Isolation Build

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Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Thu Apr 09, 2020 2:00 pm

With many of us being stuck at home for an extended period of time, projects to maintain sanity are needed to help pass the time. I had copper purchased and had it put aside for a couple of fun builds. The plan is to construct a pot and a boka over the next few weeks to improve on the gear that I am currently using. Decided on a keg boiler with two elements, a 4” fill port and a drain tap. Finished building that about a month ago. I will put a pic of the boiler up later. Decided to make a start on the pot still as much of the build SHOULD be quite straight forward. It will be modular in design so that components can be swapped around as required. A shotgun condenser with easy flanges on each end will be the most time consuming and challenging part of the build. I think I’ll leave that for last. As I’d never attempted any easy flange before, I decided to start on something simple. A spout attachment made from 2” copper with an easy flange on one end and a 1/2” output spout was the first job. As it used very little material, a stuff up would not be too costly from a materials perspective. Decided to combine some silver soldering and soft soldering of components just to make sure that my temperatures and technique were up to speed. It took about an hour and a half to build and I was reasonably happy with the outcome. The easy flange worked out quite well. I reckon I can now start on a few of the other components. 8 more easy flanges to go.
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Re: Isolation Build

Postby Sam. » Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:13 pm

Neat looking work there mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Isolation Build

Postby db1979 » Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:16 am

Sam. wrote:Neat looking work there mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

:text-+1:
From little things big things grow. Keep it coming :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:06 am

Today’s job was to build a 500mm column. A couple of easy flanges and the job was done. Would have been nice if there were no hammer marks on the flange face but it is what it is. They’ll be covered with the tri clamps anyway. Next job is to make the flanges for the 90 degree bends. Hopefully I can pick up some more 1/4”copper tomorrow. If not, other jobs will have to be done.
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Lesgold
 
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equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby dans.brew » Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:02 pm

Nice stuff Les! :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Tidy work... you obviously take pride in your job. I look forward to see what is to come.
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Re: Isolation Build

Postby bluc » Fri Apr 10, 2020 2:11 pm

:text-+1: very nice work :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Sat Apr 11, 2020 3:33 pm

Today’s job was to add some easy flanges to some copper bends.
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Yes, I know, it would have been only $30 to buy one but where’s the fun?
I added a bit of 1/4” tube to the second bend for a thermometer.
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Only the shotty to build and the jobs done. Need to contact Andrew for a few more tri clamps.
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equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Professor Green » Sat Apr 11, 2020 4:52 pm

Very nice work indeed. That's going to be a cracker when it's finished. Looking forward to seeing it all fully assembled. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Sat Apr 11, 2020 6:34 pm

Thanks for the encouragement guys. The condenser may be the one area that challenges patience and ability. Got a bit of a plan as to how to tackle the shotty build. If it works, I’ll be grinning. If it doesn’t, it could be a frustrating morning.
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equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby db1979 » Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:30 pm

Looking good :handgestures-thumbupleft: :banana-dance:
Looking at what you've achieved so far, you shouldn't have any troubles. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Just remember to clean, flux and heat slowly and you'll be right. Oh and drill the water inlet and outlet holes before doing anything else :naughty: just ask woodduck :teasing-neener:
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Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Sun Apr 12, 2020 6:51 am

Thanks db. That’s all I was thinking of last night while trying to go to sleep. “Don’t forget to drill those darn holes before assembly.” The other thing I had to remember was to make sure that the ring for the second easy flange is placed onto the tube BEFORE forming the flange. Those two thoughts resulted in a less than perfect nights sleep.
Lesgold
 
Posts: 383
Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:42 pm
Location: NSW south coast
equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby db1979 » Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:05 am

If your end plate is oversized you can solder it to the outside of the flange and there's no need for a ring. This is my preferred way of doing it as I've pretty much run out of 1/4", couldn't be bothered trying to get any more and I only ever use soft solder, which makes it trickier to get the rings right (bit still possible).
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Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:38 am

Just came inside for a cuppa. Wish I’d read your post. Just finished the easy flanges so I’m committed now. Flanges were silver soldered to make the rest of the build a little easier. Won’t be pretty but t should work.

Cheers

Les
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equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Sun Apr 12, 2020 2:28 pm

Well, the shotty is done. No real issues with it except that an extra 6 hands would have been helpful when lining up the tubes. It was a bit like trying to pat your head while rubbing your stomach. (If you know what I mean.) The most difficult part was coming up with a process that would make the assembly easy. Once I had that sorted, it came together quite well. No leaks at all. I think the secret is to make sure everything fits well, is clean and well fluxed. Keeping an eye on the heat was also important. Will need to buy a few tri clamps and then a couple of cleaning runs will follow. Will post a pic or two when it’s up and running. I will also give some feedback on its performance.
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Cheers

Les
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Lesgold
 
Posts: 383
Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:42 pm
Location: NSW south coast
equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby dans.brew » Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:18 pm

Top stuff Les! :clap:
It looks the goods and should do the job nicely.
No reason at all why you couldn't have a crack at a bubbler one day.
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4" x 4 plates Bubbler with 2"bubble caps on 50ltr keg boiler

Re: Isolation Build

Postby bluc » Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:23 pm

:text-+1: especially since you now have the pc. Same thing but smaller for rc and hard work done.. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Isolation Build

Postby db1979 » Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:39 pm

dans.brew wrote:Top stuff Les! :clap:
It looks the goods and should do the job nicely.
Nol reason at all why you couldn't have a crack at a bulbbler one day.

:text-+1: :text-+1: :clap:
Leak tested yet?

Lovely work.

MacStill had the idea of using pencils in the ends of the internal tubes to help align them. Works well.
Last edited by db1979 on Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby bluc » Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:44 pm

I did mine fully assembled to hold it all inline. But hard soldered. Originally was soft soldered but sprung leak after bout 15months. After some choice words trying to fix I made new one all hard soldered. Dry assembled it all got it right then soldered. Internal tubes both ends then perimeter..
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Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Lesgold » Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:17 pm

All leak tested. No problems there. I ended up silver soldering the easy flanges which took the pressure off the rest of the soldering. Assembled the cooling tubes to the end plates but kept it out of the 2”. Soldered the tubes on the inside of one of the end plates. This held everything together and made the rest of the assembly quite easy. Slid the other end plate off, pushed the tubes through the 2” and then sat the other end plate in place and aligned everything. The final soldering was then an easy task. May build a boka next just for fun. Want something a bit bigger than what I have. A bubbler would be great but would be only a consideration if we end up being locked up for a considerable amount of time. May call on you guys for a bit of advice if I go down this path. Thanks for the info and knowledge that you all provide. Wish I’d known about this forum before I started stillinnnnn.

Cheers

Les
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equipment: Pure Distilling reflux and pot. 2” modular CCVM/ 1150mm column, 50l boiler with 2x 2400w elements.

Re: Isolation Build

Postby Birdman85 » Sun Apr 12, 2020 6:20 pm

Bloody hell ya made that look easy... And here I am 3 weeks later still with a pile of copper scraps good for nothing but a shiny water feature.
Nice job mate.
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