I knew it! Thanks SBB.Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 4:41 pm Drink plenty of Gin Coog ....it will relax the back muscles and aid healing.
Goofy things I do
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Re: Goofy things I do
Taking a break while I get a new still completed....
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
The other day I did what was hoped to be the final pressure check of the new shotgun. It went pretty well but when left for a while it developed a small slightly damp area on both the top and the bottom. Since I'm very satisfied with it overall my plan is to use a small dab of solder on both those locations and call it finished Then I guess I will start thinking about doing the cleaning runs and such for it.
Re: Goofy things I do
Pics bruh
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When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
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Re: Goofy things I do
Start here, scroll down
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=55608&start=420
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=55608&start=420
My fekking eyes are bleeding! Installed BS Filters - better! :D
Life has gotten interesting!
Life has gotten interesting!
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
The only pic I took of the latest work was this
Not much to look at but that's the point I'm at right now. All that's left is a bit of soldering but I need to get another bottle of propane and some more flux to do that.
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Re: Goofy things I do
I failed to get to the hardware store to get a new bottle of propane and flux last week so I couldn't do the last few things on the new condenser this week...but there is still one thing for it I could work on.
Because I welded the bottom plate I wound up making the tubes more or less flush with the plate so I feel it needs a cap to funnel the product to a more limited area. Now of course if I had local access to a 1.5" reducer the problem would be easily solved but 1.5" fittings are becoming difficult to find locally and I kind of want to stay with the whole "use what I have on hand" theme. So, what I have on hand is a few 1.5" couplings so I took one to work with me today to see about transforming it into a bottom end cap/ reducer... I should have taken 2 because things got kind of messy but it's working out OK so far.
So, to begin with I took my 1.5" coupling and wrapped a piece of paper around it and marked the paper so I had a "measurement" of the exact circumference. I then folded the paper so I had equal spaces around the coupling and marked the coupling
Then I drew some lines to pie cut the coupling and cut it on the band saw This is where I realized my mistake. I should have only cut every other one so the pieces tapered leaving an opening but what I did caused a full closure, which was not what I was after but my solution was to extend the cut and taper them with the belt sander and essentially shorten the whole thing by 1/4". This worked ok so I then set about welding it up.
I had a few minor burn throughs but I've heard that "if you you can step across it you can weld it" so that's what I did and it turned out fine.
I then sanded the outside down to make it prettier and sort of smoothed out the center hole and any ugly repair welds, the non repair welds are actually quite good with perfect penetration. My next plan is to weld on an extension piece but I haven't decided if it will be 1/2", 3/4", 1" or what I'm favoring is a clover shaped piece made out of 1/2" pieces to give it a bit of an artistic quality.
Because I welded the bottom plate I wound up making the tubes more or less flush with the plate so I feel it needs a cap to funnel the product to a more limited area. Now of course if I had local access to a 1.5" reducer the problem would be easily solved but 1.5" fittings are becoming difficult to find locally and I kind of want to stay with the whole "use what I have on hand" theme. So, what I have on hand is a few 1.5" couplings so I took one to work with me today to see about transforming it into a bottom end cap/ reducer... I should have taken 2 because things got kind of messy but it's working out OK so far.
So, to begin with I took my 1.5" coupling and wrapped a piece of paper around it and marked the paper so I had a "measurement" of the exact circumference. I then folded the paper so I had equal spaces around the coupling and marked the coupling
Then I drew some lines to pie cut the coupling and cut it on the band saw This is where I realized my mistake. I should have only cut every other one so the pieces tapered leaving an opening but what I did caused a full closure, which was not what I was after but my solution was to extend the cut and taper them with the belt sander and essentially shorten the whole thing by 1/4". This worked ok so I then set about welding it up.
I had a few minor burn throughs but I've heard that "if you you can step across it you can weld it" so that's what I did and it turned out fine.
I then sanded the outside down to make it prettier and sort of smoothed out the center hole and any ugly repair welds, the non repair welds are actually quite good with perfect penetration. My next plan is to weld on an extension piece but I haven't decided if it will be 1/2", 3/4", 1" or what I'm favoring is a clover shaped piece made out of 1/2" pieces to give it a bit of an artistic quality.
- Yummyrum
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Re: Goofy things I do
Love the method of equally dividing the circumference Cranky , never would gave thought of that .
Thats not goofy , it’s clever
Thats not goofy , it’s clever
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
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Re: Goofy things I do
If it's useful to anyone, there's a geometrical method using straight edge and compass for dividing a line into any number of identical segments. I can sketch it out, but I don't want to derail the thread if I'm the only one who loves geeky geometry!
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A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
See, that's the whole point of my method, it's lazy No geometry, no dividers, no rulers, no measuring and very little thinking, just a piece of paper and a pen and less than a minute it was done.NormandieStill wrote: ↑Mon May 23, 2022 2:58 amIf it's useful to anyone, there's a geometrical method using straight edge and compass for dividing a line into any number of identical segments. I can sketch it out, but I don't want to derail the thread if I'm the only one who loves geeky geometry!
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
I welded on the end pipe today, which went pretty well. I was going to make a clover shaped piece but decided I didn't want to do that much work so chose a 3/4" piece of pipe instead.
This is what it looks like right now. I didn't sand blast it yet because I forgot to bring a piece of 1.5" to make sure it fits but when I got home it fits fine so tomorrow I'll sand blast it, smooth out any rough prats and call it finished. I still need to figure out how to secure it to the condenser... ...I'm thinking maybe a couple of set screws.
This is what it looks like right now. I didn't sand blast it yet because I forgot to bring a piece of 1.5" to make sure it fits but when I got home it fits fine so tomorrow I'll sand blast it, smooth out any rough prats and call it finished. I still need to figure out how to secure it to the condenser... ...I'm thinking maybe a couple of set screws.
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Re: Goofy things I do
Just a bit of a crimp, or some dimples should provide enough
of an interference fit if you are not soldering or welding it on.
of an interference fit if you are not soldering or welding it on.
be water my friend
- Yummyrum
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Re: Goofy things I do
Hey Cranky ,you mentioned sandblasting … interested . Damn keen to see how / whats involved with this .
Post it here or somewhere else ….. Iff’n you got a chance
Post it here or somewhere else ….. Iff’n you got a chance
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
I'm not sure there is much to say. We have a sandblasting cabinet at work, I think it's currently loaded with walnut shell but I'm not positive. I just put the part in the cabinet, flip the switch, point the nozzle at the part and step on the pedal. I'm sure it acts similar to shot peening and work hardens the surface. It certainly gets much more difficult to manipulate afterwards. I do like the look of the sandblasted copper.
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
Today I sandblaster the reducer.
and to tell you the truth I'm not happy with it. Ordinarily I might be fine with it but I'm trying to make this one pretty ...so... I think this coming weekend I'm going to take another coupling and remake a reducer that I will hopefully like
Re: Goofy things I do
Cranky, get a couple of shaped fine files, not sure if your hardware supplier has them but the alternative place would be craft shop / hobby shop / jewellery supplies. That will clean that copper up in no time, then a bit of wet and dry and you will be home and hosed in no time IMO.
You could also try a dremel. I had an old dentist drill until recently.
Taking a break while I get a new still completed....
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Re: Goofy things I do
It's not so much a matter of cleaning it up, I just don't like the way it looks.CoogeeBoy wrote: ↑Thu May 26, 2022 3:17 pmCranky, get a couple of shaped fine files, not sure if your hardware supplier has them but the alternative place would be craft shop / hobby shop / jewellery supplies. That will clean that copper up in no time, then a bit of wet and dry and you will be home and hosed in no time IMO.
You could also try a dremel. I had an old dentist drill until recently.
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Re: Goofy things I do
So, today I took a new coupling to work to see if I can make what I've pictured in my head.
So, just as before I used a piece of paper to make the marks and cut Vs in the coupling, this time leaving space in between Then bent it in with a pair of long duck bill pliers This was the look I was going for
Next I welded it up, cleaned it up, adjusted the fit on a piece of 1.5 pipe and sandblasted it The opening is a little larger than I planned on but I'm much happier with this one I still have a little cleaning up to do on the inside but overall I'm happy with it
I also made it to the store to get flux and a new propane bottle so hopefully tomorrow I can get that little bit of soldering done.
So, just as before I used a piece of paper to make the marks and cut Vs in the coupling, this time leaving space in between Then bent it in with a pair of long duck bill pliers This was the look I was going for
Next I welded it up, cleaned it up, adjusted the fit on a piece of 1.5 pipe and sandblasted it The opening is a little larger than I planned on but I'm much happier with this one I still have a little cleaning up to do on the inside but overall I'm happy with it
I also made it to the store to get flux and a new propane bottle so hopefully tomorrow I can get that little bit of soldering done.
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
I have one more picture for Y'all. This is what the reducer looks like installed
Re: Goofy things I do
That looks quite tidy, Cranky.
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Re: Goofy things I do
Today I finished cleaning up the reducer and did the soldering on the condenser. Then I pressure tested it. It held full pressure with no leaks for 30 minutes Then I sandblasted it and tested again with the same results. So, the condenser is now ready for cleaning and being put to work
So that ends that project, but what's next? Hmmmm....How about a new controller?
A while back I found a great big stainless steel electrical box and was considering making a new controller with that. I already have two of everything to make a controller so why not?..but then as luck would have it I found this in the scrap bin today This was some sort of industrial oven controller and I thought it looked pretty cool but then I saw this part and had to take it That says "POWER-O-MATIC Saturable Reactor Control"
FINALLY! A CONTROLLER THAT CAN HAVE A CHERNOBYL SETTING!!!
It even has that "patina" look of being painted by someone who was told to do a job they didn't want to do and didn't care how good it was then being neglected for a few decades
I like just about everything about the look of it, the big push button switch, the ugly nondescript paint badly done with a brush, the big ugly dial and even though I don't like analog meters the analog volt meter just looks right.
Inside was kind of a mess
I know the switch is 3 phase and has some sort of relays attached but have no idea how much current it can handle. I would assume since it was an industrial oven it can probably easily handle 5500W of two phase but will need to do some research on that.
Anybody know for sure?
As far as the actual saturable reactor I stripped off all the wiring and all those heavy antiquated parts and pretty much gutted it with the intention of installing my SSR stuff. I will have to figure out a way to attach that big ugly knob to the little potentiometer I have in order to keep the look but I already have an idea for that.
So that will likely be my next goofy project in the works
So that ends that project, but what's next? Hmmmm....How about a new controller?
A while back I found a great big stainless steel electrical box and was considering making a new controller with that. I already have two of everything to make a controller so why not?..but then as luck would have it I found this in the scrap bin today This was some sort of industrial oven controller and I thought it looked pretty cool but then I saw this part and had to take it That says "POWER-O-MATIC Saturable Reactor Control"
FINALLY! A CONTROLLER THAT CAN HAVE A CHERNOBYL SETTING!!!
It even has that "patina" look of being painted by someone who was told to do a job they didn't want to do and didn't care how good it was then being neglected for a few decades
I like just about everything about the look of it, the big push button switch, the ugly nondescript paint badly done with a brush, the big ugly dial and even though I don't like analog meters the analog volt meter just looks right.
Inside was kind of a mess
I know the switch is 3 phase and has some sort of relays attached but have no idea how much current it can handle. I would assume since it was an industrial oven it can probably easily handle 5500W of two phase but will need to do some research on that.
Anybody know for sure?
As far as the actual saturable reactor I stripped off all the wiring and all those heavy antiquated parts and pretty much gutted it with the intention of installing my SSR stuff. I will have to figure out a way to attach that big ugly knob to the little potentiometer I have in order to keep the look but I already have an idea for that.
So that will likely be my next goofy project in the works
Re: Goofy things I do
I just love the "POWER-O-MATIC Saturable Reactor Control". I would have to build something using that and the box.
Nice score
Chris
Nice score
Chris
Re: Goofy things I do
Wouldn't say I KNOW for sure but the highest rating on the name plate is 3 HP and one horsepower is 746 watts so probably not.
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Re: Goofy things I do
It sort of beckons to be used for something I find it hard to believe someone threw that out.
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Re: Goofy things I do
I know there are some sharp electrical guys around who might be able to help there.
Maybe the smart people around here can find out for sure. I would like to be certain before I throw 20 amps at it...which is what I think my 5500w element draws.
Here are some pics of the switch. It's an Allen Bradley 609AOWA size 0. It's a 3 phase switch and has two A-B 815 type A x33547 relays on either side.
I did a little bit of searching and it seems like I recall the literature I found saying to use 60 amps fuses (maybe it was 30Amp ) at 240v in 2 phase but that seemed to be based more on the actual fan used rather than the switch itself. I also recall seeing some rather large fuses in the bin but can't say what size they actually were. I could be remembering wrong or interpreting something wrong and need to continue looking but data on this old switch is proving a little difficult to find. What I had found was a picture of an actual paper manual with an NOS switch but can't say for certain I am remembering it correctly.
Most of the internals of this thing seemed very old school and quite complicated...too complicated for my simple mind.
I've been thinking about the project and looking at it and the big stainless steel box and think I can possibly make the two of them work together and still keep the cool old world look
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Re: Goofy things I do
Here is a close up of the volt meter
Re: Goofy things I do
Let me help Cranky, from what I understand, the black one is the "Start" switch, you press that one to start, and the red one is the "Stop" (and "Reset" switch....
Other than that, I'm tapped out and won't be able to help you anymore but I hope it gets you started....
Taking a break while I get a new still completed....
- cranky
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Re: Goofy things I do
and here I was doing it the other way around. No wonder it wasn't working rightCoogeeBoy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 7:38 pmLet me help Cranky, from what I understand, the black one is the "Start" switch, you press that one to start, and the red one is the "Stop" (and "Reset" switch....
Other than that, I'm tapped out and won't be able to help you anymore but I hope it gets you started....
Re: Goofy things I do
5500 Watt element on 220 volts will draw 25 amps. more if your voltage is a bit low and less if it is running closer to 240.
Only rated for 3 hp, so the starting amps would be the biggest draw. For that I found "he electrical code book states that a 3HP 230 volts single phase motor is rated at 17 amps. Three phase 230 volts is not a common voltage any more but the book lists the amperage as 9.6,". That is steady state though
3 HP is 2237 watts so only half of your element. I also found an online calculate for starting amps on a 3 hp motor which gave 23 amps.
I don't think it will handle your element.
Only rated for 3 hp, so the starting amps would be the biggest draw. For that I found "he electrical code book states that a 3HP 230 volts single phase motor is rated at 17 amps. Three phase 230 volts is not a common voltage any more but the book lists the amperage as 9.6,". That is steady state though
3 HP is 2237 watts so only half of your element. I also found an online calculate for starting amps on a 3 hp motor which gave 23 amps.
I don't think it will handle your element.
Re: Goofy things I do
This is what I call a manual motor starter. Motor starters have three functions, on/off, short circuit protection (sometimes separate), and overload protection. Short circuit protection was usually fuses that may have had fairly high current rating compared to everything else to allow for motor starting current, they just blow when there is a short. The "manual" part is that the contactor wasn't operated by a coil, you physically engage the mechanism with the buttons. The overload protection is operated thermally, they have little heaters that would open contacts when the motor drew too much current for some period of time. The off button will also reset the overloads after they cool off.
Nema size 0 is a weird US rating but it boils down to 18 amps so this contactor can operate up to 4320 W at 240V (at least when it was new). The "relays" I call "overloads", they are actually "overload relays" they are the thermally operated part. They should trip if the current is over their rating (could be less than the contactor rating) for a few seconds.
If you want to use all 5500W you could use the button operated contactor to engage a modern coil operated contactor like this one and keep the nice retro look.
If you wire the meter to measure heater voltage it should be a useful power indicator.
Nema size 0 is a weird US rating but it boils down to 18 amps so this contactor can operate up to 4320 W at 240V (at least when it was new). The "relays" I call "overloads", they are actually "overload relays" they are the thermally operated part. They should trip if the current is over their rating (could be less than the contactor rating) for a few seconds.
If you want to use all 5500W you could use the button operated contactor to engage a modern coil operated contactor like this one and keep the nice retro look.
If you wire the meter to measure heater voltage it should be a useful power indicator.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!