Thumper?

[Usge]

I designed it, but didn't do the fab work.

[Ohio Steeler16]

Nice rig

[Devonhomebrew]

Ummm will this 8L SS Pot Work as a thumper. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DEEP-STAINLES ... 231a6f8cee" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Usge]

General rule: thumper needs to be 1/4 to 1/2 the size of your main boiler. Without knowing the size of your main boiler/pot I can't answer your question in regards to this pot for size. Secondly, you'd need to find a way to build and attach the input/output tubes/connectors as well as connections to attach this to your still. Finally, you'd need to find a way to seal the lid. (most people use "paste" /dough...and some form of clamps or black binder clips.

[Devonhomebrew]

My boiler is 30L but i only do 19L runs in it and what can i also charge the thumper with my heads and tails from a previous batch???

[Usge]

Devon..have you not even read this thread you are posting in?

[southern traditions]

Usge,

I did something very similar to your design but on a smaller size scale. I use a 32q SS stock pot as my boiler which I normally charge with a 5 gallon wash. My original lyne arm is 1 1/4id that rises about 12 inches, 90's off and runs about 18inches, then reduces down to 3/4 inches into a copper union then goes off at a 45 degree angle down to my 3/8 condensor/worm. The lyne arm attaches to the pot using a basket strainer setup and slips together and seals using just a round or two of teflon tape, I used the union so that the lyne arm can be taken apart from the worm and stored easily.

When I decided to add a thumper I didn't want to have to do a major rebuild. After doing some research and reading one of your recent posts on the subject I knew what I needed to do. I came off the basket strainer connection with a short 6 inch piece of 1 1/4 pipe into a 90 degree elbow that in turn runs to another 24 inch piece of 1 1/4 pipe towards my thumper, then turns down again into the thumper inlet connection. On the outlet side of the thumper I use the same 1 1/4 connections (copper coupling) brazed to the thumper and then use my original lyne arm to carry over to my condensor/worm.

I've only made one run so far using the thumper but I like it. I may have to make one minor mod as I may have undersized my thumper a little bit but overall I'm pleased, I like the fact that the design is modular and is easily reverted back to just a pot still. Thanks for all your research, you've made a believer out of me!!!

Martin

[Usge]

Glad you found it useful!! Yes..regardless of what you are building/making...taking the time up front to think modularly, using secure/stable connections (like threaded unions or ferrule/tri-clamp, etc) can pay dividends later. Particularly if you are a tinkering type...or have multiple heads or setups to run. Why build an entirely new still? Or have to carve up and resolder something just to change out a component. That's been my view/experience anyway.

[southern traditions]

Glad you found it useful!! Yes..regardless of what you are building/making...taking the time up front to think modularly, using secure/stable connections (like threaded unions or ferrule/tri-clamp, etc) can pay dividends later. Particularly if you are a tinkering type...or have multiple heads or setups to run. Why build an entirely new still? Or have to carve up and resolder something just to change out a component. That's been my view/experience anyway.

This was exactly my train of thought when I first starting building my setup. I didn't want to have to rebuild everything if I decided to tweak or tinker and yes, I like to tinker. When I first built the thumper I undersized the input and output lines using 3/4OD ACR(rigid) lines and could tell it almost immediately during the first run. The thumper was literally shaking as it got closer and closer to its boiling point, hell at first it looked like it was about to blast off like a rocket. I lowered the flame on my burner and it helped but I shut it down after a few minutes not wanting to take any chances and decided to rework it.

Now I'm working on building a copper funnel/cone shaped lid for my boiler with the same 1 3/8 od sized connection to replace the flat stock pot lid along with building a 2" head that will eventually become a BOKAKOB styled reflux column for running neutrals.. Working in a HVAC & Refrigeration supply house has its benefits, I can get most any kind of copper fitting I need and 2" copper is commonly used in the refrigeration field...

Thanks again
Martin

[Eady Creek]

why does the size of the thumper matter. I have been using the dreaded glass thumper, and it has worked well. but it is heavy glass. although i'm not happy with the yeild. is size that much difference .

[LWTCS]

why does the size of the thumper matter. I have been using the dreaded glass thumper, and it has worked well. but it is heavy glass. although i'm not happy with the yeild. is size that much difference .

Depending on where the thumper is in relation to the primary,,,, or more specifically,,how much heat loss / passive reflux the thumper is exposed to,,,,it can fill up with liquid to a point where it would swamp / flood.

So a goodly size thumper usually prevents this from happening.

[Eady Creek]

why does the size of the thumper matter. I have been using the dreaded glass thumper, and it has worked well. but it is heavy glass. although i'm not happy with the yeild. is size that much difference .

Depending on where the thumper is in relation to the primary,,,, or more specifically,,how much heat loss / passive reflux the thumper is exposed to,,,,it can fill up with liquid to a point where it would swamp / flood.

So a goodly size thumper usually prevents this from happening.

OK that makes more sense to me. thanks

[okie]

What exactly is the liquid left inside a thumper? I always thought it was bad alcohol. What do you do with it? I've always tossed it.

[LWTCS]

It is spent and rank. I toss.

[okie]

It is spent and rank. I toss.

I do too. It goes down the drain quick. I save the heads for cleaning though.

Just always wondered what that stinky shit was.

[granddad]

to all the potential thumper users i have built one and it is awesome larrys design rocks started with appricot wine @ 1.000 or 11% abv per vinometer out come is 180 proof ckecked brix before hand started @10 brix after thumper ends up @ 22brix sweet & smooth ps i run very slow again thanks larry & all on this fourm

[rager]

just read all 17 pages, i learned alot

[giant1114]

the tumper is used as a basic slober box to take boil overs but also to improve the percentage of alcohol, it strips more flavors but lessens the stripping run so u can get everything dun in 1 run... it should be 1/2 the size of the pot and filled with tails or wash because u will not have many flavors come out of the thumper. the pot will act as the stripper and the thumper as the main distillation i use a pot with out thumper on my faux brandy because i want alot of flavor but will use a thumper on my rum because i want a higher percentage of alcohol with out oaking

[giant1114]

do not use glass

[rad14701]

the tumper is used as a basic slober box to take boil overs but also to improve the percentage of alcohol, it strips more flavors but lessens the stripping run so u can get everything dun in 1 run... it should be 1/2 the size of the pot and filled with tails or wash because u will not have many flavors come out of the thumper. the pot will act as the stripper and the thumper as the main distillation i use a pot with out thumper on my faux brandy because i want alot of flavor but will use a thumper on my rum because i want a higher percentage of alcohol with out oaking

A "thumper' is not the same as a "slobber box"... A slobber box doesn't have the vapor inlet tube extended down into the thumper juice - because it's not a "thumper"... A "slobber box" merely catches boiler pukes... Old time rigs would have a boiler, a slobber box, a thumper, and then a flake stand...

[giant1114]

ya i know that but i figure that a thumper would work in the same sense because u wouldn't necessarily have a boil over thru a thumper since the thumper is only fueled by the vapor off the pot and not a direct heat source like the pot,i may b wrong. i only use a basic pot still without thumper but am going to hook up a thumper with my current ferm to see if i can upp me percent and get rid of the off flavors i get, but am worried about losing my good flavors in the thumper since im focusing on flavor bases with my ferments would a thumper be a good idea or not and i dont separate my heads and hearts to get the up-most flavor and my heads have the highest percents any criticism would be great... and wats a flake stand as ive never heard of 1

[granddad]

dose any body know if larry has posted any new vids ? of his thumper? & could they forward me the link thanks

[mepete]

My cousin, who came form a family of moonshiners, decided to build a still like his Granddads. His was much smaller than his Grandads. His Grandpaw sold his corn crop in a bottle until he spent a year and a day in an Alabama prison. After he got out he quit raising corn.

My cousin started with a sheet of copper. Cut a circle then he rolled the sheet into a tube and silver solder the two together. He the took a large poplar board, sawed it into a circle and attached it to the top with brass nails. This board had a hole in the center about 4 inches in diamter. He placed a wooden 5 gal keg on top Stuck a 4 inch copper pipe in the bung hole and reduced it to fit his worm. He used a mixture of corn meal and flower to seal the keg to the still top and used the same mixture to seal any leaks. He called the keg his thumper but it only contained the moisture that came from the operation of the still. When he was running the still he would fill each botle half full and set it aside. His method of proffing each batch was to fill a pint bottle and shake it and read the bottles. Once it reach a certain point he would fill the bottles totally full in reverse order. He took great pride in producing a high quality product. I watched him use this still and like many of his friends enjoyed his high quality product.

[rad14701]

. . . . and wats a flake stand as ive never heard of 1

A flake stand is the official term for a worm in a bucket... It generally consists of a water barrel with a copper worm in it that either has legs attached or sits on a stand so that the output end of the worm is high enough to place collection vessels under it... I believe it's covered in the glossary of terms...

[GuyFawkes]

Wow, I think if anyone is thinking of building a thumper..... or has a thumper..... or wants to know what a thumper is, this is THE thread. Lots of good information/discussion to be seen here. Very informative.

Anywho, I am thinking I will be doing a thumper on my new still and looking at it mostly as "a gin box that can also add some reflux", I think the ability to flavor spirits with a thumper is perhaps the most overlooked element. I am thinking of making some apple brandies, and I think some chopped apples and cinnamon could easily be added to the thumper for a flavor boost, or for a rum some molasses and vanilla, or for a whisky add some grains..... the possibilities are limitless.

[Dixieann13]

My reply above was actually completed by my cat standing on the keyboard

Oh well! A small keg is an easy option. If you can build a liebig then you can build the fitting that is needed to turn a keg into a simple thumper.

thump2.jpg

Or you can use a stock pot and a bowl for a lid - well 2 bowls actually. Solder the rim of the first bowl to the pot to make a seat for the second bowl to mate onto.

Photo024t.jpg

Or line a wood box with a thin copper liner.

ins thump.png

[Dixieann13]

I meant to quote the image posted and say I liked the idea sorry for takin up wasted space

[dayhunt85]

Last night I ran with my thumper for the first time. My result were both good and bad. The end result was that I ended up with a little less than a half gallon of 160proof, that when cut down tasted good. The big problem was that the process was SUPER slow and I did not have time to get to my hearts. It took about three hours to get that much. After three hours I ran a little hotter, it speed the output up but gave it an angry taste. When I tore down the thumper I had about two gallons in it @ about 50%.

The thumper filled up way to high and slowed the process way down. I did learn a few things though. First off I wish I would have tested the rig with a smaller wash. I had 10 gallons of mash in the pot and a gallon of fients and it made for a slow boil. I built a "self charging" thumper that ended up over charging. I threw in a quart of tails before sealing it up, and next time I believe I will leave it dry. Also I placed the thumper in a bath to charge it, and I believe that is what attributed to my undesired overfill.

During the next run I plan to run just what was left over in the thumper, so things should move much more swiftly. Also I will only put the thumper in a bath half as full. All in all it worked as planned just took about 6 hours for a little bit of shine and some knowledge.

I have never had mash leftover that was not run completely. Can I run what is left of the mash again in a day or two, or is this a no go? I have never had to shut down before the output fell off.

The point of me sharing my story is to open up the floor for criticism and comments, so does anyone have any advice?

[GuyFawkes]

Can I run what is left of the mash again in a day or two, or is this a no go? I have never had to shut down before the output fell off.

That part I can say absolutely YES to. I've done it several times and not had ill results. The only things you would need to fear are a) evaporation of the alcohol or b) bacterial infection. Neither is going to happen in a few days. To be on the safe side, you can always stick it in a fridge, but it probably isn't necessary.

Me commenting on thumpers is the blind leading the blind. I'm still in the reading/learning phase. Your setup looks good though, don't worry that your first try didn't work, just tweak it and run it until you find a method that works and you like. Mistakes are our greatest teachers.

[TOAD]

What do you do with whats left in your thumper? My next run (first time useing a thumper) is going to be bird watchers in a 1/2 keg with a pony keg thumper and a 5ft liebig. I will run 4 stripping runs in a row followed by 1 spirit run making loose cuts. (this likker will be for mixing) Question is should i add the leftover contents of the thumper into the next stripping run each time and recharge? (bottled spring water) Discard thumper contents and recharge each time? Or just leave it be through all stripping runs and recharge for the spirit run? I will post lots of pics in 'My Still' when i run in a week or two as payment for your advice.

Side question: what would you do with thumper contents if you charged it with hearts on a spirit run?