Let me start by saying Thank You for the site and the wealth of information you guys provide!! I have been here as a reader/lurker since 2009 and have used your ideas to build my first still in '09 and have used the "Tried and Trued" recipes countless times!!
I have a stainless 5 gallon stock pot that I have been using for a boiler (works great!!) into a thumper, my output has averaged just a shade less than 1/2 gallon of finished. A friend of mine has given me another 5 gallon stock pot, My original thought was to cu the bottom off the pot and braze weld it to the top of my current pot increasing my size to a shade less than 10 gallons. My question is instead of brazing them together, could I run the 2 pot in series into a single thumper and liebeg condenser? So it would go 5 gallon heated pot connected to another 5 gallon heated pot (connected by 1 1/2 copper pipe) then goes to 3 gallon thumper then goes to liebeg.
Increasing my pot size???
Moderator: Site Moderator
Re: Increasing my pot size???
I can't imagine how that would work Dyce. Iv'e seen some rum outfits with 2 thumpers before. (ie, one thumper output, then goes to another thumper input, etc). Like chained thumpers. But, I'm not sure that's going to really increase your volume any. You'd still need a larger pot to feed it with.
You are gonna need a larger pot. You can always use your old one as the thumper for your new larger one. I'd look for a keg. Or buy a proper pot. Other than that...stockpots are always handy to have around (heat water, cook mash or beer....make soup, or cook a whole mess of greens or beans
Since moving to a kegger from running 5 gal still charges...I wouldn't turn back. They also make bigger stock pots of varying thickness/quailty if you are set on that design. If you are using "economy" grade stainless for your pots...you can find those in 10 gals or more for cheaper than someone might charge to weld the 2 you have together. (at least in my experience).
You are gonna need a larger pot. You can always use your old one as the thumper for your new larger one. I'd look for a keg. Or buy a proper pot. Other than that...stockpots are always handy to have around (heat water, cook mash or beer....make soup, or cook a whole mess of greens or beans
Since moving to a kegger from running 5 gal still charges...I wouldn't turn back. They also make bigger stock pots of varying thickness/quailty if you are set on that design. If you are using "economy" grade stainless for your pots...you can find those in 10 gals or more for cheaper than someone might charge to weld the 2 you have together. (at least in my experience).
Re: Increasing my pot size???
hhhmmmm maybe its time to dig out my keg and build a whole new still.....I was just thinking that by running 2 pots in series I could double my output and still use my current thumper and liebeg
Re: Increasing my pot size???
It may work if your thumper and Liebig can handle double load. What is the size of Liebig and pipe between pot and thumper?Dyce51 wrote:hhhmmmm maybe its time to dig out my keg and build a whole new still.....I was just thinking that by running 2 pots in series I could double my output and still use my current thumper and liebeg
Re: Increasing my pot size???
If you ran 2 pots to the same thumper..they would be fighting each other. One might be putting out higher proof at some point while the other is pumping heat and lower proof in...smearing everything, etc. Although I could theoretically see how one could connect everything together...that doesnt' meant it would work like you think. I just don't see that happening.
Keg...great idea!!! Convert your 5 gal pot to a thumper for the keg. Way I did it..was to use 2" ferrule on everything (thumper included). First, I made a straight up pot still head and liebig for the keg...attached via 2" tri0clamp. Then, I added a thumper which has two 2" ferrules on the top. One of those attached to a 2" tube that goes to the bottom of the pot with diffusion holes drilled in it. Make a short piece of 2" copper pipe with two 90s on it and braze/solder/weld some ferrules on the ends such that the entire thing is about 20" long. Use that to attach to your thumper input ferrule/tube. Then, just clamp on your previously made potstill head/liebig on to the output side of the thumper. This way, you can reuse the same potstill head for a stripper, or a potstill spirit runs..or for your thumper output.
I previously owned an 8 gal heavy duty pot that had a ferrule on the top (brewhaus). So, when I got my keg...I just had a new lid made for the 8 gal pot..that was setup like I suggested above. Now, I can use the 8 gal pot for smaller spirit runs if I want. Or, change the lid and connect it with the U pipe to the keg, move the potstill head/liebig over and use it as a thumper. Perhaps with a little thought you could figure out some way to do same with the 5 gal pot you already have. This is one of the main advantages of using ferrule/tri-clamp setup for attaching components (it makes it modular)...ie., you don't have to re-do or rebuild or recarve up or reweld or solder anything when you want to change setup. You just remove one thing, and clamp on another. Something to think about.
Keg...great idea!!! Convert your 5 gal pot to a thumper for the keg. Way I did it..was to use 2" ferrule on everything (thumper included). First, I made a straight up pot still head and liebig for the keg...attached via 2" tri0clamp. Then, I added a thumper which has two 2" ferrules on the top. One of those attached to a 2" tube that goes to the bottom of the pot with diffusion holes drilled in it. Make a short piece of 2" copper pipe with two 90s on it and braze/solder/weld some ferrules on the ends such that the entire thing is about 20" long. Use that to attach to your thumper input ferrule/tube. Then, just clamp on your previously made potstill head/liebig on to the output side of the thumper. This way, you can reuse the same potstill head for a stripper, or a potstill spirit runs..or for your thumper output.
I previously owned an 8 gal heavy duty pot that had a ferrule on the top (brewhaus). So, when I got my keg...I just had a new lid made for the 8 gal pot..that was setup like I suggested above. Now, I can use the 8 gal pot for smaller spirit runs if I want. Or, change the lid and connect it with the U pipe to the keg, move the potstill head/liebig over and use it as a thumper. Perhaps with a little thought you could figure out some way to do same with the 5 gal pot you already have. This is one of the main advantages of using ferrule/tri-clamp setup for attaching components (it makes it modular)...ie., you don't have to re-do or rebuild or recarve up or reweld or solder anything when you want to change setup. You just remove one thing, and clamp on another. Something to think about.
Re: Increasing my pot size???
That's what I love about this site!! You guys have a way of explaining things in a way that is easily understood!! Thanks Usge for your help and suggestions! I am going to make my keg into a boiler and make everything interchange like you suggested. 