My 4" Flute Build (First Half...)

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:47 am

So, Out of the 5 Still heads I have built, this one is by far the most expensive, and most time consuming. But, it is also the neatest...
Plate section is finished, and condenser parts are on the way.

Had to share..

Big Stogie · Post by **Big Stogie** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:23 am

she is a beauty!

Post by **bluefish_dist** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:59 am

I like the blue, gives it a sharp look.

freefall · Post by **freefall** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:03 pm

I just ordered the blue sight glasses too. They are on sale right now. I am loving the copper. Looks beautiful.

Post by **Swedish Pride** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:15 pm

that is lovely tig work fella

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:58 pm

Thanks! Ya, the blue sight glasses turn out good. I like them!

Swedish Pride, with a few decades of welding background, I have never had the need to weld Stainless to Copper. First time for everything.

Post by **Twisted Brick** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:22 pm

Sweet lookin' rig, VR!

Post by **pfshine** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:10 pm

Damn fine looking rig.

Post by **cede** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:19 pm

Congrats ! It's really nice one.

Just wondering: why did you choose brass ferrule over stainless ?
This tig work is amazing ! Was it with argon or other gas ?

The Booze Pipe · Post by **The Booze Pipe** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:18 pm

It looks real nice! I'm going to do a similar build, copper with stainless. Did you use the tall/long sanitary stainless ferrules? whereabouts do you get those site glasses? I'll need some smaller ones.

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:10 pm

Just wondering: why did you choose brass ferrule over stainless ?
This tig work is amazing ! Was it with argon or other gas ?[/quote]
Thanks cede. Really, I chose the brass for the look. I could have done stainless, but I thought the color diff of the brass would look nice.

The Booze Pipe wrote:It looks real nice! I'm going to do a similar build, copper with stainless. Did you use the tall/long sanitary stainless ferrules? whereabouts do you get those site glasses? I'll need some smaller ones.

I used the tall stainless ferries and coped them to the 4" pipe. The site glasses came from Still Dragon. They have a few diff sizes.

Post by **corene1** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:49 pm

First off that is a very nice column , it will look so much better when that alcohol is bubbling away in the sightglass. Beautiful work! I have tinkered with joining stainless and copper and am curious . How did you set up your machine. I run mine in DCEN mode with a needle point on 1.5% Lanthanated tungsten and argon shielding gas. I used solid Copper wire for the filler. By looking at the color of your weld puddle it looks like you used Silicon bronze for the filler.

Post by **OtisT** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 1:00 am

Beautiful column. Would you mind showing a few close up pics of the plates, in and out of the still? Thanks.

Otis

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Thu Feb 22, 2018 11:31 am

corene1 wrote:First off that is a very nice column , it will look so much better when that alcohol is bubbling away in the sightglass. Beautiful work! I have tinkered with joining stainless and copper and am curious . How did you set up your machine. I run mine in DCEN mode with a needle point on 1.5% Lanthanated tungsten and argon shielding gas. I used solid Copper wire for the filler. By looking at the color of your weld puddle it looks like you used Silicon bronze for the filler.

ya, just standard DC Neg. 3/32 Tungsten, Silicon Bronze wire. kinda welded like Alum without the noise..

Parts just showed up for the condenser side today.

freefall · Post by **freefall** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:36 am

looking forward to seeing your condencer work.

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:06 pm

A little progress made... Waiting on thermometers to get here to weld the bungs on. Last is the Parratt (but I may run it with my old one....)

Post by **pfshine** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:27 pm

Great looking rig and should make a nice drop. But why is there a valve at the take off? That valve is not safe as it will make the still a potential bomb. There is no reason for it and the still needs to be open to atmosphere at all times so pressure doesn't build up.

Edit to add: I love the triclamp element port, they are very handy to clean and replace the elements. Are you planning on turning the keg around to have it on the back, that way you don't step on it kick it?

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:47 pm

pfshine, I know the valve is bad without an atmosphere port. I plan on welding an elbow for atmosphere in the reducer just after the main condenser. I had the valve in the shop, and thought it might help in some way or another... also, ill turn the element to the back. Just showing it off a bit..

Post by **pfshine** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:25 pm

Cool, I'm glad you are showing off we all love the still porn here.
I had to mention the valve as some new guy might see it and blow them selves up.

Post by **MoonBreath** » Wed Mar 21, 2018 6:47 am

Very nice work..
Can't tell the difference from store bought.

Those thermometers will drive some folks nuts..But I wouldn't build one without.

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:20 am

Finally got the water lines made, and fired up with vinegar/water. Its always fun to watch something work for the first time. I am surprised at how fast it is heating the cooling water, but it is running at 212 and not 180.... Quite a learning curve to figure out how to keepthe players loaded equally.
I have a few small leaks to fix inside the condensers. Ill get that all fixed up this week and try a spirit run next weekend.

VictoryRay · Post by **VictoryRay** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:00 am

Couple Pics. Was running Vinegar/Water trying to figure out reflux and a stream.

freefall · Post by **freefall** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:30 am

Congrats on the first cleaning run. I just did my vinegar run on my plate also. still need to do my sacrificial run. I have a simple mash ready to go for first run. At least I think its ready. Just back from vacation and haven't checked it yet.

Post by **Copperhead road** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 4:11 am

Nice build, awesome tig work also.

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