Alcohometer Holder

gonzoflick · Post by **gonzoflick** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:49 pm

From what I've read most of you all use ABV to determine your cuts. Well I have an alcohometer and I want to make a copper holder like I've seen on this site to provide me a constant reading of the ABV coming out of my still. The connector on the end of my condenser is 1/2 in copper so Im sure I can make a holder out of Home Depot copper fittings.

Does anyone have a parts list or easy way of making one of these , or could you point me in the right direction?

One more thing, Im sure the liquid coming out of the still is very hot. How do you all adjust your readings on the alcohometer for piping hot booze without having to pour it out in another vessel to take a temp reading?

Thanks in advance.

Post by **Uncle Jesse** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:25 pm

what you're looking for is called a Hydrometer Rack.

http://www.labsafety.com/search/hydrome ... irect=true

drunk2much · Post by **drunk2much** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:36 pm

just take you a piece of 1' copper pipe soder a cap on one end and buy ya what ever size input copper ( the arm running in to the bottom) It needs to be soft copper. then make you an oblique cut of the soft copper. Then drill the 1" copper tube at the bottom with the same size of the soft copper that you bought ,straight in, then cock the drill to make the hole resemble the oblique piece of tube that will travel you sprit into the bottom. Do the same for the one at the top and soder the thing together. Just make sure you can read the hydrometer and the spirit will run out quick enought that you dont over run the thing

Post by **Uncle Jesse** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:46 pm

i take that back i read it wrong, you want an eprouvette!

http://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Eprouvette

MikeyT · Post by **MikeyT** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:01 pm

Uncle Jesse wrote:i take that back i read it wrong, you want an eprouvette!

http://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Eprouvette

Picture is worth a 1000 words (especially if they're my words)!

I made one of these. Just dig into your copper scraps pile and use non-lead containing solder. $6 for half pound roll at Lowe's.

gonzoflick · Post by **gonzoflick** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:14 pm

is the description drunk2much wrote the same as the picture described in the wiki?

drunk2much · Post by **drunk2much** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:27 am

simmilar but mine had less parts; its up to you for the final design just get after it with the basic princibles

Samogon · Post by **Samogon** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:04 am

You want to pick a pipe with an ID that is close to your alcoholometer diameter. Mine fits real nice in 3/4" type M pipe. For sizes and a wealth of info, see http://www.copper.org/applications/plum ... h_main.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I've got this list of photos I copied from somewhere around here:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3609

PS - and here's a bunch of links I bookmarked with other pics and info on parrot's beaks/eprouvettes:
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2437
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1916
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1959
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1943
http://bujapat.over-blog.com/photo-1212 ... 4_jpg.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

yon8raps · Post by **yon8raps** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:03 pm

I've had a question about taking instant readings of %abv in a parrots beak or eprouvette...Do people use a chart of correction factors for various temperatures of distillate? My gauge is only accurate at 60 degrees F, and have seen others mention the same. What're people doing to get real measurements?

wineo · Post by **wineo** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:15 pm

You have to adjust your reading for temp.If your distillate is coming off too hot,you need a bigger condencer.Most alchometors are calibrated at 60f,so your not going to get an accurite reading,unless you have one hell of a cooling system.I havent built one yet,but I collect in 12oz bottles,and after a day or 2,I taste each one,with a little water,to make my cuts.After its aired out good,the taste buds dont lie.If i taste something I dont like,it dont make the cut.
wineo

rezaxis · Post by **rezaxis** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:38 am

Does anyone know the correct pronunciation of "eprouvette?" Bujapat maybe.

Pardon me, I'm english speaking.

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:40 am

rezaxis wrote:Does anyone know the correct pronunciation of "eprouvette?" Bujapat maybe.

Pardon me, I'm english speaking.

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:02 am

[éproevèt]

Bujapat · Post by **Bujapat** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:25 am

e p r u: v ? t ?

International Phonetic Alphabet

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:57 am

we had to study that last year, but ehh ..

rezaxis · Post by **rezaxis** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:09 am

Hear that whooshing noise? That's the sound of stokers and bujapats replies going over my head!

Pardon me, I'm dumb, and english speaking!

Bujapat, IPA is interesting. Never knew there was such a thing. Maybe some day I'll study it...

Mods: Is there a way to post audio clips?

Post by **Uncle Jesse** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:28 am

Eh'-prove-ette

rezaxis · Post by **rezaxis** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:43 pm

Thanks Uncle, that's the kind of response I was looking for. I can understand that!

Rez

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:31 pm

Uncle Jesse wrote:Eh'-prove-ette

how I read this, is (very)different from the french pronounciation.

rezaxis · Post by **rezaxis** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:50 am

hmmmm

Post by **Uncle Jesse** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:52 am

no, i believe it's pronounced eh'-prove-ette but i will email my french pal and ask him. it's been 25 years since i studied french for 6 years in school.

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:12 pm

if the 'o' is 'oe' ~'fool' (but a bit shorter pronounced)
and the 'ette' is 'èt' with an e like yesterday

then i agree

it's probably my mistake

Still_Crazy · Post by **Still_Crazy** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:40 am

Just want to thank everyone for info and pics on this particular thread. I've been wanting to create something similar and not have to fill a container, pour into a 200mm cylinder, check it, pour it back and replace the container or get the next...

Took a half day vacation yesterday and bought the following to make mine:

12" long piece of 3/4" copper
3/4" cap
1-1/2" to 3/4" reducer
some 1/4" copper tubing.

For now I use a Alla alcohometer with a scale of 0 - 100 %abv and proof on the other side. It is .670 inches diameter which fits perfectly in the 3/4" pipe.
For the connection to the existing condenser I'll use a brass tubing sleeve just as I do to connect the condenser to the column cross tube (lynne arm??) wrapped with a little teflon tape. Makes assembly and removal easy.

I tested and cleaned it with soap and water to remove the water soluble soldering paste and whatever other contaminates. Will be the weekend b4 I can get back to it and the 6 gallons of 20% wash that are more than ready to run.
I still need to make a stable base for it or some kind of temporary clamp...
Also- have parts to make a optional boka head maybe done this weekend. No luck getting pics taken of all this yet, I'll try again this weekend.
I use a 5 gallon bucket with recirculating water for the cooling supply. I found that 1 gallon plastic milk jugs work great for ice and once thawed or the water temp rises too high I take out a jug full of water put it back ion the freeze and place a frozen jug back in the bucket. the return hot water flows into the jug then overflows into the bucket. Works really well and on the average my cooling water is around 45f. No more seperate ice cubes to deal with. I'm anxious to see the alcohometer working and see what the run-time temp averages while collecting.

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u114 ... =SC009.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u114 ... =SC006.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

It worked great! I watched it hover around 90%-92% for hours.

Thanks again for everyones thoughts and contributions to this forum!

Samogon · Post by **Samogon** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:01 am

Still_Crazy wrote: For the connection to the existing condenser I'll use a brass tubing sleeve just as I do to connect the condenser to the column cross tube (lynne arm??) wrapped with a little teflon tape. Makes assembly and removal easy.

Make sure you don't seal it off, otherwise you'll get a small back pressure (of the alcohol height in the 3/4" pipe) onto your still. Most folks let it drip from the open end of their condenser into the parrot's beak.

Still_Crazy · Post by **Still_Crazy** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:15 am

Thanks Samogon,

I wondered what the large 'cup' was for in the photo. Simple enough to make a change or addition before I actually use it. Heaven knows I don't need any more pressure day to day, let alone in my still!

PUGIDOGS · Post by **PUGIDOGS** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:24 am

I do it like samogon said. Let the foreshots drip out offtake into other container, then when heads start I put the parrots beak under offtake. leave parrots beak there untill end of run, including tails.

My hydrometer is the same size as yours. With the 3/4 inch copper pipe and a steady stream it will push the hydrometer up from flow just a little. The reading is about 2ABV off. hope this helped...Pugi

Still_Crazy · Post by **Still_Crazy** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:35 am

PUGIDOGS wrote:I do it like samogon said. Let the foreshots drip out offtake into other container, then when heads start I put the parrots beak under offtake. leave parrots beak there untill end of run, including tails.

My hydrometer is the same size as yours. With the 3/4 inch copper pipe and a steady stream it will push the hydrometer up from flow just a little. The reading is about 2ABV off. hope this helped...Pugi

Thanks PUGIDOGS and good point. This way you don't have to mess much with pouring out the eprouvette to keep seperations.

PUGIDOGS · Post by **PUGIDOGS** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:41 am

Still_Crazy wrote:
PUGIDOGS wrote:I do it like samogon said. Let the foreshots drip out offtake into other container, then when heads start I put the parrots beak under offtake. leave parrots beak there untill end of run, including tails.

My hydrometer is the same size as yours. With the 3/4 inch copper pipe and a steady stream it will push the hydrometer up from flow just a little. The reading is about 2ABV off. hope this helped...Pugi
Thanks PUGIDOGS and good point. This way you don't have to mess much with pouring out the eprouvette to keep seperations.

Point to add. With the hydrometer hovering around 50 ABV the parrots beak only holds about 60ml. I figured the less in the parrots beak the less mix of cuts I would get....Pugi

Home Distiller

Alcohometer Holder

Alcohometer Holder

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oops!

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this is great info!

Re: this is great info!