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I think good sense might get the best of me yet,
I think if I can successfully solder the spud to the bottom, I should just solder a coper threaded adapter to the top. Right?
Easy?

The speed of fill may be an issue, the pressure is the same based on level, right, but volume might come into play. Any hydraulic engineers out there, or a run of the mill physicist? So the why questions? I want to save a buck and simply solder the connections. I will put in a drain, again, solder i...

Yup, a 45 degree branch between the keg opening and the column with a cap and tri-clamp would work. Well there is a thought. A 2" copper 'Y', easy flange, cap, tri clamp, a few bits of 2" tube,... On second thought... Could be costly. As you might already know/experience, taking the colum...

firewater69 wrote:Looks like your fill tube will waste some wash.

Could be... It will be mixing as it boils so I think it would be minimal. Even if it were completely isolated what would that be? A pint or so?

I also realize the valve and fill tube could be on the same side.

Don't let the beauty of my technical drawing throw you, I'm actually not an engineering draftsman. Thoughts about a 'bottom fill' ? Why you ask? Well I'm going to put a drain in anyway, and I don't want to make Swiss cheese of my keg, 15gal, going electric, So why not fill from the bottom? I know it...

I do have a copper one, I ended up returning the ss dad special. And I feel better about my coil, it seems to do the trick. Anthony at Rainer distillers was extremely gratuitous, apologetic, and timely in his response. The first coil didn't exactly blow me away but his customer service did! And Mr. ...

Ok, it's over now but here are the notes, such as they are. If you catch me I'm running the pot right now, On with the show... Cleaning run 1 gal water, 750ml wash just because it was there, 500 ml fores or early heads, seemed good for a sacrificial run Equalized at 174.2-4 seems a SLIGHT Vapor puff...

All vapor is gone by the way, I chalk it up to getting stabilized, and have zero reason to believe that. Ok 2:10, still bored, I'm turning up the out put... 10 drips 3.75 sec. I'm i to stand and stare at this thing? I want my burner back, I have some wash to run. Part two Temp dropping, why? Out of ...

Ok, this is real time so forgive the lack of precision Notes on cleaning run Cleaning run 1 gal water, 750ml wash just because it was there, 500 ml fores or early heads, seemed good for a sacrificial run Equalized at 174.2-4 seems a SLIGHT Vapor puff 5-10 min, still at 174, output water around 110f ...

I've also seen folks design their pot still riser in such a way as to move the center of gravity over the still boiler - a kind of goose neck looking arrangement. There are probably a few examples of the design here on the forum, but I don't have a clue as to how to search for it. Here's a crude dr...

Belly buster - hang from the valve!?! You must be pooping me? That seems so weak to do that. Ac fix - I assure you it is pointed down, little choice as it was only accessible from below after assembly. I guess I could have screwed it up, but didn't. image.jpg I had to go check And here is my thought...

U joints?
The issue I may run into is as I separate the couplings I will need to use some twisting or mild side to side force, that could jack up the small diameter copper.

I have a question, and may need to post elsewhere to get the proper attention, but... Imagine a column with the valve near the top, or just look at the pic above if you are imaginary challenged. Now then, the valve will be up high and the warm/hot product will be trickle ing out of said valve. Imagi...

Thanks for the link, this site is emended and not always easy to find what your looking for. I tried the smaller chips but they seemed to impart too much burn flavor, char? Whatever it was it was harsh. And I appreciate being, shall we say thrifty, I can risk the cost. I bought the bag of JD blocks ...

Thank you all for the kind words. The stainless was acquired from 'dixiline' , right off the shelf. 60' x3/8 was around $20, it has since been returned. A new coil arrived that I will use until it proves inadequate. I hope that is not the case The column is packed with a copper mesh, will likely cle...

And here is the product. First run 110 proof This is a quart jar with one block from a JD smoking block bag. Each block is around 2"X2", and as you can see I split it into 4 sticks. This is day ? 48 hours from finish. One stick sank almost immediately, the others are now in various stages ...

So yesterday the gravity was 1.010 on bucket #1, so I said 'screw it' and ran it. Seemed ok to me so I took a pint or so from mid run and put it on oak, I will likely just toss the rest in with a feints run or the other bucket of low wines . And though I am still clueless, I am learning So I took 1....

Woe to you, moonshiners, For you clean the outside of the keg and of the copper, but inside they are full of wash and mash. "You blind Bootlegger, first clean the inside of the still and of the parrot, so that the outside of it may become clean also. "Woe to you, rum runners and swill make...

And now dear friends, gaze at the wonder that is the inner workings. As you can see I put the thermometer on the side, and the solder did flow. But best of all... The annealed tip bent like butter. And for any that choose to follow this plan do NOT forget to anneal that part or you shall be screwed.

Flow? She works in the diner right?
I pointed the hose at one end and water squirts out the other, seems good to me.

Ok that was way WAY, to easy Wasn't it? I just can't understand the need for tormenting oneself with a copper coil. Amen my brotha! Preach it! And here is the top plate soldered. image.jpg And the bottom plate, prior to clean up image.jpg So that's it?!? It's a boka head? Seems like I must be missi...

Ok that was way WAY, to easy

And the coil. Accounting to my calculations each wrap of the 3/8 corrugated stainless steel tube (csst) is capable of fitting a 2" tube, great! Each wrap takes a length of 5", and will be 1" 'tall' So... 8 wraps,-requires 40", center around which I wrap, 8" , which leaves me...

Time to solder! I'm going to go for it. Unless I hear otherwise. The thermometer port is a out 1" and take off about 3". The take off is short enough that I can fit my drill up to the plate and drill out any solder obstruction that may appear . Top plate and thermometer port same tome, the...

Success!
Paint did the trick, thank you Mr. Baked

And this design has been registered with the U.S. Patent office and any attempt to replicate this Parrot in whole or in part will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law~!!! But seriously, the detail didn't seem that difficult- go for it.

So, more pictures, is this too much. I'm learning the rules here
And the coil maker has the opportunity to redeem themselves

Ok, pitched at typical temp, 90ish, it's been two weeks and the gravity is slowly falling. It's odd since I've made dozens of brews, whine, mead, cider, never had a ferment go so slow. Oh well, I guess I have to be patient.
And for the record I love my job.

I would give that stainless a try if I could find it
Edit...
That is the same stuff as the yellow plastic coated stuff? Just strip the plastic?!?

Could this work?

And another quick pic
The take off hole is breaking through to the plate, I don't think that will be a big deal, right?

For the concerned parties, I have an update... I spoke with the manufacture of the coil above, he actually answered the phone, a bit of a surprise actually, anyway... He was extremely pleasant and accommodating. He absolutely took complete responsibility and offered to do whatever I would like, retu...