My store bought still needs to be pimped

[mrwoody1985]

Hey guys, running my store bought reflux for the 1st time. I've noticed you guys have taps and gizmos on your stills? Would I benefit putting one on this still? http://s1123.photobucket.com/albums/l55 ... ction=view" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow¤t=0c887cde.jpg&evt=user_media_share

[mrwoody1985]

Ok on closer inspection it's a dumb design. It only has 4x 6mm pipes running straight through the tower column. So there is only 4 'small' sections that are actually cooled inside the column. So from what I read I get this, the steam will pass through 60% of the column not being cooled. And a small percentage will act as reflux, so I've actually only got a complex pot still by the looks of it

[cwalker]

just a heads up, but I think your gonna get ragged on for havin that plastic cup as your likker catch. And im guessing all the plastic jugs in the back are for likker too?

[mrwoody1985]

just a heads up, but I think your gonna get ragged on for havin that plastic cup as your likker catch. And im guessing all the plastic jugs in the back are for likker too?

Yup that is correct lol. I know I've read it so many times about plastic. But at the moment that's all I have (because that's what the knob @ the brew shop sold me haha seen me coming

[Odin]

Apart from the plastic vessels, you might want to change the rubber bung for your thermometer ...

What material is your rig made of?

Odin.

[mrwoody1985]

Apart from the plastic vessels, you might want to change the rubber bung for your thermometer ...

What material is your rig made of?

Odin.

the still is completely stainless steel, inside the column is full of stainless steel wool..
what do you use as a thermometer bung? that one is a hardened rubber bung, i am very open to ideas thanks

[heartcut]

A piece of virgin cork (not glued together) makes a good thermometer grommet, so does a few wraps of teflon tape. If you replace the steel scrubbies with copper, it'll clean the sulphites out of your hootch. That might not be a popular design but they distill liquor.

[Prairiepiss]

First off its much easier for everyone else if you just post the pic on HD. Your link is already broken. Here I felt generous.

[Prairiepiss]

Next see the cm mods link in my signature. Check it out. Yours is a little different than most. But with a little thinking and those mods you can get it working a lot better.

[mrwoody1985]

First off its much easier for everyone else if you just post the pic on HD. Your link is already broken. Here I felt generous.

1341408484-picsay.jpg

Thanks heaps for that. I don't know how to do it but I'll try work it out, in regards to the copper being used. Can I replace the steel wool inside the column with copper wool? Would that be sufficient? Here is a pic of what I can get. Ok I can't add pic. I'll try when I get home. I'll try do it on my computer (I'm using iPhone ATM)

[mrwoody1985]

ok so as we know this is my reflux still


And this is my pot still, they are both inturnaly heated with built in elements,


i can get some of this stuff from work, should i put it into the column of the reflux still? even just a little bit maybe?

[mrwoody1985]

i just read your write up on cm stills, great write up might i add, well done....
so that gave me all the info i need, ill be going to hardware store to but ball valves etc this weekend and i wont be adding any of that copper in picture to my still, ill be getting the copper centring ring, so that should hit 2 birds with 1 stone... (copper in reflux column and centring the vapours) i think the 12"extension is out of the question for a while! i cant solder stainless....
thanks again!

[heartcut]

Sounds like a good plan. If you can get some of that copper mesh at a reasonable price you might want to get it and keep it for later. I prefer the flavor produced by copper mesh over ss, but even if you don't replace it now, you probably will want to replace it eventually (I replace mesh once a year or so). Good luck.

[Prairiepiss]

I don't know if you got it or not. But I eluded to some thinking to make them work. With your still the reflux condensers all through the column is a problem. So it mite be best for you to eliminate the lower two through tubes. This would give you a section of packed column that the temp gradient can be established in. I would still do the mods. But I would try a few different combinations on the through tubes. And see if it makes a difference. With your column being so short. You will be limited on what you can get out of it.

Did that make any since?

And I wouldn't count out the copper packing. The stuff in your pic would work good. And placing a centering ring in your column with all those through tubes will not be easy. Or very effective. Being how your bottom through tube is so low in the column.

If it were me? I would get the copper packing. Pack the column up to the top through tube with it. I would not hook up the bottom two tubes. Just run the top two. With the cooling water flow mods. And see what you get. And really consider making a packed extension to go under the one you have. A heat controller for the internal element would be another thing to work on. That would help you dial that thing in.

[mrwoody1985]

Well. I've started with the basic mods and while it doesn't looks pretty it should do the job.


I also bought a length of copper pipe to run from the catch pipe. (haven't crimped it on yet)

[Prairiepiss]

Looks good. But you mite find that valve will be hard to control? Maybe not?

[mrwoody1985]

Looks good. But you mite find that valve will be hard to control? Maybe not?

Yeah I haven't run it yet but I will be trying to get a needle valve for the column cooling but haven't been able to find one yet

[mrwoody1985]

K well I've now got a full roll of this copper mesh
Next question would be how tightly do I pack the column? Leave it slightly loose or completely packed in there?

[Prairiepiss]

You don't want it loose. Bit you don't want it to tight. You want it tight enough it will hold itself in place. Bit loose enough that you can breath freely through it. It's really kind of hard to explain.

[mrwoody1985]

You don't want it loose. Bit you don't want it to tight. You want it tight enough it will hold itself in place. Bit loose enough that you can breath freely through it. It's really kind of hard to explain.

makes perfect sense bud, thanks.. ill be doing this tomorrow arvo, ill also be trying to find someone to add 12'' into the column, is 12" enough or should i pop more in? its no problem either way, 12" or 24" is no drama, what ever works best!