My Setup

[RefluxFan]

"Sugar is cheaper".

Did someone say "cheaper sugar" (eyes looking around the room as if some unseen person had just spoken). Do tell.
How much per kilo and where from? (rubbing hands together)

[kiwistiller]

I got some ex india raw sugar at $6 or something per 5kg from the supermarket? hell of a lot better than the supy prices down south.

[RefluxFan]

Which supermarket? Mmmmmmm?

[kiwistiller]

packnsave sylvia park. it was sold out when I was there today.

[RefluxFan]

Ok thanks. Damn!

[BakerBoy]

My fellow Kiwi...
Just checking out your setup... nice versatility - i had sketched out a similar system before i stumbled upon these... this just confirms i'm thinking along the right track

Quick question...

Where did you get your stainless tri-clamps from and how much? - i've found one NZ supplier with the following:

2" Tri-clamps = $19
2" Ferrules (Short) = $12.50 (i forgot to get price for 'long shaft')
2" Ferrule EPDM gaskets = $3
(All prices incl gst)

To make my system versatile i'll need 2-3 clamps, 4-5 ferrules, etc... and that ends up costing as much as my copper!!! ... so i might just buy 1 long ferrule to give my 1.2 meter column some strength - and then just make those copper+solder ferrules like 'rumballs' orig idea...

Anyway thought id drop you a line and see if you know of a slightly cheaper Stainless Tri-Clamp supplier in NZ?

What do you seal your clamps with? - i'm guessing those EPDM seals are not hot ethanol safe? (although they are used in the dairy industry!) - Any idea where to get that cork sheet thats talked about on here in NZ?

How about copper & copper fittings?
I went down and priced 2" copper at my local Zip Plumber... $150 per meter I knew it was expensive, but frick, i need 2m and $300 is what i'm hoping my whole budget will be!... So i managed to score 2 meters of 2" on TradeMe for $95... should get that next week ... but i'm concerned at what Zip Plumbing is going to charge me for 2" copper fittings!? - Where do you buy yours from?

Any other NZ goodies/suppliers you've stumbled across over the years - let me know?

Hopefully i can start my build next weekend - until then... read, read, read, sketch, read, re-think, new sketch, research suppliers, read, go back to original sketch, read, find more suppliers... ahhh i love it

Cheers

[kiwistiller]

Sorry mate, was at the mountain for the w/e.

Most of my current bits came from aussie - my still was made for me there by an [ex]member from here and shipped over. My next build is going to have the triclamps and whatnot from Steel and Tube (stainless). I'm going to do an order through a mate who works at, hmm, a large healthcare oriented, auckland based engineering firm, should get a mean discount through them, but haven't priced them yet. I'll be getting 4" stuff mostly.

My gaskets are the 'PTFE (teflon) Envolope' Type. I've wondered about very carefully casing the EPDM in PTFE tape though, but that sounds like a bad idea in my head, let alone in practice. Jury is out on EPDM (like most sythetics). I wouldn't consider it safe personally, but all you can do is draw your own conclusions from the info you can find.

You could always make 'easy flange's instead, theres a sticky on here about that, but I see you've already considered that.

As for mesh, the Amphora Society will ship their copper mesh here, it isn't too spency when the exchange rate is good.

Copper Fittings - I know of no cheap options. Sorry

Copper pipe - get good friendships with your local scrappy, and watch trademe like a hawke.

Oak - get you a half barrel that has been used for red wine, split into sticks, toast / charr as needed, never buy oak again.

There is a member here selling Diamonium phosphate pretty cheap (yeast nutrient) or Brewer's co op in auck has is cheapest out of the brew shops and will ship.

Watch supermarkets for cheap sugar. Cheap grain and molasses from farm supplies. CRT is great in the south, not sure about up north yet, though RD1 gave me a good quote on bulk molasses. Orchards sell fruit on site sometimes, you can get good deals like that.

Beer kegs are pretty widely available, and are awesome. You can never have enough - good for low wines, interchangable boilers, aging final product... If you ever see a good deal on them, snap them up.

Three ring gas burners are cheap sometimes at bunnings, but the regs are cheaper at the BBQ factory.

If you're using gas, LPG is WAY cheaper if you get a car tank or something and fill up from the pump rather than using the 9/10kg bottles and getting a pump jokey to come and fill it (maybe around half price?). I need to do this, LPG bill's getting me down.

Finally, if you EVER see one of those weldless flange adapter kits that the yanks talk about getting from there home depots and whatever, buy some and send me one, because I've concluded that they don't exist and it's all a big joke that I don't get.

[BakerBoy]

LPG bill's getting me down.

Finally, if you EVER see one of those weldless flange adapter kits that the yanks talk about getting from there home depots and whatever, buy some and send me one, because I've concluded that they don't exist and it's all a big joke that I don't get.

Interesting - cheers for all that knowledge...

Are those "weldless flange kits" you're talking about for electric heating elements? - i was definitely wanting to go electric... but was also relying on those flanges being easily available ... bugger!

i read on here last week - somebody said that Lowes (in the US) sell 5.5kW electric elements for $11 ... ok, so i don't really want/need 5.5kW, but i haven't found any water heating elements in NZ for under $60 yet! ... So you have sparked an idea in my mind... I've got family friends coming home from the States at xmas time - so could possibly get them to bring 3-4 of those flanges & some cheap elements with them! - i could flick 1 or 2 your way for cost price.
... Alternatively - Do you know if those flanges are available in Aussie? - i've got family going over there in a couple months as well.

My copper arrived today, so all i need now are the fittings/reducers/Junctions etc - got a keg on the way also... will always be on the lookout to get more kegs - i was def thinking about using one for storing low wines between stripping runs - but aging in a keg and just chucking in a few charred oak sticks is a fricken awesome idea!(i assume that what you are using your oak sticks for?)... admittedly i've focussed my attention on first making neutral spririts, so haven't even looked at aging whiskey & rum yet.

cheers man,
Baker.

[kiwistiller]

Are those "weldless flange kits" you're talking about for electric heating elements? - i was definitely wanting to go electric... but was also relying on those flanges being easily available ... bugger!

yup Might just have to get a welder to do up my main keg for me, but yeah I'd love a couple if you get some.

i haven't found any water heating elements in NZ for under $60 yet!

neither and check your wiring - I sure can't run 5.5 kw, only got 10amp circuits.

but aging in a keg and just chucking in a few charred oak sticks is a fricken awesome idea!(i assume that what you are using your oak sticks for?)

yup. I have a few big glass carboys though, so I normally use them so I can look at the pretty colour.

... Alternatively - Do you know if those flanges are available in Aussie? - i've got family going over there in a couple months as well.

no idea sorry but I'm sure the aussies on the board could tell you.

Are you actually a Baker btw?

[BakerBoy]

Yeah i checked my wiring in the weekend - my house is run on 20amp fuses (shared across the house thou)... but i've also got a 15amp wall socket i know that is solely used for a spa bath - so unplug that and i've got peace of mind that nothing else will draw current from that plug

Baker by name - not by trade

[kiwistiller]

15 amps will get you 3.6kw, getting better

[bstinga]

My gaskets are the 'PTFE (teflon) Envolope' Type. I've wondered about very carefully casing the EPDM in PTFE tape though, but that sounds like a bad idea in my head, let alone in practice. Jury is out on EPDM (like most sythetics). I wouldn't consider it safe personally, but all you can do is draw your own conclusions from the info you can find.

I prefer Nitrile (aka Buna-N) it is a better option to EPDM as far as solvents/alcohol are concerned. Seal imports have a massive range and have been helpful swapping out all my gaskits etc over the years. Not sure if they buy my 'scientific equipment' story, can't be bothered explaining it all, always a good cover for ecentric behaviour.

http://www.sealimports.co.nz/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

They also have teflon disks, washers etc. The teflon tends to go 'spongy' with alcohol vapour but I try to use this when I can in preference to Nitrile. For example I have a teflon disk that my columns sit on and I then use nitrile o-rings on s.s. dairy compression fittings (ex- scrap yard). Nitrile is FDA approved for ethanol according to their charts too.

[kiwistiller]

The teflon tends to go 'spongy' with alcohol vapour but I try to use this when I can in preference to Nitrile.

really, mine doesn't do that

[bstinga]

Spongy when directly in/by the vapour path. This is in machined teflon disks/o-rings as opposed to teflon tape where it is not so noticable. Goes hard again when cools and liquid evaporates. This is a known phenom. not just my crazy observation . I think thinner teflon such as in tape and sleeves would basically not be noticible.

[hoody]

I too am after ferrules, fitting's ect as well. A friend of mine is a engineer and is willing to "knock me up" what ever I need on the cnc but dont really want him to go to all the effort of writing a program only for 1 or 2 part's. Maybe if there is enough damand I could flick some your guy's way??

I had a lucky score on the weekend too! Was all set to buy a half wine barrell untill a cabinet maker friend of mine stopped me and took me down to his work to get some "off cut's" (more like cutting up a 6m x 200mm plank of un-treated american oak into perfect sized stick's for me! ) Maybe worth remembering if anyone bump's into a cabinet maker at some stage!
Also scored a keg off another friend who's parent's own a pub and had a few keg's "lying around". Apparantly their bond on them is only $30 so was no biggy to pass one on to me. Sweet!

Good idea on the suppler's thread Spud?!

Sorry for jacking your thread too Kiwi!

Hoody

[rebucklives]

Here are a few images of my new still that I just completed. Column is 2" x 54", 3500W heater, custom gate valve, and keg boiler. I'll take some real pics next time I get it all set up instead of the Solidworks models. Looking to test it out in a few weeks.

Custom Gate Valve

Keg Boiler

Condensers and Plumbing

[Kiwi-lembic]

ya gotta love that solid works ..seen some pretty wicked far out there kiwi inventions modelled up in that program ...pheww ..specially when ya can hook it up to autocad and the mill or lathe spits out the parts that used to take some ol fella forever on his machines in the shed ...nice work kiwi .some of this modern technology is cool ...well done
pictures on paper make for real things

[Samohon]

Nice setup Kiwi, you'd be hard pressed to keep me from the bottle shelf.
Yeah, gotta love Solidworks. Taking the models into 3D Studio Max with the VRay plugin can produce a very realistic model.
Nice work on Solidworks though...

[kiwistiller]

nice work kiwi .some of this modern technology is cool ...well done
pictures on paper make for real things

I would say thanks but that's not me
Welcome along, Rebucklives. Feel free to drop by the welcome forum and say hi! (you can also make your own thread in this section for showing your new toys )

[The Baker]

Yeah i checked my wiring in the weekend - my house is run on 20amp fuses (shared across the house thou)... but i've also got a 15amp wall socket i know that is solely used for a spa bath - so unplug that and i've got peace of mind that nothing else will draw current from that plug

Baker by name - not by trade

Hi.

Baker by trade, not by name, me.

[The Baker]

15 amps will get you 3.6kw, getting better

Can your electrician connect it to a stove or HWS circuit?

Would that have to be hard wired or can they fit some sort of plug and socket?

[kiwistiller]

Don't own the place, unfortunately, or I'd definitely do that.

[Kiwi-lembic]

Did you build this Kiwi..what class would this come under VM LM ???????

[Mr.Spooky]

what the hells going on here
spooky

[airhill]

"I've wondered about very carefully casing the EPDM in PTFE tape though, but that sounds like a bad idea in my head, let alone in practice."

You got any reasons for that Kiwi? I double wrapped one about 6-9 months ago and it works well. I have tried solid teflon and it didn't seal properly, the teflon encased is fine provided you have grooved seats I don't on either flange and had to use a razor to take off the ridge of the epdm. Actual exposed area to vapour from the boiler is minimal and all it 'sees' is ptfe.

[wingman1944]

Heh heh! I live in a real third world country,South Africa,but I'm surviving I have a few mates in Auckland and in fact visited them last year.I ended up coming home and building my own still.I have , so far, only done two 25 liter batches of 11% wine.Cocked the first one up.The second one gave me about 2 liters of good stuff which I flavoured half of it with"Classic Whiskey Spirit essence" (bought in NZ)and the rest was drank as is (Vodka with a mixer)this all at about 45% Abv.
Once I learn how to do it I will post Pics of my setup.
Kiwi I often speak to my mates in NZ on either Skype or the normal home phone and also Cell phone.If you give me some phone numbers I could call you and have a chat.
Trevor

[Greenguy]

Wicked set up mate we are blessed over here in New Zealand