So bored I'm building stills I don't even need...

[zed255]

Was rummaging through my collection of stuff and come across a set of parts I had bought but basically abandoned when my design ideas wandered. With reduced working hours and limited access to new materials I started cobbling this red-headed stepchild together if for no other reason to stave off boredom.

Was going to make another shorter liebig condenser, but I already had a coil started and thought 'why not'. You don't seem to see many coil condensers used in pot stills.

Soldered on a connection for an internal element, presently a 240V 3000W that I intend to run on 120V for 750W of output. A 120V 1500W element is also available but I doubt it will really need more power.

Will obviously be capping the riser tee, just forgot to bring it out with me.

Made a 'pull through' swage tool to draw a tapered piece of pipe through a slightly undersized hole in the bowl used as the dome lid. The pipe fit so well it was gas tight and could not be removed without the tool to push it all the way out.

See pics.

[zed255]

And a couple more pics.

[shadylane]

"So bored I'm building stills I don't even need..."

I know exactly what you mean

[StillerBoy]

Nice work Zed..

Like the extension of the pull through on the dome/bowl, as it will serve as a centering ring.. very useful..

Now all that's needed is dome gasket from mat board wrapped with tpfe tape..

Mars

[zed255]

Oh, it is not yet done. My other small pot still has a lid that fits so well and with the large number of binder clips I use it doesn't leak even just bare. I still use a card gasket but I see this one mating up just as well and may only need one as a formality. My tests of course were just with water on the chance it did leak. I don't waste the PTFE tape but rather replace the gasket when it needs it, which is after about a half dozen runs.

[StillerBoy]

I don't waste the PTFE tape but rather replace the gasket when it needs it, which is after about a half dozen runs.

To each their own..

But the time it take to cut a gasket, PTFE tape is inexpensive, not discounting it will last a lot more than just half a dozen runs..

Mars

[MartinCash]

Was going to make another shorter liebig condenser, but I already had a coil started and thought 'why not'. You don't seem to see many coil condensers used in pot stills.

One note though (just tell me to piss off if you're showing the condenser at 45 degrees just for a peek): shouldn't this sort of condenser be mounted vertically so you don't develop air pockets?

[OtisT]

Was going to make another shorter liebig condenser, but I already had a coil started and thought 'why not'. You don't seem to see many coil condensers used in pot stills.

One note though (just tell me to piss off if you're showing the condenser at 45 degrees just for a peek): shouldn't this sort of condenser be mounted vertically so you don't develop air pockets?

With that type of condenser, dimroth, cooling water flows through the coil. No worry of air pockets.

Otis

[OtisT]

Zed. I would love to see pics of your coil and how it is attached to the 1/2” pipe at both ends of the coil.

Otis

[zed255]

With that type of condenser, dimroth, cooling water flows through the coil. No worry of air pockets.

Otis

Bingo!

[zed255]

OtisT, I'll put up more pics as I go, but the coles notes version goes:

The 1/2" is silver brazed through the cap, one long acting as a cold finger, the other short. The coil connects those pipes. For the most correct configuration in this instance the cold water will be supplied to the centre cold finger and exit up the coil through the radially positioned pipe.

[MartinCash]

With that type of condenser, dimroth, cooling water flows through the coil. No worry of air pockets.

Otis

I think I'll blame not having had my morning coffee when I wrote that. I thought at first sight it was a graham condenser.

[OtisT]

With that type of condenser, dimroth, cooling water flows through the coil. No worry of air pockets.

Otis

I think I'll blame not having had my morning coffee when I wrote that. I thought at first sight it was a graham condenser.

Well I will blame coffee too. I guess it’s not 100% a dimroth either. Is a mutt, or hybrid, because it has the cold finger and a coil. It don’t matter what it is called so long as it does the job.

I’m thinking now this could potentially develop a bit of a bubble in the cold finger if you are feeding water into the finger first with a valve on the input side. Simple to solve by running at full flow to flush out any potential bubbles before de-tuning, or feeding the coil first.

Otis

[shadylane]

I guess it’s not 100% a dimroth either. Is a mutt, or hybrid, because it has the cold finger and a coil. It don’t matter what it is called so long as it does the job.


Otis

It's not a mutt, It's a Heinz 57
Made from 57 things you found

[zed255]

Buttoned up with a 120V 1500W element, a controller and output spigot. My Covid19 'Mutt' is done, just not sure how much it will get used. As mentioned in the OP this was just spare parts and boredom.

[HomerD]

What kind of cover is that on your element? What size pot did you use? It’s a nice looking build. I really like the condenser.

Homer

[Chauncey]

Thats a meaty lookin kit there. I like it . You hiding behind a dumpster outside to run ir what?

[shadylane]

I like it, not many people use a dimroth for a product condenser.

[zed255]

HomerD, the element cover is just some ABS drain parts. No issue with heat. The pot if I recall is about 10l capacity, maybe 8l to the handle rivets. Condenser is just a coil over cold finger arrangement.

Chauncey, no real need to hide but I generally run indoors for convenience. My early runs were in the driveway and garage. No nosey people in my immediate vicinity. I just took it outside for better light to take a couple pics. It is actually my smallest rig.

Shadylane, no not many dimroth on pot stills. Chose it for compactness and I already had some 1/4" coiled.

[OtisT]

Zed, that’s a nice rig.

That beast looks like it could easily handle a whole lot of power.

Otis

[Chauncey]

Just making sure you werent going hobo style on us

[mangolia]

@zed would you mind going into some more detail about your controller setup? what kind of controller is that? where do you source your electrical parts? doesn't look like an SCR but I'm admittedly not strong in my electrical game so I'm not sure. I'm currently using propane but very interested in upgrading to electric and moving inside.

My main issue at the moment is there are a million sources for elements and controllers so feeling the paradox of choice so hard right now. I have a half keg boiler on a 2in CCVM setup w/ shotgun condenser and am thinking SCR is the best / simplest way to go for someone who has no electrical experience.

[zed255]

mangolia, the controller is just a cheap eBay 10kW power controller, link below. Just for the record, when controlling AC current the switching element is actually a TRIAC, not an SCR no matter that the ad says (conceptually a TRIAC is actually two anti-parallel SCRs). Everything else is just off the shelf home electrical parts available anywhere.

Choose any AC power / voltage controller rated for your regions line voltage or greater and about double the planned wattage. This is the type I used:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/AC-220V-10000W- ... Sw~ZBZvOZV

Actually bought three and all worked fine. I use one with 6kW of elements on my keg boiler with added fan to keep it comfortably cool.

[rubberduck71]

I wish I lived closer! Would love to collaborate on a build (I'm a noob). Originally from Ontario, but live in the States now.

[zed255]

I wish I lived closer! Would love to collaborate on a build (I'm a noob). Originally from Ontario, but live in the States now.

Anything in particular you could use help with? Remote collaboration might be possible for some items.