Warning signs with stills (things to look for)

Boots · Post by **Boots** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:34 pm

Reading over a few posts, the one from a while back about a "near-miss" caught my eye, and got me wondering. Are there sings to look for that you need to shut down your still. For example, how would you know that too much pressure is building in your still, before St. Peter tells you? Or, if you are leaking vapors that are in danger of catching fire, is there a way to tell? Just wondering if some of the old hands could enlighten those o us who are new to the game. I was thinking regardless that I'm going to plant my ass behin a big thick piece of wood that I have, so that in theory if the thing blows I won't get hammered with any shards.
Thannks

Uncle Remus · Post by **Uncle Remus** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 6:49 am

Your making booze not playing with nitro glycerine

. I'd say the first thing you ought to do is read all about the theory of distillation of ethenol. You must understand the basics whats going on before you start.

Oh yeah! don't forget your fireproof pressure suit and helmet

Boots · Post by **Boots** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:00 am

Oh, did I forget to mention I was planning to make nitro? I'm just saying if the pot blew for some reason, I'm sure I could get nailed with a nice chunk of metal. I just don't want to be standing there like an idiot, watching the pot and not knowing that I'm building up dangerous pressure. I figure that my cork will pop out first anyway, and that if liquid is running out of the condenser than I am pretty much ok, but I think it doesn't hurt to be careful.

maze48 · Post by **maze48** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:29 am

Boots wrote:Oh, did I forget to mention I was planning to make nitro? I'm just saying if the pot blew for some reason, I'm sure I could get nailed with a nice chunk of metal. I just don't want to be standing there like an idiot, watching the pot and not knowing that I'm building up dangerous pressure. I figure that my cork will pop out first anyway, and that if liquid is running out of the condenser than I am pretty much ok, but I think it doesn't hurt to be careful.

Yes it is better to be safe than sorry. I see by your post that you have already figured out that the cork will pop out, before the boiler will blow-up. Also that as long as your product is running out of the condenser, you are safe. Do a water run first to check for leaks, then do your real run and enjoy your "special" reward.

Boots · Post by **Boots** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:39 pm

Thanks, I ran abunch of water thru, and it went very smoothly. I am still waiting on the cork, then I am going to just boil some water first to test everything, and then it's on to better things.

LONEEAGLE155 · Post by **LONEEAGLE155** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:07 pm

Do more than just run water I boiled out around 8 gallons of water I found no leaks and thought I waas good but thankfully I soak my colum and lyne arm with vinegar 1 of my solder joints did not leak any steam but when soaking with vinegar it leaked(my colum and arm were inverted)
JD

Boots · Post by **Boots** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:45 pm

I didn't solder anything this time, but I will do multiple tests, and definitely address any leaks.

dixiedrifter · Post by **dixiedrifter** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 9:00 pm

Really your too cautious. I have made and distilled ether before of all things (involves dropping PGA into concentrated sulfuric acid at 140C) .

Its pretty simple. When your still comes up to operating temperature, the oxygen in the still is displaced by ethanol vapors.

No oxygen = no boom.

The only thing that is likely to get you is vapor leaks on the outside which could cause a nice WHUMP.

markx · Post by **markx** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:12 am

Well as far as I can see you must really put some heavy effort into actually making a still go BOOM. There's not a big chance that the still itself will explode but you can create an explosion when you forget to turn on the cooling water and the vapors ignite in a closed room. But using some common sense and obeying primary safety rules will rule out most chanses of a disaster happening.

Boots · Post by **Boots** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:50 am

Ha ha, that's funny, because if you asked my wife, caution is probably something I could use a little more of, that's why I'm trying to be extra careful. I figure I shouldn't have a problem, because the cork will be a safety valve, and I will be outdoors, so I'll be well-ventilated and not have any trapped vapors.

Post by **Husker** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:58 am

If you are outdoors, then your chance of a cato type of problem are pretty much nil, unless you are running a very large boiler. You have mentioned in many other places, that you plan (at least in the beginnings) on using a tea kettle still, against the warnings and concerns of many of the very knowledgeable members of this board. With a still of that size, and doing this outdoors, your chance of a problem (other than burning yourself with hot liquid), is very close to zero. Now the burning yourself with hot liquid IS a possiblity, especially with a still of what you describe, but that issue just seems to not matter to you, or at least, not matter enough to make a design change in your still plan. Other than that dangerous part of your still, there really is little that should go wrong.

H.

Boots · Post by **Boots** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:19 am

Thanks. I'm sure I will be upgrading soon, but if hot liquid is the only problem, I can deal with that.