I did it! I have officially started the journey.

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Twisted Brick
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Twisted Brick »

Nicely done, Mashable.

Once you get your still producing you will soon forget the minor build details and watch your shotgun do its job knocking down vapor without blinking. The shotty design provides for an abundance of condensing surface area and there's enough space between the vapor tube and I/O ports to allow for ample coolant flow so no worries. Incidentally, if you plan to run your shotty at an angle, pointing your I/O ports straight down when setting up will ensure a vapor tube at bottom-dead-center, effectively eliminating any chance of pooling.

Enjoy fruits of your labor. Your shotgun should provide you many years of faithful service.
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Mashable
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Mashable »

:thumbup: Mail day! Finally my 2” reducer showed up in the mail today...soldered it up, not sure if I’ll keep the point on the collection tube or not. I will say that I’m happy I’m done grinding the ID of type K 2” pipe in order to accept ferrules!

Starting to come together now. I was a little worried about my cooling water input and outlet position, and went down a rabbit hole of heat exchanger theory and design last night, best I can conclude my worry was over nothing negligible in terms of efficiency loss,

Today’s progress, wasn’t much, but it’s forward progress, soon the focus will turn to fermenting set up, and what I will go with for a first ferment and distillation, heavily leaning towards UJSSM, that’s a long thread! I’m working my way through.
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Not sure
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Not sure »

Nice work I bet you're excited getting closer
Stainless pot with copper shotgun I'm a simple kind of guy
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Mashable
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Mashable »

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Slightly off topic I know, but also know y’all love copper porn, so here is a little. Working on my espresso machine this weekend, boiler swap, means some spare copper!
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Swingbattermn
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Swingbattermn »

😮😮😮😮😮 Let’s see a pic of that espresso machine put together, and what’s the model #. That’s something I’m going to be looking for on Craigslist!
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Mashable
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Mashable »

Sooooooo, slight change in plans, big surprise right? Here is the build so far, I had some left over 2” from the shotgun build and a bu bunch of ferrules, all 2” so here it is, planning on going with this setup for summer, and continue with the 3” electric powered unit over the colder months. I suppose I’m close to vinegar and sac runs for this setup, and a summer of UJSSM, it’ll give me something learn on for now. Really love the modular, as a second keg should arrive soon for the winter project... still so much to learn!
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Deplorable
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Deplorable »

That'll get you going. The length of that lyne arm is a little concerning. There's going to be a good bit of weight hanging off of it. My dry 20"×2" shotty weighs 4.5 pounds, add the water, and the weight of the hoses pulling down on it is a good amount of weight.

If you cut the T off of the riser and lyne arm and sweat in ferrules it would make it easier to break down and clean. You could also then make a shorter lyne arm for when you're column is tall enough to get the shotty to clear the top of the keg assuming that's why you made it so long.
You're on the way to a really nice and flexible kit.
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Mashable
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Mashable »

Deplorable wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 10:31 am That'll get you going. The length of that lyne arm is a little concerning. There's going to be a good bit of weight hanging off of it. My dry 20"×2" shotty weighs 4.5 pounds, add the water, and the weight of the hoses pulling down on it is a good amount of weight.

If you cut the T off of the riser and lyne arm and sweat in ferrules it would make it easier to break down and clean. You could also then make a shorter lyne arm for when you're column is tall enough to get the shotty to clear the top of the keg assuming that's why you made it so long.
You're on the way to a really nice and flexible kit.
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Thanks Deplorable, appreciate the feedback. I’ll add a strut for support somehow.

The 2” is type K, so it’s been an absolute nightmare grinding and filing the ID to accept the ferrules, I admit I took the path of least resistance. I could always unsolder and get a length of 2” DWV and make life so much easier, I would like to shorten all the connections. Winter projects!

My thoughts on the horizontal section were dual purpose,

1. Yes, it was to clear the keg, on propane I wanted my collection point a little further away.

2. I’d like to add a 2” spool on the horizontal about the same length 13”, and elbow down into a 2” x 1-1/2” reducer that will use one of the 1 1/2” x 3 in tee ( I have a box of 5 tee’s 3”x3”x1-1/2”)added to the top of a thumper keg, 1 1/2 all the way to bottom of the keg and 3” x2” reducer to accept the shotgun off the side port on the 3”tee”.

Makes sense in my head, this thing I envision will have a multitude of arrangements, that will drive me to a place somewhere between madness and bliss!
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River Rat
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by River Rat »

Mashable wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 10:44 am My thoughts on the horizontal section were dual purpose,

1. Yes, it was to clear the keg, on propane I wanted my collection point a little further away.
I haven't read the whole thread to get an idea of your ultimate goal with the build, I apologize, but here's a thought. If you replace the 90 between the lyne arm and condenser with a 45 your output will be quite a bit further from the flame and height will still be adjustable. Your minimum output height would be higher but I doubt that would ever be an issue.
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Saltbush Bill
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Re: I did it! I have officially started the journey.

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Or put a liebig on it instead of a shotgun and you could get a lot further from the flames.
Back when gas flame was more commonly used it was often said that 6 feet from the flame was a "safe distance".
All of my stills, bar my boka , which is on an electric boiler run extra long liebigs or extensions from the PC for that reason.
A collection jar full of fire ...or a still on fire isn't a pretty sight......gets real exciting real quick Im told.
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