I am using stainless tri-clover fittings for the joints in the column as I didn't want to deal with trying to solder 3 inch copper pipe. I used stainless pipe for the elbow fittings up top as I like the look of the copper and stainless together and it may be potentially cheaper.
I have just started on the plate tree so far. Drilling 100 1/16 holes into each plate. I used a strait edge to mark out where I wanted to holes to go and then used a sharpie to mark along the lines. I did this all just by eye-balling things. I didn't measure specific spacing between the holes or anything. I also don't have a drill press so I am drilling all these holes out by hand. I clamped the disc onto a scrap piece of wood.
