Keg still and copper pipe size

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aballister
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Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by aballister »

Hi all

I've been looking on this forum and others and i cant seem to get an answer to my question. Now, i'm planning on using a 15.5G keg and a 5G keg for a thumper and i want to keep costs to a minimum, i found a 2 inch ferule that reduces to half inch so i was wondering if half inch is too small to go from boiler to thumper and then into a half inch worm condenser.
ShineRunner
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by ShineRunner »

It’s not too small, but I think you’d be happier with at least 3/4 to the thumper. I also think you’d be happier with a 3/4 over 1/2” Liebig vs a worm. They’re much more compact and less leaky. Probably Cheaper than having to buy all of the tubing that you’d need for a 15.5 gallon keg.

Are you planning to use a 5G corny keg? If so, how are you planning on making connections?

Someone just asked this question not long ago. Where did you get this idea?
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by ShineRunner »

Found the other thread. viewtopic.php?f=50&t=70194

He has some good drawings that you can reference. As I told him, I would strongly recommend you make things as modular as possible to allow different combinations and to allow it to be broken down for easy cleaning.

I know you’re trying to keep costs down, but if you cheap out now and build something that you’re not happy with, you will end up buying more stuff later. Buy once, cry once.

SR
aballister
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by aballister »

Thx for the reply. Why would you use 2 inches vs 1/2 inch, i mean other than cost, does it run faster with 2 inches?
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MoonBreath
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by MoonBreath »

You're only as fast as your smallest pipe or tubing.
The 2" will speed things up, but the 1/2" will only do so much.
1/2" from kettle thru thumper thru worm will make for a long day.
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MichiganCornhusker
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by MichiganCornhusker »

aballister wrote:Thx for the reply. Why would you use 2 inches vs 1/2 inch, i mean other than cost, does it run faster with 2 inches?
I can strip at 2 gal/minute with my 1/2”. Same with my 3/4”.
I don’t have anything bigger.
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MichiganCornhusker
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by MichiganCornhusker »

MichiganCornhusker wrote:
aballister wrote:Thx for the reply. Why would you use 2 inches vs 1/2 inch, i mean other than cost, does it run faster with 2 inches?
I can strip at 2 gal/minute with my 1/2”. Same with my 3/4”.
I don’t have or need anything bigger.
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cranky
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by cranky »

MichiganCornhusker wrote:
aballister wrote:Thx for the reply. Why would you use 2 inches vs 1/2 inch, i mean other than cost, does it run faster with 2 inches?
I can strip at 2 gal/minute with my 1/2”. Same with my 3/4”.
I don’t have anything bigger.
Damn MCH! :esurprised: The fastest I can run is a quart every 4.5 minutes, If I could do 2 gal per minute I'd be done in like 35 minutes with heat up time. Of course I use a liebig so maybe that really isn't relevant here.
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by JellybeanCorncob »

MichiganCornhusker wrote:
aballister wrote:Thx for the reply. Why would you use 2 inches vs 1/2 inch, i mean other than cost, does it run faster with 2 inches?
I can strip at 2 gal/minute with my 1/2”. Same with my 3/4”.
I don’t have anything bigger.
Please Mich :
Tell us how you can get this kind of volume per minute in your strip runs. Wow!
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Twisted Brick
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by Twisted Brick »

I think he meant 2 gallons per hour

Not bad since my 3" strips at 7l/h tops, which is less than MCH's rate.
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by MichiganCornhusker »

Twisted Brick wrote:I think he meant 2 gallons per hour
Uh, yeah, what he said. :oops:
I usually strip at between 6-1/2 and 7 minute quarts. I run my spirit runs at around 4 qts/hr.
I use a 34" liebig, and that condenser and the 1/2" copper will let me run at my max heat input with my turkey burner.
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JellybeanCorncob
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by JellybeanCorncob »

I didn’t want to be rude. So I worded so as not to offend you. I have a thumper/ boiler with 2” copper pipe reducing to 3/4” into the thumper with a Liebig. My output on a strip run is just over a gallon an hour. If my burner was bigger my flow would be greater I’m sure.
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by The Baker »

[quote="MoonBreath"]You're only as fast as your smallest pipe or tubing. " ....

But if you have a very short narrowing of the tube, for example at the top of a keg, two inch with a fitting going to say three inch, that is not the same as a narrow tube. The vapour goes faster to compensate for the narrowing.

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cranky
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by cranky »

Personally I don't like flake stands but I run 1.5" as my column make a 90 degree turn, narrow from 1.5" to .75" then down to .5" then a 45 into my 36" liebig, no thumper, and like I said I take off at a quart every 4.5 minutes using a 5500W element. When I'm done running my keg pretty much looks like a keg and the rest just blends in with all the rest of the random copper and stuff in my garage. A worm on the other hand screams "Moonshine" to anybody who might happen to get a glimpse of it for whatever reason and in my experience is a pain in the ass to make sure it constantly points downhill.

Edit, I knew what you meant MCH just had to give you a hard time about the typo :moresarcasm:
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MoonBreath
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by MoonBreath »

The Baker wrote:
MoonBreath wrote:You're only as fast as your smallest pipe or tubing. " ....

But if you have a very short narrowing of the tube, for example at the top of a keg, two inch with a fitting going to say three inch, that is not the same as a narrow tube. The vapour goes faster to compensate for the narrowing.

Geoff
Yes short, straight maybe some faster..Liebig to efficient to be compared to worm..OP not talkn 2" to 3"...OP talkn 1/2".
OP stated 1/2" from a 15 gal keg, over and Through a 5gal keg thump, then thru a worm (length unknown)..All 1/2"id..
Long day I'll tell ya..Friend of mine can't do it from 5gal stockpot thru 2gal stockpot thump thru 5gal bucket worm no less than 6-8hrs..Sometimes longer.
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by The Baker »

Just pointing out the very important exception to the 'rule' .

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MichiganCornhusker
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by MichiganCornhusker »

More than 8 hours for less than 5 gallon charge?
And it’s because the pipe is too small at 1/2”?

I’ll say right up front that I’ve never bothered with a worm, but I gotta believe that collection time is the result of not enough heat, worm too short, or 3 drops per second, not pipe dia.

Really, it’s because the pipe’s too narrow? Too much back pressure?
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steelmb
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Re: Keg still and copper pipe size

Post by steelmb »

MichiganCornhusker wrote:More than 8 hours for less than 5 gallon charge?
And it’s because the pipe is too small at 1/2”?

I’ll say right up front that I’ve never bothered with a worm, but I gotta believe that collection time is the result of not enough heat, worm too short, or 3 drops per second, not pipe dia.

Really, it’s because the pipe’s too narrow? Too much back pressure?
+1 I can collect at 2 gal/hr easily with my 25 feet of 1/2 inch tube (3/8 inch ID) in a 5 gallon flake stand. No huffing or surging. I am not really sure why worms get such a bad rap on the site here. The only reason I would go to a liebig is that it might be easier to clean should more than just a rinse be required. I am thinking of automating the cooling water feed so as help maintain the temp gradient near the mid level on the bucket and to save on water some although it is not really needed since I am on my own well and have to pump the well down when the groundwater is high to keep water out of the basement anyway.
I believe MCH may have said it best. "It's your hooch, you get to choose."
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