Search found 85 matches

by mtblackdog
Wed Feb 19, 2014 10:13 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?
Replies: 23
Views: 3479

Re: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?

Got this in today. Really really nice quality. The machining is first class and the gaskett grove is burr free and polished. The fit is gonna be a little tight, but I will just use the ye olde freeze technique and that should solve it.
by mtblackdog
Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:02 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: First Coil....too tight?
Replies: 5
Views: 1474

Re: First Coil....too tight?

Yeah thats what I was thinking too. It is easy enough to spread it out a little to gain some surface area. Only made sense to me. You know ho it is when your building you want it pretty and all and then you start pondering over the physics later you realize a better way.
by mtblackdog
Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:39 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?
Replies: 23
Views: 3479

Re: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?

I pulled the trigger on one. I know I know they are spendy. But it looks like good craftmanship. I figured last time I built a still the biggest pain in my butt was the stainless ferrule to copper brazing on on 4" pot still hybrid. Im a sucker for copper and my last build was all tig welded co...
by mtblackdog
Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:38 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?
Replies: 23
Views: 3479

Re: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?

pfshine wrote:I would be kinda weary about brazing it due to annealing and warping.
Nope exactly why I got this one. Dont wanna braze, I want to weld it.
by mtblackdog
Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:06 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?
Replies: 23
Views: 3479

Re: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?

I pulled the trigger on one. I know I know they are spendy. But it looks like good craftmanship. I figured last time I built a still the biggest pain in my butt was the stainless ferrule to copper brazing on on 4" pot still hybrid. Im a sucker for copper and my last build was all tig welded cop...
by mtblackdog
Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:38 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?
Replies: 23
Views: 3479

Copper Ferrules... anybody use them?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/mtblackdog/e531ba0a-5191-43f6-bdb1-af79940e0e61_zps87869f8f.jpg Anybody use these. Pretty nice looking ferrule. I did a search and it didnt turn them up. My only concern is that they only go into the pipe 5/8" and on a five foot column that might not be e...
by mtblackdog
Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:15 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: First Coil....too tight?
Replies: 5
Views: 1474

First Coil....too tight?

Long time pot stiller. And I just wrapped my first coil. Building a Boka for some recipe development so I thought I would giver er a go. My question: Is the coil too tight. I followed the instructions and kept it to a 6" double wound to save packing space ect... But Im worried that my surface a...
by mtblackdog
Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:59 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: 4 plate copper flute
Replies: 29
Views: 11419

Re: 4 plate copper flute

Dang you got some bread locked up in hardware on the beauty.
by mtblackdog
Sun Feb 24, 2013 5:17 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: All Bran Recipe
Replies: 2021
Views: 450773

Re: All Bran Recipe

Well hell never mind. They finally decided to get busy. I popped the lid on the fermenter. And they started to do the fizzy shuffle. So maybe I had an airleak and it wasnt showing on my airlock. But I wasnt getting my usual bubbles on the lid either so who the hell knows. Anyway, its fired up now an...
by mtblackdog
Sun Feb 24, 2013 6:34 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: All Bran Recipe
Replies: 2021
Views: 450773

Re: All Bran Recipe

Rad-Havent been on in awhile. If your around Ive got a batch that didnt start. The one five gallon batch I just got new yeast for and its doing fine. The other batch I used Yeast from last spring thats been sitting in my garage thats been through the gauntlet of weather. Summer thru winter. So Im th...
by mtblackdog
Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:28 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: First "All Bran"
Replies: 10
Views: 1400

Re: First "All Bran"

PP- It came our really nice. The heads were really nasty though. So that cut was really easy. I got about 18 pint jars total with a 10 gallon wash. With really tasty hearts in jars 7-13. Jar 12 and 13 had a really nice raisin flavor come through at about 50% ABV. Once again it creeped into the tails...
by mtblackdog
Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:22 am
Forum: My First .....
Topic: First "All Bran"
Replies: 10
Views: 1400

Re: First "All Bran"

Will do, I still have them cut into pints so it wont take much to do a little blend. Started a raisin bran run today. I didnt know if the raisin flavor would come through but it sure does. The heads came in a little higher ABV on this batch about 65%, I added a pint of molasses along with the raisin...
by mtblackdog
Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:55 pm
Forum: My First .....
Topic: First "All Bran"
Replies: 10
Views: 1400

First "All Bran"

Finally got a chance to run Rad's All Bran. Ran it through my Graham pot still. It only started at 60% ABV which isnt too bad for big wide open pot still. Cuts were real easy and clean. I used the small jar method just to get a feel for this recipe. Like I said Heads came in at about 62% and started...
by mtblackdog
Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:46 am
Forum: Distilling News
Topic: Whiskey in Space
Replies: 1
Views: 663

Whiskey in Space

http://now.msn.com/now/0410-whiskey-space.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
by mtblackdog
Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:07 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Meet the "Ardvark" Graham Potstill
Replies: 11
Views: 2960

Re: Meet the "Ardvark" Graham Potstill

OK...#1 with what did you weld the copper? #2 did you make the reducer? How? #3 concerning the internal coil, not sure if I can describe this...but is the highest point in the loop always lower than the lowest part of the upper loop? Or is it pressure that is pushing distillate through? #4 I'm wond...
by mtblackdog
Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:04 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Meet the "Ardvark" Graham Potstill
Replies: 11
Views: 2960

Re: Meet the "Ardvark" Graham Potstill

I would expect serious smearing with that orientation. Too much pooling. Heat exchange will work great though a lot of sub cooling due to liquid hanging in tube. I do extra work to avoid pooling. Just me though. AC Will work for strip runs but dont think spirit would work well. Your wrong this isnt...
by mtblackdog
Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:18 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Meet the "Ardvark" Graham Potstill
Replies: 11
Views: 2960

Meet the "Ardvark" Graham Potstill

Finally done redesigning my "Graham" pot still. Nicknamed the beast the "Ardvark" Did the cleaning runs and checked for leaks. Its a three inch column that goes into a 90 and a 45 then into a copper welded cone that is welded to 3/8 inch tubing into a 3" inch arm. No sweat f...
by mtblackdog
Sun Apr 01, 2012 5:02 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.
Replies: 13
Views: 1471

Re: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.

Couldnt find the right flux in this part of the world without ordering it so I went to a buddies shop, grabbed the torch and went to work. We heated the hell out of it to get the braise to flow. The stainless was glowing but only for seconds and the copper was talking. The ferule is on as solid as a...
by mtblackdog
Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:55 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.
Replies: 13
Views: 1471

Re: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.

Watched a You Tube video of the dude from Rainier Distillers and he was brazing his columns to ferules with a gas torch. He heated the ferule first, with fast circular strokes and then slowed down to a few more strokes and then moved to the copper heating it. Then he braised it.... no problem. Dont ...
by mtblackdog
Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:22 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.
Replies: 13
Views: 1471

Re: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.

Yeah I think that flux was the primary cause. The high silver content solder should help as well. Post some pics when I get the ugly duck polished back up.
by mtblackdog
Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:58 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.
Replies: 13
Views: 1471

Re: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.

That sounds good. I also went down to the local welding supply store and picked up a much higher silver content solder, with a flux that contains Hydrochloric Acid, spendy $45 for the set up though.
by mtblackdog
Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:24 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Problem....help welcomed.
Replies: 13
Views: 1471

Soldering Problem....help welcomed.

So I opted to put a stainless steel ferrule from brewhaus on my graham/hybrid potstill. First let me say, its not my first rodeo with silver solder but I have never tried to sweat stainless and copper together. So I dry fit the ferrule and it fits like a glove, take it back apart clean it up flux it...
by mtblackdog
Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:34 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Infection
Replies: 12
Views: 1283

Re: Infection

Fill it full of a bleach and water solution and let it sit over night. Nothing and I mean nothing lives past bleach. No reason to toss it. After that go back and do another rinse this time use one step and dont use a water rinse. Should take care of it. But if it is scratched you will have to remain...
by mtblackdog
Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:12 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Removable liebigs
Replies: 19
Views: 2336

Re: Removable liebigs

Any body know what connection Hill Billy Stills is using for their connectors on their Liebigs?
by mtblackdog
Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:02 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: New Parrot
Replies: 10
Views: 1821

Re: New Parrot

Dont forget to put a little copper packing in the bottom of that thing if you have room, or else your beloved alcometer will take the dreaded nose dive and break its little head. Nice build.
by mtblackdog
Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:46 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: pot still head roughed in
Replies: 19
Views: 3539

Re: pot still head roughed in

Forgo the thermometer. You will be glad you did. Run it on taste and feel and you will be golden. Nice looking head by the way. You could run it on liebig or worm.
by mtblackdog
Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:14 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Just Another 4inch Column
Replies: 23
Views: 2728

Re: Just Another 4inch Column

Keep it coming that thing is purdy.
by mtblackdog
Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:52 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Pot still with double wound coil condensor. Thoughts?
Replies: 13
Views: 4327

Re: Pot still with double wound coil condensor. Thoughts?

I use something similar. But mine is a graham instead. It goes up a column makes a 90 into a copper cone that joins a 45 into a coil then finishes into a cap. My product since it is a graham is in the coil. And cooled like a liebig. Its all 3" pipe 24" inch tower into a 30" arm. 10 fe...
by mtblackdog
Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:22 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: All Bran Recipe
Replies: 2021
Views: 450773

Re: All Bran Recipe

Getting ready to run a batch of raisin bran, and was gonna add a 12 oz jar of Grandmas Molasses, how much of my 10 pounds of sugar to 5 gallons of water should I subtract by adding the molasses? Im thinking 2 pounds?
by mtblackdog
Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:07 pm
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: All Bran Recipe
Replies: 2021
Views: 450773

Re: All Bran Recipe

56 liters ? If so, Im not sure you used enough sugar. I used 10lbs of sugar to 5 gallons of water and it worked like a champ. Just racked it to by carboys. Turned out great, smells good and taste good. Even put a little on ice and sat in the 65 degree sun here in Montana today. Haven't run it yet bu...