real soon. Wow, that’s a good heat up time. You must have a quite a few horse power under the bonnet. :teasing-tease: :teasing-tease: :teasing-tease:
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby bluc » Sat May 09, 2020 6:57 pm

Yea what watts on element? I have 3600w takes hour....12 mins :shock:
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Sat May 09, 2020 7:22 pm

It's only got 2x 2200W elements. The insulation material around it is toasty warm.

And it wasn't a full load. Only ran the 23L wash from my small fermenter.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Sat May 23, 2020 11:58 am

Finally got 5mins to myself... With my 11 year old son on tow. Thought I'd have a go at honing my soldering skills a bit further.

Its nothing special but I'm really proud that so far it's watertight and functional. Will trim the spouts and add a reducer to the catch end when I get back to the shop.

Snapchat-1018284469.jpg
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Lesgold » Sat May 23, 2020 12:46 pm

That soldering is looking pretty good there Birdman. It’ll come up a treat.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Sat May 23, 2020 12:52 pm

Thanks Lesgold.

Wasn't a straight forward build. The 2-1inch reducer doesn't actually fit 2" or 1" pipe in it, so to make the spout at the top I had to cut off the sleeve and then try and slowly spread it (using dunnonuthin i think it was technique) using sockets in the vice.

Bending the 1/2" flattened it a bit so I just gave it a tap to round it out a tiny bit. Can't wait to see it in action.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Thu May 28, 2020 2:13 pm

So this little that'll-do-the-job turned up yesterday...

[attachment=3]Snapchat-1216666971.jpg[/attachment]

But I decided it's going to a very short term fix for my reflux neutrals.

So I got a start on my CCVM. Really getting the hang of using the heat to direct the solder.
[attachment=2]Snapchat-1566047394.jpg[/attachment]

Got a bit overzealous and went straight for my desired length... Made it hard but I got there.
[attachment=1]Snapchat-1062933701.jpg[/attachment]

But of playing and I have both ends to a modular bend.
Now to throw them together.
[attachment=0]Snapchat-701336918.jpg[/attachment]

I guess we all start somewhere.
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby bluc » Thu May 28, 2020 3:27 pm

Cool nice work :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Birdman85 » Thu May 28, 2020 5:13 pm

So I've been in the doghouse for the day :roll:

So I thought I'd may as well get some stuff done... Also had to take my time because bubba was asleep. Helped me actually so I didn't rush... Until the end.

Snapchat-1207056642.jpg


Got my T piece and 90deg sorted for the modular CCVM. Actually really happy with how it turned out and the easy flanges all sit pretty flush.

Got some reducers today and thought I'd finish the catch point for the parrot. Had a world of trouble because they have no way of reducing a 2 to a half inch so I had to experiment and I just couldn't close a pinhole gap. I persevered and I think it'll work... Make that hope it will.

Sorry it's ugly
Snapchat-236470817.jpg


I have the 1m cut for the packed section, just have to flange each end.

What do you all use to keep the packing in?

I eventually want to use all copper scrubbers (from 5SD) but will SS be all good till then?
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Re: Birdmans epic adventure of creation.

Postby Lesgold » Thu May 28, 2020 5:45 pm

Good stuff Birdman. I’ve got two rolls of copper and the rest are stainless scrubbies. They won’t fall out as they are a push fit. Copper all the way will turn out to be $$$$$$. The stainless is really cheap from the big green shed.
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