Are sight glass necessary

[Getsmokin]

So i'm going to build a new tower and was was thinking something plated (maybe one packed to). I have no experience with plated columns, but have read a lot (have a lot more to go) and haven't found anywhere talking about it sight glass was a must have to properly run a plated column? They do look really cool and i'm sure theres times they might help diag a problem (also add a lot of expense), but are they mandatory?

[woodshed]

Not necessary at all but nice to have if you can afford it. Never hurts to have a window into the soul of your woman, uh, column.

[goose eye]

No but thangs can go south quick you usein one on a fair size kettle
So I'm tole

[woodshed]

No but thangs can go south quick you usein one on a fair size kettle
So I'm tole

South in a good way or bad

[FullySilenced]

I don't get that either Goose Eye ? Expound please!

Professional boilers always seem to have them...

FS

[thecroweater]

sight glasses on a column don't actually effect the still, there are guys that just have one sighty on the bottom plate. I think you would want to be a very experienced column stiller to run with none

[MitchyBourbon]

No, but then you gotta be Obi Wan Kenobi, especially until you're dialed into how it runs. Are you dialed into the force?

[bearriver]

I wish I never put that sight glass on my still!

Said no one ever.

[MitchyBourbon]

I wish I never put that sight glass on my still!

Said no one ever.

So true. bearriver, you are an enigma. You should be studied.

[Getsmokin]

No, but then you gotta be Obi Wan Kenobi, especially until you're dialed into how it runs. Are you dialed into the force?

Definitely not dialed in, Yet.

[goose eye]

Bottom line

So I'm tole

[Rastus]

kinda like timing the old car without the timing light... takes the guess work out of it... avoiding some serious problems, or major inconvenience.

[Hound Dog]

I wish I never put that sight glass on my still!

Said no one ever.

Yup!

[woodshed]

Bottom line

So I'm tole

Thanks for clarifying your first post goose

[MitchyBourbon]

Bottom line

So I'm tole

Thanks for clarifying your first post goose

That there is funny. Good.one, both of you.

[goose eye]

How bout its the bottom line with the two lines.
that help any

So I'm tole

[woodshed]

Thermometers would do also most as well but you would need one on the bottom and one on the top plate. I have thermos on each plate and use that data more than the glasses.

Agreed. Both have there place on a column but the thermos will be of more benefit.
However, they don't look as COOL.

[woodshed]

How bout its the bottom line with the two lines.
that help any

So I'm tole

Actually it does.

[googe]

My first plated column had no sight glass, I had only had a pot still before that. the first time I ran the plated I was like a chook running around without a head!, what's that sound, what's this sound, I have no idea what my plates are doing!. I eventually got it running ok with some help from someone on a forum while I was running it. After a few runs I couldn't stand not seeing what was happening inside, so I put one glass in the bottom plate. It was like a window into heaven!, I could see wtf was going on!. I still only use one on the bottom. You can run without them but just takes the guessing out of it, and you will learn more about how you run being able to see, plus it's very very exciting seeing them bubbles

[jedneck]

More fun than watching an airlock work.

[woodshed]

Took this during sac run on Betty. Running hard and fast. This was at 19 amps.

[MitchyBourbon]

You guys need to get out more.

[thecroweater]

hmm a thermometer on a still let me get back to yaz on that (don't have one), my flush port was made to hold one in the RC never saw the need

[InglisHill]

I usually sight my glass, before I drink. Sometimes, because of various chemical equations, I see two glasses.

[hellbilly007]

From my fuzzy memory, sight glasses are a good indicator of oncoming tails, that is when the plate begins to dry out.

When things go South it's not a good thing. Absolutely no offence to Southerners, I'm one myself.

[woodshed]

I typically only use the therm on my boiler anymore as it beeps at me at a preset temp so I know when to turn on the cooling water.
Normally I have multiple things going on at once in the distillery and can't waste the time watching it and would rather not waste the electricity to run the pump all the way through the heat up process. Even if it is 12 volt. I am a cheap bastard. Once it beeps at me I am all about the still or within reach until well into hearts. Never out of sight of the still. I even have an window in the wall separating the still room from the rest of the place so I can see it from my most used workbench.
Only my 4 plate has a therm on the column. Could be pulled but i'm geeky that way and have gotten use to glancing at it towards the end of the run. Certainly cheaper than adding a sight glass and will give you the same info once you have her figured out.
The sight glass will speed up that figuring out.

[googe]

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