My "Apollo"rig

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rednose
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My "Apollo"rig

Post by rednose »

This is my “Apollo” rig, I called it so as it looks some kind of a rocket.

It’s all made out of 2mm Stainless Steel, has a 100Ltr boiler, a 30Ltr worm (4 meters of 3/8 SS tube) cooled with a 12V Shurflo water pump from a 15.000 liter reservoir.

The column has 6 plates inside to produce a little reflux.

It has a 10 Ltr product can, enough for at least an hour of spirit or stripping run.

It’s heated by a 90.000 BTU propane burner with special pressure gas tank valve for fine tuning the temp.

All is mounted on a SS rack with wheels for easy storage.

The boiler has a 12” bolted flange for easy cleaning.

The columns are mounted with a 2” thread, that way I can use whatever column I want, I also have some spare flange to solder future bigger diameter columns directly.

All seals are Teflon, I bought some analog marine SS temp meters which should arrive next week.

I have to work on some outlet product tubes before running it first time.

Other photos will follow, any comment is welcome.

Joe
Apollo.jpg
Licensed Micro distillery "Bonanza"; fighting the local market
ScottishBoy
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by ScottishBoy »

As soon as I saw it, the them from "I Dream of Jeannie" came into my head....;)


Hmmmm...that gives me an idea
ScottishBoy
HD Survival in a Nutshell...
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RefluxFan
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by RefluxFan »

Beautiful workmanship!! Mmmmmm....Eye candy.
ScottishBoy
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by ScottishBoy »

In case it didnt come across that way, I meant my comment up above with a lot of respect. It really is a nice looking piece. You must be insanely proud.

SB
ScottishBoy
HD Survival in a Nutshell...
Read.Search.Listen.Ask for feedback, you WILL get it. Plastic is always "questionable". Dont hurry. Be Careful. Dont Sell,Tell, or Yell. If you wouldnt serve it to your friends, then it isnt worth keeping.
rednose
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by rednose »

No prob SB I understood your comment on the right way, I use to have a good humor as well.

Thanks for the congrats, I have a good friend who owns a metal mecanic and he don't charge me anything but the material, I can use any machine he has.

I'm actually performaing a cleaning run, maybe later I will run the Bok for a small UJSSM run and post photos.

Joe
ScottishBoy wrote:In case it didnt come across that way, I meant my comment up above with a lot of respect. It really is a nice looking piece. You must be insanely proud.

SB
Licensed Micro distillery "Bonanza"; fighting the local market
blind drunk
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by blind drunk »

Wow, that's a nice set up. I could see it hitch up to my truck and traveling to bluegrass festivals for a summer job. bd.
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LWTCS
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by LWTCS »

Just beautiful Rednose
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
Chasin' Tales
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by Chasin' Tales »

Beautiful work! If it runs even half as good as it looks you will be doing alright!

How do you like living in Ecuador?
kiwistiller
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by kiwistiller »

damn you're turning out the stills quickly!? how do you find time to run them?
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My stuff
toofless one
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by toofless one »

rednose wrote:Other photos will follow, any comment is welcome
Ill keep my comments to myself :lol:

really, that thing is out of this world (get it?). congrats. when the sun hits it, do you have to wear a welding mask?

a work of art my friend. bravo.
"Learnin to still is alot like eating a dinosaur...ya gotta do it a bite at a time"
rednose
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by rednose »

Haha, when I do something I do it very intensive.

I had the UJSSM stripping run (only 1/2 full, 50Ltr) with the bok at 1/2 reflux.
UJSSM Run Bok
UJSSM Run Bok
It took 2 hours to get 2 gal of great booze which will have a second run with a lot of brothers I collected this week.
Booze
Booze
parrot
parrot
I'm very surprised how low is the energy usage on this rig.
Regulator
Regulator








kiwistiller wrote:damn you're turning out the stills quickly!? how do you find time to run them?
Licensed Micro distillery "Bonanza"; fighting the local market
rednose
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by rednose »

Here is a little tricky part of Apollo, I designed a 8" long and 4" diameter infusion basket which, without teflon just fits in the boiler flange.

I make about 10 rounds with cheap Teflon tape and it seals perfectly. :)

It is used to carry small copper pieces as HookLine said once in another thread that the vapor needs to touch at least once copper and "Apollo"is a pure SS rig.

It can be used also to flavor vodka for making Pernod or Gin.
Attachments
W run basket2.jpg
W run basket.jpg
Licensed Micro distillery "Bonanza"; fighting the local market
WalkingWolf
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by WalkingWolf »

That is fine work there rednose. I can't help but ogle over your rig :mrgreen: . And on wheels to boot. Gives me something to work towards.

Good Stillin
WalkingWolf
rednose
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by rednose »

Thanks WW, next project is the Olddog rig, the devil sister in 5" and made in 2mm copper.

Apollo also has a 1/2"outlet valve in the buttom of the boiler for easy filling (I do it with a juice pump) and empty.


WalkingWolf wrote:That is fine work there rednose. I can't help but ogle over your rig :mrgreen: . And on wheels to boot. Gives me something to work towards.

Good Stillin
WalkingWolf
Attachments
outlet valve
outlet valve
Licensed Micro distillery "Bonanza"; fighting the local market
rednose
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Life in EC

Post by rednose »

You can live quite well here as long as you don't have problems with the local law, the system is very corrupt like many other South American countries.

Most stuff is cheap, like a pound of meat in 1.80 USD or sugar in 1.30 USD for 2 Kg.

The natural ambient is just great, I'm living in the fields (15 minutes from the capital of the state) where we have the hotel as well.

I almost never go out of there as we have all what we need at home, going elsewhere can mostly be worse, lol.

Chasin' Tales wrote:Beautiful work! How do you like living in Ecuador?
Licensed Micro distillery "Bonanza"; fighting the local market
vicrider
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by vicrider »

That is SWEET. A mobile stillin station. That gives me some ideas as well. V
"The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed."
still crazy
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by still crazy »

Ya I can see VIC now tooling down the road on the Victory cruiser with a trailer in tow.
Generator powered off the tire rotation, electric coil cooking air cooled condenser and about 20 new friends on bikes following him.
I'm the guy tail-gunning cause I ain't rear-end by a glazed eyed shine chaser.
Daddy used, to say " Any landing you can walk away from is a good one"
Calculations don't mean shit when compared to the real world practical experience of many...RAD 9/2010
vicrider
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by vicrider »

If I could only get away with it...... :wink:
"The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed."
cajunsurveyor
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Re: My "Apollo"rig

Post by cajunsurveyor »

I just found the answer to my question...Very Very nice...so jealous!
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