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glass still

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:30 am
by cult101
hi
i live in aus so if any one knows of some sites tell me? If i use boiling flask will it be ok?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:11 am
by bronzdragon
I've seen some glass (pyrex) set ups for laboratory testing of chemicals and such. I don't think they would be good for home use because they only produce very small amounts, are really expensive and pretty fragile compared to a regular stainless or copper still.

You'd probably have to look at companies that sell lab equipment under the glass section. That might be fun for a small experiment, but not for making regular runs.

Just my wooden nickel's worth.

cheers

~r~

glass still

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:04 am
by birdwatcher
Ok for making tinctures for flavoring vodka i.e. gin and liqueurs.

However, I use a pyrex coffee pot with a large cork and a tiny pot still for this purpose.

More practical and less money.

G

search

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:48 am
by Uncle Jesse
I suggest you search on Pyrex. It's been suggested and nobody likes the idea because glass is so fragile and alcohol is so flammable.

Also pyrex is made up of more than just glass and at one point there was a discussion about that fact.

Pyrex always ends up losing. Use only stainless steel and/or copper.

i like glass

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:14 am
by schnell
but, i'm also an organic chemist...

I've done thousands of distillations in glassware of many different shapes, features, and configurations. You can do steam, vacuum, reflux, etc. using what they call a "student kit". They are probably just about the very best learning apparatus, since you can see inside and see things happen, like bumping, refluxing, etc. You can even get all kinds of modular pieces and parts to build like legos.

However, like everyone says, they're too small to make any significant volume, unless you really spend some serious money for a pilot plant reactor apparatus.

They are also to fragile to use in anything but a dedicated workspace (ie laboratory) equipped with support racks, plumbing, etc.

Glassware is also precision fitted so it tends to be VERY costly, so you can easily fabricate bigger stronger faster and more tool for a fraction of the cost of even the simplest glassware rig. And those round bottom flasks need mantles, which in turn need variacsm and so on.

So despite appreciating my pyrex investments, I certainly would not encourage the same for a hobbyist. For a professional, certainly. For a distillery, only for the lab...