Glass for sightglass
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Glass for sightglass
What is the best source for glass to use in a sight glass?
Is there somewhere to order 2" precut circles?
Should I get a diamond hole saw and use window glasa?
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks
Dennis
Is there somewhere to order 2" precut circles?
Should I get a diamond hole saw and use window glasa?
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks
Dennis
Re: Glass for sightglass
I know that the flute builders (Olddog, Kentucky Shinner, ect;) cut their own, they should chime in shortly..
I'm getting all the materials form my Flute build together atm and I will be cutting my own glass from a diamond hole saw and 4mm (float) window glass...
A drill-press will make this considerably easier...
Do a search for sight glass, Flute, ect;...
Hope it helps man...
I'm getting all the materials form my Flute build together atm and I will be cutting my own glass from a diamond hole saw and 4mm (float) window glass...
A drill-press will make this considerably easier...
Do a search for sight glass, Flute, ect;...
Hope it helps man...
♦♦ Samohon ♦♦
Beginners should visit The New Distillers Reading Lounge and the Safety and Related Issues among others...
Beginners should visit The New Distillers Reading Lounge and the Safety and Related Issues among others...
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- Swill Maker
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Re: Glass for sightglass
There was talk in the flute thread about this subject. Many used the diamond hole saw. I think there was also talk of using watch faces. You could also get in vouch with someone who built theirs and get them to make a few.
Re: Glass for sightglass
I got mine off the shelf from a boilerhouse supplier. everything under the sun for steam boilers including
"Backend Sight Glasses"
They are used to look into the furnace part of the boiler. Try googling that phrase and see if there is a supplier in your area that deals with industial boilers. They do ship internationally too.
http://www.ibhs.co.uk/
"Backend Sight Glasses"
They are used to look into the furnace part of the boiler. Try googling that phrase and see if there is a supplier in your area that deals with industial boilers. They do ship internationally too.
http://www.ibhs.co.uk/
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Re: Glass for sightglass
Got mine from McMaster:http://www.mcmaster.com/#borosilicate-glass/=b1o3e9 - all different sizes available.
4" 4-plate flute and 2" 1.5m packed column, both with BOKA / VM head. Many stainless kegs of various sizes and configurations - TIG is my friend!
Re: Glass for sightglass
Check out http://www.stpats.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Click 'Sanitary Fittings/Valves'.
Once you're on that page you will find 'End Cap Window (aka Clear end cap)' just below where they show all their end caps. 2" glass sight glass caps for $9.00 each.
You can cut your own, but $9.00 isn't that bad.
Click 'Sanitary Fittings/Valves'.
Once you're on that page you will find 'End Cap Window (aka Clear end cap)' just below where they show all their end caps. 2" glass sight glass caps for $9.00 each.
You can cut your own, but $9.00 isn't that bad.
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Re: Glass for sightglass
...would be AWESOME if they were glass....but, nope. they are plastic. i wasted the $9.00 so hopefully no one else will have to.NineInchNails wrote:Check out http://www.stpats.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Click 'Sanitary Fittings/Valves'.
Once you're on that page you will find 'End Cap Window (aka Clear end cap)' just below where they show all their end caps. 2" glass sight glass caps for $9.00 each.
You can cut your own, but $9.00 isn't that bad.
i dig the hole saw route. here's my solution: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=19973
some one else had p0sted this link a while back for lenses (flashlight replacements) http://www.dealextreme.com/c/flashlight ... ass%20lens" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
my fav way is with the convex "watch glasses" that i found....see the bottom of this page: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=18624 i know that KS found a way to use the watch glasses with the std union type set up.
Re: Glass for sightglass
Sorry guys, I did not realize they were plastic.
I just now noticed that the page says "Max temperature 150° F".
I just now noticed that the page says "Max temperature 150° F".
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Re: Glass for sightglass
I bought mine from Dealextreme. It takes a while to get the stuff though. Took about 2 weeks to get mine.
http://www.dealextreme.com/c/flashlight ... ass%20lens
http://www.dealextreme.com/c/flashlight ... ass%20lens
The stone age didn't end due to a lack of stones
Re: Glass for sightglass
I have some of these on order:
http://www.aircomparts-air-compressors.com/p0021/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
... with any luck, I can fabricate the port with 1-1/4" type L copper tube, and then press the sightglass assembly into the port. Done.
NChooch
http://www.aircomparts-air-compressors.com/p0021/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
... with any luck, I can fabricate the port with 1-1/4" type L copper tube, and then press the sightglass assembly into the port. Done.
NChooch
NChooch
Practice safe distillin and keep your hobby under your hat.
Practice safe distillin and keep your hobby under your hat.
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Re: Glass for sightglass
I have the glass pre-cut for sale on my website.
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- Angel's Share
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Re: Glass for sightglass
Check with Kentucky Shinner at Hillbillystills.com He may have what you need.
I made mine from simple single strength window glass. The local hardware store gave me a small piece to work with. I cut them as close to a circle as I could with a glass cutter then ground them round. I have a diamond grinder so it was real easy and fast. Any place that does stained glass windows could do them for you.
A tile and marble store will have inexpensive diamond cutting blades or grinding discs that will work. It doesnt have to be a hole saw. Cutting blades for a 4” mini grinder have enough edge that you can grind the edge of flat glass. Just keep it wet. You could probably use a bench grinder for that thin of glass if you could wet grind with enough water.
MR
EDIT: KS beat me to the punch
I made mine from simple single strength window glass. The local hardware store gave me a small piece to work with. I cut them as close to a circle as I could with a glass cutter then ground them round. I have a diamond grinder so it was real easy and fast. Any place that does stained glass windows could do them for you.
A tile and marble store will have inexpensive diamond cutting blades or grinding discs that will work. It doesnt have to be a hole saw. Cutting blades for a 4” mini grinder have enough edge that you can grind the edge of flat glass. Just keep it wet. You could probably use a bench grinder for that thin of glass if you could wet grind with enough water.
MR
EDIT: KS beat me to the punch
Re: Glass for sightglass
I have a set of diamond hole saws, thanks KS.Kentucky shinner wrote:I have the glass pre-cut for sale on my website.
NChooch
NChooch
Practice safe distillin and keep your hobby under your hat.
Practice safe distillin and keep your hobby under your hat.
- DanielBoon
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Re: Glass for sightglass
Thanks everyone for all your helpful suggestions.
What an awesome group of people.
Since making my original post I realized there are several types of sight glasses, including those tubular ones that surround some plates (i.e. Stilldragon's "crystal dragon" series.
I found out mine is called a union sight glass – that is, the kind that goes into a union tee on a column. It's a flat plate of glass that allows you to view inside the column to see sieve plate/bubble cap action.
The glass is sandwiched between the column and a steel ring that screws down, holding the glass tightly between two silicone o-rings.
So essentially a flat, round piece of tempered glass 4.25" (108mm) in diameter, 0.5" (12mm) thick is what I need.
What an awesome group of people.
Since making my original post I realized there are several types of sight glasses, including those tubular ones that surround some plates (i.e. Stilldragon's "crystal dragon" series.
I found out mine is called a union sight glass – that is, the kind that goes into a union tee on a column. It's a flat plate of glass that allows you to view inside the column to see sieve plate/bubble cap action.
The glass is sandwiched between the column and a steel ring that screws down, holding the glass tightly between two silicone o-rings.
So essentially a flat, round piece of tempered glass 4.25" (108mm) in diameter, 0.5" (12mm) thick is what I need.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind. Casey Jones you better watch your speed.
- Yummyrum
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Re: Glass for sightglass
I made mine from plain old 4mm window glass using similar technique to Mash rookie . Same as Olddog .mash rookie wrote: I made mine from simple single strength window glass. The local hardware store gave me a small piece to work with. I cut them as close to a circle as I could with a glass cutter then ground them round. I have a diamond grinder so it was real easy and fast. Any place that does stained glass windows could do them for you.
A tile and marble store will have inexpensive diamond cutting blades or grinding discs that will work. It doesnt have to be a hole saw. Cutting blades for a 4” mini grinder have enough edge that you can grind the edge of flat glass. Just keep it wet. You could probably use a bench grinder for that thin of glass if you could wet grind with enough water.
MR
I always fretted they might bust ,....not being borosilicate ,....but after over four years not a problem . My old 3mm window glass sight glasses in my VM/LM head are also still going after nearly 6 years .
I actually bought some Borosilicate ones from a supplier and they cracked
Here's how I made mine
Yummy's Flute build
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
- Saltbush Bill
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Re: Glass for sightglass
Considering the work involved in making glasses, I doubt many make them these days. They are readily available from most of the better still part suppliers. I bought and fitted mine over 7 years ago now and have never had a problem with any of them.
- Yummyrum
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Re: Glass for sightglass
Totally agree Salty . Standard sizes to fit 2, 3, 4" ferrules are cheap and easy to get hold of .....and I would in hindsight recommend this approachSaltbush Bill wrote:Considering the work involved in making glasses, I doubt many make them these days. They are readily available from most of the better still part suppliers.
Me being the awkward bastard I am decided to make some fancy arse non-standard sized sight glasses and had to make my own
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
- Saltbush Bill
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Re: Glass for sightglass
And a nice job you did of them too I think that the ones that I bought and used were some of the first of the commercially available ones made specifically for use on Flutes/Bubblers , If it hadn't been for those I would have been making my own too ...glad I didn't have to.Yummyrum wrote:and had to make my own
- Hoosier Shine9
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Re: Glass for sightglass
I got mine from StillDragon,
I also up graded to the blue sight glass kits too.
I was using tri clamps before the upgrade. kept cracking glasses.....
download/file.php?id=55468&mode=view
I also up graded to the blue sight glass kits too.
I was using tri clamps before the upgrade. kept cracking glasses.....
download/file.php?id=55468&mode=view
- Oldvine Zin
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Re: Glass for sightglass
McMaster Carr is a great source - that's where I got mine
OVZ
OVZ