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I filled the blue drum up to the holes, say 40 gallons. Four and a half hours from when I first turned the power on. No alarm or fail-safe needed because I do not leave any still unattended. Thanks. A couple nore questions: Do you know how many CFM your 30W fan is rated for? Any idea how much tap-w...

In the reflux condenser, filling as much if the tube with CSST coil is important. It blocks more vapor and provides a tight fit for holding the coil in place. For the dimroth style product condenser it is not as important. SS Scrubbie can be packed around a loose fitting twisted loop and the end ca...

I have never formed the solder ring when I solder, It doesn't mean that it is the only way I see many here get excellent results using the ring of solder I just think I get better control applying the solder as necessary . Yes I would set the assembly ferrule down and apply heat to the copper pipe ...

If you have a good silver bearing solder which it looks like you do , 3.8 % silver and the stay clean flux I would use that. I have never had good luck with plain plumbers solder for stainless to copper connections. The silver bearing solder makes it sooooo much easier. Remember to clean all the pa...

Part of your issue with soldering the ferrrule is using the improper tools, cleaning and application.. All the part need to be properly sanded, cleaned, and the s.s. cleaned with acetone or lacquer thinner.. then prep with the properly paste, for s.s. Stay Clean liquid flux or Superior 71 paste (bo...

-Boka style is needed to get very high % proof out, however they are more difficult to run (like driving your car with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake). If/when I get into higher proof, I was planning to start by using my still in CCVM-mode with reflux. Boka's are beautiful but seem ...

There's been a few variations and still one to go (3/4" hoses) but this looks to be the final set up. Did a stripping run today, 2200W element full power, 46 litres of wash, collected 10 litres and the reservoir temperature only got up to 39.5C :thumbup: Starting water temp was 27.7C and start...

Since his post of June 9 (which predates my first post on this thread), I've not seen any posts here from Dad300. I'm certainly eager to read anything he has to say on the subject. I mean that Dad has repeated things here on this thread that he had posted elsewhere. Oh, OK. Got it. Why are you resi...

At the bottom of each page is a "bookmark topic" button. Why dont you bookmark the topics you have found most helpful / least referenced both so far and as you learn more? At some point you'll no longer be a brand new beginner, but your bookmarked threads could be a good reference to shar...

. I read your post and then skimmed the other responses but here are some things to consider: Appreciate the post, Cu29er. Some comments: -Keep the still simple. Make a standard 'pot still' and compare running your material through once vs twice. Get an idea how it all works. There are a lot of var...

And to remove it you use a screwdriver or something to squeeze the end of the spring back in so it passes throughthe ferrule (kind of like a spring-clip), right? Theoretically, although I dont think I've ever removed it. I take packing out the top when I need to. I'm currently using a combination o...

fafrd, if you want to have a coiled RC go for the smallest size CSST, otherwise your RC will be the twisted version. The twisted version works fine for me. The important thing is that you can move the RC easily and that it stays in the position you wanted it. If the CSST is fitted with compression ...

Dad has kindly reposted his earlier post for you. I'm not sure I understand what this means. Since his post of June 9 (which predates my first post on this thread), I've not seen any posts here from Dad300. I'm certainly eager to read anything he has to say on the subject, so a pointer would be app...

...Do you use the basket facing up as shown or facing doen like a real basket? ”down”...like a basket. But it really doesn’t matter...either will work. But, you don’t want it too “tightly wound” because you still need open area for the vapor to rise through even if liquid (condensate) is falling. G...

weird, I thought I had posted in here yesterday but it seems to not be here... I'll see if I can find it somehow. anyway, on packing retainer, I use something very similar to what SS posted but lower tech. It's just a "spring" shaped coil of bare copper ground wire. No soldering, just sta...

Maritimer...if you monitor the temp of the outflow coolant temp., and keep it below 140ish, you should be condensing 100% of the vapor, in the column and in the product condenser. With my setup, if I keep it below 130 Deg F, I know I'm o.k. I worked in photo labs for years and I know MY HANDS can t...

...did I understand correctly that you use a scrubbie at the bottom of the column to support the marbles and another on top of them under the product port? No, I made a copper “basket” that fits inside the pipe and rests on the rim of the stainless steel ferrule. I used the 12 gage copper wire stri...

...did I understand correctly that you use a scrubbie at the bottom of the column to support the marbles and another on top of them under the product port? No, I made a copper “basket” that fits inside the pipe and rests on the rim of the stainless steel ferrule. I used the 12 gage copper wire stri...

Another question for you, still_stirrin: I know I won't be messing with packing forcsome time, but I want to learn kore about it. I looked forva thread, ran some searches, but have not been able to find a conprehensive iverview of theory anfpd options - is there one? In reading over several threads,...

And here’s an idea...make the column height several shorter sections. That way you can adjust the purity if desired for a lower off still proof for more flavor throughput. The additional TC clamps and ferrules are an opportune investment for future capability. An 8”, 16”, and 24” section will give ...

With proper packing, a 1 meter or 40” (packed section) will get you azeotropic product provided you have a high enough reflux ratio. You can make it taller if you like, but the benefits of additional packing rapidly diminish. And the cost of the column (and packing) adds cost. Be sure to insulate t...

Question for anyone following this thread and trying to help me with this build:

-what is the longest 2" column I may ever want for a CCVM tower? 20x = 40" or is there any efficiency/performance advantage to go even longer?

still_stirrin wrote: However, my boiler is insulated with Reflectex, both sides and top. It helps hold the heat inside and stabilize the vapor production. fafrd wrote: That's exactly why the idea appealed to me (though probably difficult to insulate sides as I'm using gas). I've been using gas and ...

greggn wrote:> I'm an electrical engineer


Then you're familiar with the phrase "Paralysis by analysis."

Analysis Paralysis, for sure...

On the other hand,while awaiting my fittings to arrive, I've got nothing better to do .

Some more details on the CSST-Dimroth condenser I'm building. The 48" long piece of 5/8" CSST had compression fittings on the end which I'm currently planning to use and to bend out over the column edges. I can get a asymmetrical-twist (one side close to straight, the other side loosely tw...

...Would appreciate any feedback.... I figure with Dimroth coil inserted into the column as much as possible, the bottom of the 'U' should extend just down to the top of the lower copper section of the CCVM column (triclamp from column to TC T), ~2" below the product port. It (may) work, but w...

What is the reason insulation of riser in pot-still is a bad idea? With 2" pipe and no stuffing in the column, seems as though clogging/flooding the column should be impossible...)? Is riser insulation "a bad idea?"... well, it is simply not necessary. With a short riser (you don't n...

Yup, that's the engineering why. For the "because I say so" why, I used to use a fully insulated boiler. My whiskey got better when I switched to one without an insulated top. Others have reported the same, sometimes to the extreme of, it sucked insulated on top, is really good uninsulate...

That long ass shell condenser seems completely pointless. I doubt it will be sufficient to not need the dimroth, and if you have a dimroth there is absolutely no need for a long shell. Make the shell whatever length makes for convenient collection, preferably on a nearby table. Appreciate the feedb...

fafrd, I use a SD Big Baby shotgun condenser for my product condenser. I bought it when I needed a RC for a VM still. Th Big Baby is about 10” long and has 3x3/8” vapour tubes. So after the Big Baby, all of that copper is just air-cooled / passive? The design I'm planning is basically identical to ...