Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Perforated & bubble cap plated columns

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Sun Apr 24, 2022 5:49 pm

Finally made some more progress today. Soldered in the downcomers to the plates, made the top & bottom 4" fittings & soldered the 4" to 2" flanges plus tested the RC (found a couple of pin prick holes but easy fixes). Only the gaskets for the glass sections left to do then I can test it all out... unless I decide to make the packed section first.

Also need to work out if I want to stay at 4 plates or build another 2 and make it a 6 plater... ... ... or make it a 8 plate still since theres still enough copper plate left. Too many choices atm...
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby bluc » Mon Apr 25, 2022 11:32 am

Look forward to seeing it assembled :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby RuddyCrazy » Mon Apr 25, 2022 4:01 pm

:text-worthless:
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Mon Apr 25, 2022 4:05 pm

RuddyCrazy wrote::text-worthless:


Haha don't worry, the pics are slowly getting there, just had other distractions today... I'll get some pics up as soon as I can, hopefully by next weekend :teasing-neener:

Btw Bryan, you never did tell me what you thought of the single malt & rye whiskeys I left with you... I know they can't top the wattle seed one but what did you think mate?
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equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby RuddyCrazy » Mon Apr 25, 2022 6:13 pm

hjubm2 wrote:
RuddyCrazy wrote::text-worthless:


Haha don't worry, the pics are slowly getting there, just had other distractions today... I'll get some pics up as soon as I can, hopefully by next weekend :teasing-neener:

Btw Bryan, you never did tell me what you thought of the single malt & rye whiskeys I left with you... I know they can't top the wattle seed one but what did you think mate?


Mate after I saw post I just had to have a try of that rye as I've never tasted a rye whisky before so I decanted it down to 38% from the 65% sample you gave me and doing a sniff test at that ABV was like :puke-huge: but tempering it down then having dram my first words were "cuts" :laughing-rolling: and yes it is a nice drop :handgestures-thumbupleft: With the other one I'll test next weekend and I'm sure I'll say the same thing :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Anyway get on ya phone and take some pic's of this build mate as this forum does hunger for copper porn :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Cheers Bryan
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Wed Apr 27, 2022 10:55 am

RuddyCrazy wrote:
hjubm2 wrote:
RuddyCrazy wrote::text-worthless:


Haha don't worry, the pics are slowly getting there, just had other distractions today... I'll get some pics up as soon as I can, hopefully by next weekend :teasing-neener:

Btw Bryan, you never did tell me what you thought of the single malt & rye whiskeys I left with you... I know they can't top the wattle seed one but what did you think mate?


Mate after I saw post I just had to have a try of that rye as I've never tasted a rye whisky before so I decanted it down to 38% from the 65% sample you gave me and doing a sniff test at that ABV was like :puke-huge: but tempering it down then having dram my first words were "cuts" :laughing-rolling: and yes it is a nice drop :handgestures-thumbupleft: With the other one I'll test next weekend and I'm sure I'll say the same thing :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Anyway get on ya phone and take some pic's of this build mate as this forum does hunger for copper porn :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Cheers Bryan


You trying to say you didn't like the Angel Yeast Rye :laughing-rolling: know how much you love that yeast...

Anyways away for work this week shifting the bees so the pictures etc will need to wait until the weekend. Should have most of it finished by then and be able to do the vinegar run anyways... fingers crossed...
hjubm2
 
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2019 5:45 pm
Location: South Australia
equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Sat Apr 30, 2022 11:16 am

Had a few spare minutes today so started on the silicone gaskets to go between the plates & glass. Using the Wiltshire baking mats like has been used on here in the past. Thinking I might only use them as a temp gasket as the baking mats are a bit too thin for my liking.

Image

Image
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Sun May 01, 2022 10:52 am

Todays job is to finish off the gaskets, assemble the plate tree & possibly build the packed section. Was planning to build a carter head as well but unless I can find cheaper 4" copper that won't be happening for awhile (priced it the other week locally at $225/m!). So most of the parts are built now, nearly there...

Image

Pressure tested the RC again today after fixing the couple leaks on the end plates. They appear to be holding now but the inlet & outlet fittings now have small leaks. Only noticable under full mains pressure but still annoying...

Image
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equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby chipboy » Sun May 01, 2022 6:04 pm

Use loctite between metal surfaces not teflon tape. Its not for drinking so use away.
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Mon May 02, 2022 7:57 am

chipboy wrote:Use loctite between metal surfaces not teflon tape. Its not for drinking so use away.


Cheers Chipboy, I'll look into that if I need to redo the fittings
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Posts: 251
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Location: South Australia
equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Mon May 02, 2022 8:00 am

Test assembled the plates yesterday arvo after soldering the packed section. The gaskets will need a bit of modifying since I didn't allow room for the nuts when they are screwed down onto the plates but past that everything appeared good. Not long now until it will be up and running...

Image
hjubm2
 
Posts: 251
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equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Sat May 14, 2022 6:25 pm

Progress made today between other jobs. Cut out another couple plates & made the downcomers. Just need to solder them in tomorrow & will have all 6 plates ready to finish assembling. Also started the (hopefully) final assembly of the plates/glass today. Tomorrow will assemble all the plates together, level out the ends of the packed section & do a final pressure test on the RC before finally assembling everything... not long now until it's running...

Image
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Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Mon May 16, 2022 2:03 pm

Getting closer now. The last two plates were finished off yesterday, the RC pressure tested again & the plate tree assembled. The stainless steel scrubbers were also cleaned in citric acid ready for the packed section.

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Since I ended up having today off and all the parts are finished off ready to test I thought I'd change over the water fittings to allow the RC to be plumbed in then assemble the parts & do the cleaning vinegar run... well that was the plan anyway. When I went to assemble everything noticed a couple of problems. Firstly a few of the sections weren't sealing properly once the tri-clamp was done up as tight as the thread would allow. This was easy fixed by adding a second silicone seal between each section (I'm assuming this will be alright, having two seals instead of one to pad the distance out...).

The harder problem to fix is the one that has the roof beam right where the copper comes back down into the PC.

Image

So the plan now (think I'm up to about plan Z by now) is to make a wider 2" 180 degree bend to clear the beam. This will serve 2 purposes. Firstly will allow the still to clear the roof beam & secondly will give me something to attach the top of the still onto to help support the weight etc. I'll just have to work out a way to clamp onto the two bits of copper pipe & then attach it to the beam.

So sadly this is as far as the still will get for now until I can get more copper parts & build the bend... so close yet so far...
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equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby hjubm2 » Fri May 27, 2022 11:21 am

Had a few days off so finally got the glasser to the point where i can run it. Built a larger 180 2" bend to clear the roof beam & built the 2" extension to lower the parrot to a better height. Made a couple of supports up to stop it moving & to help take a bit of the weight at the top.

Image

Ran it yesterday arvo with 50/50 vinegar/water & it was mostly alright, just one leak between the packed section & the 4" to 2" adaptor. The flanges looked alright so I've removed the one seal & put in 2 different ones to try and bulk it up more as the triclamp had ran out of thread before it was fully tight. Just waiting for the boiler to warm up now to test if its helped.

Other problem is that when I turned off the condensers to let the vinegar steam through the system the hoses i use for cooling lines got a bit hot & formed a vacuum for some reason so they are now all deformed. They still allow water through but it's got to be effecting the flow. I might have to look at installing some braided stainless steel lines instead... anyone got any advice/thoughts on this matter?
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equipment: 130L Jacketed Boiler w 4" Pot Still, 4" Glass Bubbler

Re: Hjubm2's Glasser Build

Postby bluc » Fri May 27, 2022 12:35 pm

I use reinforced clear drinking water hose like andrew sells no issues so far
. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
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