thermometers? Brazing? and Woodchucks

[nasty9]

In the still plans (pot still) I am following, they call for a thermometer on the top of the boiler cap. I have a few questions, they are as follows. What kind of thermometer would be appropriate for this task? Does one leave the thermometer in during the run itself? Is the thermometer even necessary? How much wood Could a woodchuck, hypothetically speaking? Also, will a propane torch provide enough heat to braze my boiler and other componets together because the aforementioned plans state that an acetylene or oxyacetylene torch is prefered. Thank you for your time.

[Husker]

a "cheap" handheld propane torch will not get nearly hot enough to braze. Even a cheap MAPP torch will only braze on small parts (such as studs to a boiler lid), without addition of O2. If you are looking at brazing on some substantial items to a SS keg, then find someone with an Oxy/Acc torch. You will have much better results.

As for a thermometer, a lot of how to use one, depends upon what type of still you have or are making, and how you want to run with it. I use a pot still 90% of the time, and even though I have "ports" for therm's, I rarely use them (unless I am trying a totally new recipe). On my runs now, I use wallclock (since I know pretty much how long certain stages of the run will take), and then use taste / smell, when I get close to the transition points (such as heads to body or body to tails).

H.

[nasty9]

so a mapp torch with oxy will sufice?

[BW Redneck]

Oxy anything will work for brazing, hell, I once welded steel with an oxypropane setup! (it was slow and difficult, but I wanted to see exactly how hard it would be)

If ya got the right torch tips, you can do pretty much anything.

[big worm]

small torch set ups are mostly for "soft" type soldering, to braze you need oxy/acc to get the heat needed for the "hard type" silver stick to melt and adhere.

[junkyard dawg]

The small Bernzomatic type oxy/mapp setups are pretty worthless. Find a good used torch setup or pay someone to do it for you.

[HookLine]

You can braze copper together with MAPP, up to a point. Anything up to 3/4" is no problem. Don't know how you would go with brazing to the keg.

I (only just) managed to do a Liebig, (3/4" inside 1"), with a handheld MAPP torch. I also did a 2" brass BSP fitting onto 2" copper pipe using both the same MAPP torch and a large nozzle propane torch at the same time (a friend drove the propane torch).

If you do the brazing inside, away from any breezes, and cap the end of any pipe to trap the hot air, that helps a lot.

[Uncle Jesse]

Checked out a Bavarian-Holstein setup last week at a trade show and they either TIG or MIG copper to stainless. Some beautiful beads with the copper and stainless mixed together nicely.

[Pikluk]

brazed all my 2" fitting with only a hand held propane torch didn't had any problem, it not a cheap 15$ torch tho.
didn't try to braze on the boiler either.

[Dnderhead]

brazing is with bronze or brass rod

[Pikluk]

my mistake only soldered with that torch.

[theholymackerel]

Howdy Nasty.

Yer solderin' question got good and answered, but yer thermometer question was ignored. I'll answer it.

No. You don't need a thermometer on a pot still. A thermometer is usefull for a reflux still, but totally un-needed on a pot still. The best tool to make "cuts" with is yer nose and tongue (unless yer a tobacco smoker). No scientific instrument can do better.



I wish ya luck.

[HookLine]

Depending on the exact composition of the solder or braze, soldering is around 220-240C, and brazing around 650-800C.

[Old_Blue]

A thermometer is usefull for a reflux still, but totally un-needed on a pot still. The best tool to make "cuts" with is yer nose and tongue (unless yer a tobacco smoker). No scientific instrument can do better.

Dooley said to say what theholymackerel said.

I ain't never seen a thermometer with taste buds! - Dooley's quote relayed by Old Blue.