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I tried wrapping the top of the column with teflon tape, but every time I pushed the cap on, it would push the tape down. I decided to bite the bullet and solder it on permanently. I cut it back to just above the o-ring first. Soldering was difficult because the solder just didn’t want to suck in wh...

Hi Yummyrum, Yes, the o-ring and silicone washer are not ideal. The hose clamps compress the copper end cap and form a pretty tight seal. I agree though, PTFE tape is better and I'll probably replaced both the o-ring and silicone washer with it. Good suggestion! The hose clamp on the reflux tube mak...

Hello all,
Good discussion.
I've put some details and pictures on how to modify the T500 plastic head to copper here:
viewtopic.php?p=7790557#p7790557

9d Picture5.jpg I suggest at this point you test out your new copper column end cap by doing a 10L (3 gal) distilled water run without the column packing. Set the inlet and outlet hoses up as they originally were. The temp probe can stay in its usual place. Plug the top hole with a piece of cork. L...

7 IMG20240524141007.jpg Next, drill another hole in the end cap for the small connecter pipe you’ve made to fit through. I came down 9mm (23/64”) from the top of the end cap, punched a hole, then drilled it out to a size that suited my pipe. Because you have beaten your piece of pipe to your own in...

Hello fellow distillers, I’ve been distilling for a couple of years now, so still reasonably new to it. I got into it because I wanted to make Limoncello and needed high ABV spirits to draw the limonoids out of the lemon peel. Started off with a Chinese ‘football’ still, then bought a second hand T5...

Temperature Probe In The Still Column Head Now onto the second modification - putting a temperature probe in the still column head. Let me say straight up, that this mod isn’t necessary, and I wouldn’t bother with it. The way the T500 is set up with the temp probe in the water outlet works just fin...

Put your O-ring back inside the end cap. Put a 53mm hose clamp on the column. Slip the end cap on and pull it down over the column. It will be firm because of the O-ring. The reflux tube coming out the top of the end cap will need an O-ring, washer, or some PTFE tape to seal it. I had a red tap wash...

7 IMG20240524141007.jpg Next, drill another hole in the end cap for the small connecter pipe you’ve made to fit through. I came down 9mm (23/64”) from the top of the end cap, punched a hole, then drilled it out to a size that suited my pipe. Because you have beaten your piece of pipe to your own in...

Hello fellow distillers, I’ve been distilling for a couple of years now, so still reasonably new to it. I got into it because I wanted to make Limoncello and needed high ABV spirits to draw the limonoids out of the lemon peel. Started off with a Chinese ‘football’ still, then bought a second hand T5...

Hello fellow distillers, I’ve been distilling for a couple of years now, so still reasonably new to it. I got into it because I wanted to make Limoncello and needed high ABV spirits to take the limonoids out of lemon peel. Started off with a Chinese ‘football’ still, then bought a second hand T500. ...