more progress pics of 3" internal TEE LM/VM

[Mr.Spooky]

[condensificator]

...also, i figgered out a SUPER simple way to do this whole portal project while trying to fit stuff together. you could just take tri clamp flanges, fit and solder one onto a hole where you want your sight glass, then cut just the flangey part off of another one for outside window. cut glass just slightly undersize of the OD of the flange. wrap outside edge of glass with a few layers of pfte tape (ala rednose), sandwich between flanges, clamp. done. wish i had thought of that a few fucking days ago! ...but not really...i'm stoked...

[condensificator]

...shit. that just planted another seed. might have to do a second one opposite the thermo port so i can see the reflux return path. maybe a 2" with the flange technique. i can get the bolt clamp instead of the quick release version....hmmmmmmm...

yep. i'm doing it.

...fuck.

[kiwistiller]

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

[LWTCS]

Wish I had something to contribute to this thread other than "I hate you".

Dude this may be one of the nicest hobby builds in the history of,,,,,,,,,,,,,forever.

Hope you don't shoot yourself in the temple when you start leak checking.

Grreat fuggin work.

[Samohon]

having fun, taking my time on this one! the mokume is not etched yet, that's just what it looks like natural. etching makes it very dramatic, it will be the last step. PM me if you want links to some finished works.

yeah, i can't wait...hope it runs even better than it looks!!! even if she don't...least she's perdy...

Yeah, I've seen a lot of it on the net condenser, really nice man...
I'm sure she'll run just fine, really lookin forward to the results of the in-line turbulator...

+3, She is perdy...

[Samohon]

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

Now thats interestin Kiwi, don't suppose you have a link handy...

Thanks man...

[Mr.Spooky]

GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!!!!!!!
spooky cheering!!!!!

[loneswinger]

That is some amazing work. I like this rig. Not so sure the turbo will do much but looks cool.

-Loneswinger

[LWTCS]

Not so sure the turbo will do much but looks cool.

Oh yeah. Forgot to ask.

You got a sight glass adjacent to that turbo?

Be a wet drean watching that action!

[Samohon]

...also, i figgered out a SUPER simple way to do this whole portal project while trying to fit stuff together. you could just take tri clamp flanges, fit and solder one onto a hole where you want your sight glass, then cut just the flangey part off of another one for outside window. cut glass just slightly undersize of the OD of the flange. wrap outside edge of glass with a few layers of pfte tape (ala rednose), sandwich between flanges, clamp. done. wish i had thought of that a few fucking days ago! ...but not really...i'm stoked...

This is friggin great condenser, another possibility for the sight ports...
Gonna need to get another friggin note book...
In the UK the RJT fitting is what we use instead of the Tri-Clamp...
Tri-clamp is available to, but the RJT fittings are much cheaper here...

RJT.jpg (13.55 KiB) Viewed 2109 times

Stainless and come in sizes from 1" to 6" in ½" increments...

Thanks man...

[rednose]

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

9 bucks for 2" , St. Patrick's of texas have 'em.
http://www.stpats.com/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Forgot to mention Visilume in UK for bigger sizes.
http://www.visilume.com/products/sanita ... tings.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[WalkingWolf]

Thanks for those links Joe. Printed the "DataSheet" on the UK link. Will use the tri-clamp assembly shown in the picture. My brother will be able to cut everything from stainless and will join up with copper coming from the tower.

[rednose]

You’re welcome WW.

Don’t worry about the max temp indicated in St. Patrick’s, the hottest part of my column gets to almost 50 C in a heavy stripping run.

With a copper rig it might be a bit more but I don’t think it will reach the 80th.

Here an actual laser shot of the column (stripping rum 5 gal/h):

[Pikluk]

Bravo!!!

that thing is awesome.

all i wish now is to see a video of that beast of beauty in action.

[condensificator]

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

i could also just buy a still from someone...no? need to feed the habit, there, dude! i got a bunch of extras in my parts drawer, that's where the portal came from, and when i was diggin around i cam across a few extra triclamp flanges from earlier projects. the premade sight glasses that rednose linked to are a great second option. having anything be "cheaper" went out the window when i started the 3"incher! i'm selling off some shit from older hobbies to get monkey off back.

Wish I had something to contribute to this thread other than "I hate you".

Dude this may be one of the nicest hobby builds in the history of,,,,,,,,,,,,,forever.

Hope you don't shoot yourself in the temple when you start leak checking.

Grreat fuggin work.

dude...let me just pour you one more drink....why all the hatred?? thanks man.

maybe the wine will take the edge off.
yeah, leak check is a scary thing, int't it?! with the sight glass seals, at least it's temporary, and can be tweaked. with the soldering, i have an out because so far everything is with silver/hard solder. if anything don't pass, i can just grind out little spots and do "band-aids" with soft solder without melting anything else or re-oxidizing. had to do it on BOTH of the 2" slant boka's that i made. problem solving is always fun for me, so the guns stay in the safe, no matter what...lessin' some feller comes tryin' take her way...

That is some amazing work. I like this rig. Not so sure the turbo will do much but looks cool.

-Loneswinger

thanks! with the turbo...there has been other comments about this...maybe i am not understanding the theory. isn't the idea to create turbulence in the vapor path from the packed column to facilitate the split of the output and condenser? does this not seem like it would work? i use the term "turbo" loosely. i am not expecting the thing to make the vapor quadruple in speed, or make the still do wheelies across the shop. if the theory says that turbulence in the vapor path from column to port/condenser-split is indicated, i can't come up with a scenario where my "turbo" would not induce turbulence??? am i missing something? should i just call it a "turbulator" so there is less expectation of it?

Not so sure the turbo will do much but looks cool.

Oh yeah. Forgot to ask.

You got a sight glass adjacent to that turbo?

Be a wet drean watching that action!

...not yet...here's a couplemore pics to go with your drink:

This is friggin great condenser, another possibility for the sight ports...
Gonna need to get another friggin note book...
In the UK the RJT fitting is what we use instead of the Tri-Clamp...
Tri-clamp is available to, but the RJT fittings are much cheaper here...

RJT.jpg

Stainless and come in sizes from 1" to 6" in ½" increments...

Thanks man...

yeah...those are cool, but i think i'm on a different path on this one. i bookmarked a couple sites that i found those on. maybe in the future. thanks again dude!

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

9 bucks for 2" , St. Patrick's of texas have 'em.
http://www.stpats.com/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Forgot to mention Visilume in UK for bigger sizes.
http://www.visilume.com/products/sanita ... tings.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

galss end cap.gif

wow. thanks rednose...great site for that stuff...way better than the dairy site i've been getting it from. that 2" site glass will be my "plan B" if this new one don't work...but i don't see why it won't. the opening on those is a lot smaller than what i have planned, and i want a full view of the magical goodness!

Bravo!!!

that thing is awesome.

all i wish now is to see a video of that beast of beauty in action.

thanks a lot man...i'm gonna finally have to figger out my video camera and the youtube business for this.





...anyhow, thanks to all of y'alllll! it's been a great experience so far and just keeps gettin' better and better!

[todd54]

Must have a lot of talent and CASH1

[rednose]

I don't want your rig but how much you ask for that used 3 inch tee with all the holes and the stuck ventilator in?

[condensificator]

Must have a lot of talent and CASH1

not since i started on this bitch! it's a constant struggle since i share my workshop with my livelihood and this new all-absorbing hobby! the fun stuff is winning the fight for time, and the bills are stacking up. O.C.D don't mix so good with this sport.

I don't want your rig but how much you ask for that used 3 inch tee with all the holes and the stuck ventilator in?

i'd trade it all in a second for all of the raw materials so i could build it all again! the second one is always takes half the time and is light years better than the first.

[rednose]

i'd trade it all in a second for all of the raw materials so i could build it all again! the second one is always takes half the time and is light years better than the first.

I found out that I hate to do the same thing twice when I built the twins, I got bored to do 2 worms, two heads, two boilers two supports, two parrots and all the same.

worst was the plates, 9 of them in a row, that was anoying and took more time than building two more stills without plates.

Man, doing all this even better, is that possible, I love that work, well done.

[olddog]

Great workmanship, great innovation, a pleasure to see. Thanks for sharing.


OD

[condensificator]

thanks guys.

i made the TEE cut and fit the flange. if i have any more in the tank, i'll solder the joint. i also will do the second thermo port on this heat.


samo had asked how i was going to make the cut...her go...


the biscuit at the bottom was just cut out using a little cutoff wheel on the web between the holes. undersized the cut so it will hold solder, then i can grind it smoove.


angled it down and in toward the action. should be able to see ALL of the action inside the tee...might even have to do one for either side of the condenser!


joint is actually fit much better than it looks in this pic...the light is coming through, but the stay-silv will easily bridge it.
the angle provides a clear view of below the lower plate and the turbulator (not turbo). each port should provide light for each other...

[condensificator]

...also, i'd really like some input on the turbulator...am i way off the mark with the theory of getting turbulence in the vapor path to distribute the vapor between the reflux-condenser and the take-off? everything that i have read about VM theory lead me to putting the turbulator in, and the reaction to it has not been very affirmative.

...also, is my gate too far away from the branch? i figgered having gradual reduction and following gravity would be the best way to train the vapor...yes, no, wait-and-see?

any of the VM guru's have any thoughts?

[Samohon]

Condenser, I like the blow by blow photos man, way impressive...
Very clean build man, can't wait to see it on youtube...

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

9 bucks for 2" , St. Patrick's of texas have 'em.
http://www.stpats.com/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Forgot to mention Visilume in UK for bigger sizes.
http://www.visilume.com/products/sanita ... tings.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Thanks Joe, esspecially the UK link... Sourcing for this hobbie just got a little easier...

Theres so much happening on HD ATM, Shinners/Spooky's flutes, Bokas being built daily, 2" and 3" VM's, ect, ect...
This hobbies really taking off and with 6510 members to date, I can only see it getting stronger...
I cant really imagine not being part of this hobby... Theory, design, chemistry, physics, maths, fabrication, ect...
And you get to have a tipple/dram of your favourite beverage at the end of your labours, cant be bad guys....

The amount of information given with all the builds going on ATM, just made it easier for us all...

[Pooyan]

Yeee that's truly a nice piece of art Condensificator!

I liked the idea of using a copper endcap as frame for the sightglass...
Can't wait to see some live action from the inside!!

Pooyan

[condensificator]

I believe you can buy lenses to fit a triclamp - your way is probably a lot cheaper though.

they are plastic. bummer. guess i'll have to figger out a "plan C" in case the 2" port won't seal the way i'm planning.

i still have that extra 3x3x1-1/2" tee that i bought by mistake at the start of this project, so now i need to figger out how to put a glass in the 1-1/2" branch so i can use it on the condenser. glad i'm going away for a week...starting to TWEAK-THE-FUCK-OUT! gonna end up having ports all over everything i own.

[condensificator]

Yeee that's truly a nice piece of art Condensificator!

I liked the idea of using a copper endcap as frame for the sightglass...
Can't wait to see some live action from the inside!!

Pooyan

thanks man. got my fingers crossed that all of my joints are sound and the seals are gonna work...too much time into this thing to even think about failure!

[Mr.Spooky]

starting to TWEAK-THE-FUCK-OUT! gonna end up having ports all over everything i own.[/quote]
thats funny just earlier today, or was it last night,,,,, i was telling WalkingWolf that i work harder on this stuff in my sleep than i do in the daytime. i havent had a good nights sleep in weeks.
hope ya get some good sleep during your week away.
spooky

[loneswinger]

...also, i'd really like some input on the turbulator...am i way off the mark with the theory of getting turbulence in the vapor path to distribute the vapor between the reflux-condenser and the take-off? everything that i have read about VM theory lead me to putting the turbulator in, and the reaction to it has not been very affirmative.

...also, is my gate too far away from the branch? i figgered having gradual reduction and following gravity would be the best way to train the vapor...yes, no, wait-and-see?

any of the VM guru's have any thoughts?

I think that the turbulator will help make the gas flow turbulent if it is not already. I certainly won't hurt anything. I have not run (or seen) the numbers on the amount of vapor you will take off increasing from laminar flow to turbulent. It should increase some, but not sure how much. I think you are spot on with the gradual reduction and all that gravity. Raising up the reflux condenser should give a little more flow if necessary. Honestly I am pretty sure that thing will rip like hell if you cranked open the valve. Output rate should not be a problem for you.

This still is fantastic. Had to even show the wife some of your photos.

-Loneswinger

[kiwistiller]

two potential issues - 1) choking, and 2) reflux distribution. I'd expect the lower surface tension of ethanol to make the second problem minor at the top of the column - glass columns and such show that channelling isn't too much of a drama at the top. As for choking, I'm not sure. Hard to really judge without holding it and looking at it from different angles. The problem with running a spreader / turbulator with lots of small holes is the boundary area on the edge of the holes actually makes the holes effectively smaller. I know a rough rule of thumb for the minimum contriction size in a 3" column is ~35mm in diameter. However, the boundary layer effect will mean you need more area than that. To make it even harder, it's not a 2d shape, but a 3d one. you could try and calculate the hydraulic diameter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_diameter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow (which is 4 x total cross sectional area / total perimeter)

Or... you could just build a sight glass and look to see if it's choking!