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Probably just above the boiler, under the column section. I assume that i will use a couple of triclover clamps to hold one in place but is it as simple as adding a section that has some heavy gage mesh welded in place? Does it need an expanded chamber? do you need a pressure relief valve below it? ...

I was wondering whether anyone had suggestions for the addition of a Gin Basket to my pot still pictured below. I would prefer to make it out of SS and the cost is not really of concern (I have access to cheap SS). Ta

Bump? OK. I then opened the gate valve on the VM side and was getting approx 2.5L/hour at 90% ( I assume it will have a faster output at a higher abv when i use low wines at around 40 - 50% instead of 10%???) I dont imagine i will get the full 2.5L due to some sitting in the column and some in the s...

OK. So tonight i was able to give my still its first run. With 3700W it took approx 1 hour to get to heat I then let it sit for approx 30min I noticed that some steam was coming out of the safety vent so i dropped the power back to 2400W and that seemed to stop it. It was charged with 25L of white w...

Hey Mech, I will definately post some performance specs once i completely finish it and get it sparked up hopefully the weekend after this. I still have to add the elements to the keg boiler and polish it up and also make up the connection for the liebig to the 1st column section so that it can be a...

This is the inside of the liebig The finished liebig, 90cm long now. The finished crossflow The finished still.....well almost.
I still have a bit of grinding and buffing to do yet.

OK finally finished....well almost Here are some progress pics. This was the original crossflow condenser design but proved to be too hard to weld such a thin walled tube so we had to use 6 3/4" tubes (all the tube we had left) instead of the 19 1/4" that we had planned on using. P1010694....

OK copper mesh ordered.

Now I need to get a thermometer.

Any suggestions???

Thanks kiwi will see what i can manage.

On the copper mesh.....does anyone know where to get the "amphora structured packing" style copper mesh in australia or does it have to be brought in from US.

Thanks guys. Appreciate all the feedback. Good luck on your build condensificator. I have decided to keep to the plan and have ordered the 2" gate valve and will be 2 inch all the way to the 3/4 x 1" liebig. I am going to be buying some of the copper mesh that comes in sheets that you can ...

OK so here is what should be the final design

So have put the order in for the parts I will need. Should be starting the build in the next couple of weeks. Will post pics of progress.

Thanks for the pointers condensificator. The only reason i chose the liebig to be that size is due to other people who run 3" systems saying that is what they use and it is more than enough. Would be happy to use a larger size but then you also start loosing relative surface area. I will be mak...

also forgot to add that the thermometer placement will be in the horizontal section of the 2x2x2" tee.

Here is the design with the suggested changes

Lovely. Thanks mate. Will add some collars and make a shorter return.

OK. The reason i made a larger riser is that i thought it would hold more foreshots....? Am i wrong?

What would be the best thing to use for centreing? maybe i could put 1 at each column section joint?

Also wouldn't the reflux outlet centre the liquid?

Ta

Thanks Kiwi. Bit confused by the reflux return above the packing. Are you saying that i should just have the packing a little lower? It is meant to be showing the return outlet just above the packing. Also wouldn't the liquid just flow around from the other side of the condenser (round the sides of ...

Hi. Yet another newbie who has found a wealth of knowledge on this site. Below is my first design concept for a VM/LM still. It will be made using predominantly stainless steel (I am aware of the expense) and will sit on top of either a 25L SS boiler with both a 1300W and a 2400 W element inside to ...

Thankyou all for your input. I have a friend who is going to build it out of stainless steel for me. He has alot of pipe and fitings lying around as he built his own large scale commercial winery. I probably dont want to have to have more than a 50L wash to boil at any one time. Therefore maybe a 2....

So..... after reading this debate i am still confused. I am planning on building a SS VM still with a 3" column. I was wishing to build with 3" rather than 2" as I am under the understanding that i will a faster output at the same purity? (please correct me if I am wrong) In saying th...

Hi, have been readin through multiple posts in this fantastic forum and have decided that i would be best to build a VM still. Was wanting to know the pros and cons of going for 3" vs the 2" that most people tend to use for their column. Also if anyone has any good plans for a VM still i w...