thumpers

[bobz]

I have a homemade pot still that runs the steam directly into the condenser. Can I run the product into a thumper directly after it has gone through the condenser and then extract it, or would that not be effective in increasing the proof for a longer period before it becomes diluted? Iwould appreciate any input I can get ===== Thanks!



Bob Z

[Usge]

No bobz...that's not how you do it...nor is it necessary. The way a thumper works is...the vapor coming into to it goes down through a tube that goes to the bottom of the thumper. The tube's outlet is covered with liquid (feints, low-wines, wash, or water or a mix of any/all). This condenses the vapor into the thumper. That does two things...it fills the thumper and it increases the proof of what's in it. What you are describing actually happens inside the thumper naturally. As the abv of the thumper charge increases...it's boiling point lowers. And the heat from the vapor coming in heats it up until it starts giving off enriched vapor which comes out of the thumper and is then condensed by your worm/liebig as the final product.

[Dnderhead]

in brief : run directly from the boiler (no condenser) into the bottom of thumper,,then you have a outlet out the top of thumper to condenser .the heat from the boiler ,heats the thumper and thus it acts as a second boiler/still.

[bobz]

Thanks guys! I would have to unsolder and separate the condenser from the column to do that, and it seems like a lot of work for something that don't work all that bad. I have a fractionating still also, that gives me close to 180 proof till it almost stops dripping. I made quite a few runs with it and It's almost idiot proof. I wanted to try something beside vodka so I made the pot still. I got used to the ease of use of the fractionating still, and thought that a thumper would give me something close to my fractionating still that I wouldn't have to worry about heads, tails, middle run, and all that. I will just continue to throw all but the 1st 200 mls. out and stop distilling when it gets below 40 percent, and mix all the batch together. That's what I've been doing with the pot still. I also cut it down to 80 proof.

Bob Z

[bobz]

Wow what a goof up! ====== I meant I would throw out the 1st 200 mls. and save the rest till it goes below 40 percent.

Bob Z

[OBX Phantom]

A thumper is used on a potstill and not a fractioning still. Also a thumper doesn't really increase your ABV. by more than a couple percent, and you still have to make cuts. What it does do is keeps your ABV% consistant through the run, then it will drop off much quicker at the end, instead of gradually decreasing through out the run like a pot still does without a thumper. Because of the cosistancy over the run it compress's the tails, once you hit the tails you can beleive that you will be out of alc. very quickly. The other thing that it does is it helps to filter out more of the nasties, and makes it a little smoother. It is like doing 1.5 runs in 1.

[bobz]

hey obx---------------- Thanks for the reply. You told me just what I thought a thumper would do to my pot still. ====That is---- make it more like my fractionating still. Until recently, I couldn't believe I could detune my frac. still enough to make regular spirits: however, there are numerous accounts of doing just that on this web forum that just can't be denied. If I would have believed that earlier, I don't think I would have built my pot still. As I am running low on my rum, I think I will try making a batch on my frac. to see how it turns out------- compare it with what I made with my pot still! ------ whenever I get to it, I'll post my results.


Bob Z

[Usge]

bobz...Iv'e used a them both. My advice....just stick with the pot and play with your still charge (mix of low-wines/wash/feints, etc). A thumper doesn't raise proof as much as people think. It's more about sustaining proof over the run. But, even that doesn't happen to any notable degree unless you're double running (loading low-wines or a good chunk of them into the boiler).

You can always play with a thumper later if you cant get what you want out of the pot. (ie., you can also play wiht the thumper charge..ie., water, low-wines, wash,etc). But, if you are running a pot full of wash/mash beer...about the only thing you can really expect from your thumper is a different flavor profile. It's not going to change how the run progresses. It's not going to work optimally like a thumper can. The proof will fall readily throughout the run just like a potstill run. And you'll leave some alc in the thumper when your done.

[bobz]

Thank's USGE-------------- I guess I'm always going to be thinking about converting it now that you showed me the value of a thumper. Also, watching that show " The Moonshiners" I get the impression that they are selling 100 proof plus, and they don't bother about splitting the run up to isolate anything. That makes me think also that the thumper keeps the proof a lot more stable throughout the run.

Bob Z

[Prairiepiss]

Thank's USGE-------------- I guess I'm always going to be thinking about converting it now that you showed me the value of a thumper. Also, watching that show " The Moonshiners" I get the impression that they are selling 100 proof plus, and they don't bother about splitting the run up to isolate anything. That makes me think also that the thumper keeps the proof a lot more stable throughout the run.

Bob Z

I wouldn't use the moonshiners show for any info. It's fake and shows more what not to dos then anything.

What kind of frationing still do you have? We could maybe give you tips on running it different to get the product you are looking for. We just need to know what design it is?

[Usge]

Moonshine is commonly sold as 100 proof (50%) or there about. I agree with Prariepiss here. I would not be taking any information from that show. Between the characters themselves...and the info being passed on as understood by film makers...there's a lot that can go wrong. JimTom and crew got a bit over 60% off their thumper run of supposed 13% corn/sugar wash. I can get the same or better than that without a thumper on a 9% wash.

You'll be well served to just learn a basic potstill first, what it can do, what it can't do, and how to get the most out of it before adding a thumper to the mix.

[bobz]

Prairiepiss---------------- here's a shot of my Internal reflux still.

I just found out that I don't know how to upload a photo of my still, but it's the one that has been on the internet for quite a long time that has the water intake and output going through the column and into the liebig condenser. It has detailed plans and dimensions that I loosely followed in making it. I have a sstl pot that will hold 3 gallons of wash handily. I have a salad bowl mounted on top of the pots cover with a 2" pipe connector mounted to accept the 2" column. I use a 2000 watt water tank electric heater to do the job with, and it works very well. I will try to learn how to include a photo soon.

Bob Z

[OBX Phantom]

Bobz if you look under the area were you are typing your messages there is a link that says "upload attachment" click on that link and follow the instructions to upload photos.

[bobz]

Hear is the reflux still http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... w&id=17833

Bobs still.pdf

[bobz]

Here is my frac still as a photo: