Dixie's pot still... almost the final revision.

dixiedrifter · Post by **dixiedrifter** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:20 pm

Its almost done... recently rebuilt the head out of triclover fittings and put a drip tip on the end of the condenser.

I want to re-do the water heater element port using triclover fittings, remove the hose connections and replace them with quick connect fittings, and put a thermometer hole on the top of the head.

I think it will about be done after that.

Please excuse my crappy soldering skills, that condenser is about 9 years old, and was the very first thing I ever sweated together. It's been resoldered on the ends several times, and needs a very good polishing.

mikeac · Post by **mikeac** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:24 pm

If you don't mind me asking, why did you use a T fitting before the elbow and not just attach the elbow directly to the top of the boiler?

dixiedrifter · Post by **dixiedrifter** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:28 pm

mikeac wrote:If you don't mind me asking, why did you use a T fitting before the elbow and not just attach the elbow directly to the top of the boiler?

I happened to have a spare tee fitting and was lacking an elbow, and I wanted to be able to mount a thermometer there at a later time.

This is all part of my "flex still design".

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:30 pm

you dont need no stinking thermo!

it looks like my buddys dairy stuff! never seen so much stainless in such a small space! i think it should make a most flavorful drink though.

send me a sample and i will let everyone know how good it is!

dixiedrifter · Post by **dixiedrifter** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:44 pm

By gawd, that stainless is a PITA to get.

KLG stainless is THE place to to get triclover stuff... their prices are about 60% of those at StPats, but they don't have the teflon gaskets or triclover to MPT fittings.

Before I had an elbow soldered onto the colum... I could not clean it out other than soaking it in vinegar. You would not believe how much organic crap was in the condenser... and I still haven't gotten it all out!!!!! It was getting so bad that it turned the last bunch of stripped wash off colored and left "floaties" in the alcohol.

And yeah, I don't really need the thermometer... I go by taste and smell... but perhaps it would give me a better idear of when most of the alcohol is out of the wash though.

mikeac · Post by **mikeac** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:32 pm

Very cool, the thermo would be easy to add if ever you wanted to, I thought that the T might be so you could angle the condenser more easily... I 'm about to order some triclover fittings, can't wait!

Post by **shadylane** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:03 am

Looks great, but how are you going to clean the inside of it.

19Kilo · Post by **19Kilo** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:38 am

shadylane wrote:Looks great, but how are you going to clean the inside of it.

Small length of chain, OxyClean, and alott of upperbody strength.

dixiedrifter · Post by **dixiedrifter** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:45 am

Since your not using an external heat source, the keg really doesn't get too funky on the inside to begin with.

Its really easy to keep clean, just unscrew the element and stick a garden hose down in it immediately after getting done with a run.

If you use rubber gloves you don't even need to wait till it cools down before removing the element.

punkin · Post by **punkin** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:43 am

If you weld another nut on the other side and put a stainless ball valve in there, you won't even have to touch the element, and it's much easier to just open it up and let the hot slops run into a bucket.

Nice job too, i'm sure it'll bring you many hours of hazy memories.

dixiedrifter · Post by **dixiedrifter** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:31 pm

I've got a 1" stainless nipple that I cut in half and a matching ball valve... I just ain't got it over to the shop to weld it in.

I thought about it some, and I could theoretically use the still as a hot water boiler for mashing.

One of these days I intend to set it up in reflux configuration and take some pics.

fuzzfan87 · Post by **fuzzfan87** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:29 am

total novice question here but i see it on some pot stills and not on others and am just curious. On the arm that comes off where the condensed booze will drip out it gets thicker and there are two tiny little tubes on there... what are those for ??

As-Ol-Joe · Post by **As-Ol-Joe** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:34 am

fuzzfan87, that is where the cooling water enters at the bottom and exits at the top.

fuzzfan87 · Post by **fuzzfan87** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:49 pm

ahhhhhh its a tube within a tube i understand now thanks a lot.