I’ve wanted a shotgun condenser for awhile and when my Liebig developed a small PIA leak I decided just to give the shotgun a go especially since I had all the parts. I was also reconfiguring my column so it made sense.
I decided to make the vapor tubes 22” and the jacket 24”. This condenser is going to be used both on my column and in my pot/thumper combo.
First thing I did was cut 3 pieces of 2” pipe at 2.5” long. Which would serve as the end plates and internal baffles for the cooling tubes. Once cut to size I used a bandsaw and made a cut along the length of the pieces then flattened them. Then cut them in half. So I had 6 pieces roughly 2.5”x3” but only needed 5.
Next I laid out the spacing for the tubes on the end plates. Which I decided I only needed 4- 1/2” ID tubes and didn’t want to try and squeeze five in being my first attempt. At 22” Long I didn’t feel that I needed 5 tubes anyway. I screwed all the plates together and pilot drilled them. When it came time to drill them for the vapor tubes I used a step bit and drilled to 5/8”. I then used a small file and opened the holes just a hair to allowed the tubes to slide through with just a little resistance.
Next I cut the 1/2” vapor tubes at 22”. Cleaned up the ends and the center area where the internal water baffles would go. I flared the ends on one side of the tubes thinking it would give me a little more surface area to solder to. In turn I wish I hadn’t flared them as it just made things harder, no real advantage like I was hoping.
Now I didn’t take any pictures of filing/grinding the plates into circles. That was a slow process but I used a bench grinder. The end plates for the tubes I took my more time making sure they fit tight. The 3 internal baffles i made a little smaller to help with sliding the entire tube system into the water jacket easier.
First 2” shotgun
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- BoisBlancBoy
- Distiller
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- Location: Tip of the Mitt
- BoisBlancBoy
- Distiller
- Posts: 1165
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:17 pm
- Location: Tip of the Mitt
Re: First 2” shotgun
After fitting the end plates and baffles I soldered all them into place. Next I cut the 24” piece of 2” pipe for the water jacket. Installed a Tri Clamp ferrule on one end and drilled the holes for the water input/output, which I ended up taking off my Liebig and soldered in place.
Then soldered the vapor tube unit into the water jacket which went pretty smooth. Next was water testing it. Well, there we some leaks. 5 to be exact. All pretty small but just hard to get at to clean up and resolder. But I got it, cleaned up and ready for use!
I hope this can help others with their builds! Any questions about it let me know, I’m happy to help.
Then soldered the vapor tube unit into the water jacket which went pretty smooth. Next was water testing it. Well, there we some leaks. 5 to be exact. All pretty small but just hard to get at to clean up and resolder. But I got it, cleaned up and ready for use!
I hope this can help others with their builds! Any questions about it let me know, I’m happy to help.