had some spare time so i built her

[just-a-sip]

so now that i finished my flute build (thank the lord ) a friend of mine wanted to build a pot still so i helped him design and build this guy. he had most of the copper so it didn't cost much

its amazing how i spent 9 months building a flute but put this together in 2 days. not sure if its from the skills picked up in the flute build or just not having to design such work like plates, sight glasses and the sort.

we did however build his thumper from a full sized keg cut down. he had 4 of them so he didn't want to wast time and money getting a proper thumper. we hacked it and welded back together. worked like a champ.

2012-12-28_12-16-58_450.jpg

2012-12-28_12-16-43_197.jpg

[NY Chris]

Nice job,
That still is amazing, love the built-in parrot.
Good luck with it.

[kaziel]

but put this together in 2 days. not sure if its from the skills picked up in the flute build or

Must be newly earned skills
BTW nice one.

[Durace11]

That is serious business, looking good Sip!

[Bushman]

also first time I've seen the spear of a keg used as a support leg.

[HolyBear]

Very Nice!!! What's her name? And what is that, wire? Running along the top of the liebeg? Can't see real good...

[just-a-sip]

Very Nice!!! What's her name? And what is that, wire? Running along the top of the liebeg? Can't see real good...

thas just the vent from them attached parrot this pic was taken before i cut it short

[Pyewacket]

Dangit, Christmas, Holidays...etc...I meant to post how much I like this set-up. I was wondering if you thought of a name yet. She needs a pirate-esque sorta name...due to her peg leg and all.

[che]

Now that's impressive!

[just-a-sip]

Dangit, Christmas, Holidays...etc...I meant to post how much I like this set-up. I was wondering if you thought of a name yet. She needs a pirate-esque sorta name...due to her peg leg and all.

although its not mine so i cant name it i will suggest just such names. thanks for the advice.

[hotshotz2]

Not to sure on the in/out column on the thumper. Hows it working for yah? Thought I read something about doing that design in the thumper threads that disagreed with that. Had the same ideal was just wondering if its working great for yah. Looks really nice and compact.

[just-a-sip]

Not to sure on the in/out column on the thumper. Hows it working for yah? Thought I read something about doing that design in the thumper threads that disagreed with that. Had the same ideal was just wondering if its working great for yah. Looks really nice and compact.

im not sure what you read but if you can find the thread i would appreciate it. as for now i have ran 3 washes through it. i started teaching him with birdwatchers and he is learning the ins and outs quite well but as for the rig, it runs exactly as it should. i know of at least a half dozen guys running the same thumper set up and have not heard anything negative.

[WIski]

Sip, I read something on those lines as well. It was about having the same size pipe in and out of the thumper. Dont remember who or when but I do think it was an active respected member here that posted that. Just because your configuration is pipe in pipe doesn't mean your out of balance that way. Some math could figure that out. Looks great.....

[just-a-sip]

Sip, I read something on those lines as well. It was about having the same size pipe in and out of the thumper. Dont remember who or when but I do think it was an active respected member here that posted that. Just because your configuration is pipe in pipe doesn't mean your out of balance that way. Some math could figure that out. Looks great.....

maybe im missing something because i have never read anything about balance between the feeding and take off pipes in a thumper mattering. if i have a 1 inch feeder pipe and the area of the take off (pipe in pipe) is 1 inch or even 3/4 inch there should be absolutely no difference in performance. the feeder pipe is submerged in liquid and vapor being forced into the thumper. as vapor builds and pressure increases its gonna want to go somewhere and it can only go up and out (one way in one way out) so why would it matter.

my first thoughts are that whoever wrote that probably has no clue but if there is some definitive proof i would love to see the argument because in the end ive run 3 washes through it and it works like a champ. regardless of pipe size.

[WIski]

Sip, I think it was Usage post here,,,,,

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... &start=168

[Tater]

Like the looks of that inline input and out put .Do ya have any problems caused with heat exchanging between them?

[just-a-sip]

Sip, I think it was Usage post here,,,,,

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... &start=168

ok now after reading this i can see where you get the info and what he was referring to. and although i don't want to argue with some with such knowledge i will say that there are more things in play then just the heat exchange and the diameter (although these are truely important.) most of his claims were based off of the average person using 1/2 in in and out and the restriction of vapor through these tubes. he also makes valid claims about heating the output with the vapor coming in and causing issues here

i will say one variable you must think of is once the vapor is reaching the thumper, it is already cooler then the vapors trying to leave so the idea of heating the outbound vapor is out. (in this design being the lack of direct input into the thumper) also my tubes are larger and and result is less heat exchange. also the %abv of the wash would dictate things a bit, knowing that most washes boil at different temps due to the alcohol content. so far this thumper has been charged with a slightly watered down version of the wash in the boiler causing different and higher boil and vapor temps in the first place.
perhaps its these factors but i have not had any issues what so ever with any sort of smearing. the products being taken off this have a great taste and are quite smooth compared to the same wash run through my old basic pot.

so like i said although he makes valid points there are other factors to consider, %of wash in both containers, ambient temp causing pre condensation, tube diameter, power behind heating, column height, length of travel to the thumper,

i think what i read best in that post was that "all thumpers are not created equal", and i will say after now running 4 different types of columns (plated, basic pot, boka, and this ) this is my favorite and i will be trying to get it off my friend once he loses interest. which he will.

i appreciate you guys hooking me up with the info and ill report back once i get an all grain through it in a few weeks but for now im super excited and hope my friend hates this hobby in the end.

[WIski]

Hey Sip,

Glad I found that post from Usage as well. I wasn't quite sure what the info was but knew it related to what you were doing. I probably should have found it before referring to it and included it in my original post. My intent was surely not to ruffle feathers just an exchange of information. I have a couple of questions on your thumper observations.

i will say one variable you must think of is once the vapor is reaching the thumper, it is already cooler then the vapors trying to leave so the idea of heating the outbound vapor is out.

How can the inbound vapor be cooler than the outbound vapor? Where would the outbound vapor be picking up additional heat?

i will say after now running 4 different types of columns (plated, basic pot, boka, and this ) this is my favorite

Why is the pot and thumper your favorite??? Ease of use, better cuts, smoother product, more flavor, cool factor??????

Thanks Sip, great info and nice work....

[just-a-sip]

Hey Sip,

Glad I found that post from Usage as well. I wasn't quite sure what the info was but knew it related to what you were doing. I probably should have found it before referring to it and included it in my original post. My intent was surely not to ruffle feathers just an exchange of information. I have a couple of questions on your thumper observations.

i will say one variable you must think of is once the vapor is reaching the thumper, it is already cooler then the vapors trying to leave so the idea of heating the outbound vapor is out.

How can the inbound vapor be cooler than the outbound vapor? Where would the outbound vapor be picking up additional heat? inbound refers to the vapor going into the thumper out bound is the vapor leaving. with this design the vapor that gravels up over and down into the thumper is just slightly cooler then the vapor that has just been made by the thumper. therefore it is cooler.

i will say after now running 4 different types of columns (plated, basic pot, boka, and this ) this is my favorite

Why is the pot and thumper your favorite??? Ease of use, better cuts, smoother product, more flavor, cool factor?????? not sure exactly. one is the ease of set up and running. another would be the flavor. my basic pot produces good flavor but not without saving low wines for a second run. the boka is only neutral obviously, my flute although fun to run and makes great flavor has 5 triclamp spots, requires me to hook up the cooling system and takes a little bit more to clean. this one just has all the best of all the worlds. flavor ease of set up ease of run and just plain cool.

Thanks Sip, great info and nice work....

[hotshotz2]

Sorry it took me so long to reply, But that was the post that i was referring to. Like I said earlier, I was thinking of such a design and after reading that post wasnt so sure how or if it would work properly. But now that someone else has done the single column thumper, ( r what ever you would like to call it ) and having sucess with it, I may give it a go later down the line. Didnt want to cause any bad feelings, was just wondering how it was working for yah.

[WIski]

Just a Sip Wrote,
inbound refers to the vapor going into the thumper out bound is the vapor leaving. with this design the vapor that gravels up over and down into the thumper is just slightly cooler then the vapor that has just been made by the thumper. therefore it is cooler.

Hey Sip,

I've been looking for more information concerning this concept of the inbound vapor to the thumper being cooler than the outbound vapor from the thumper. I can’t seem to find anything that helps me wrap my head around this. I have a real good foundation concerning the hard sciences but never hold anything to be absolute. There’s always something lurking behind the shadow one doesn’t see. Could you please explain this inbound outbound relationship a bit more as to help me understand how this works???

Thanks Sip, Sorry for being a lame brain.....

[buckwild1]

hows the thumper piping work? small inlet pipe wrapped by a larger output pipe?

[RumRunnerGuy]

Beautiful job Sip... I've been thinking about building a Keg Pot Still, and using a Pony Keg as a Thumper... But I was planning on building something way too complicated, you're design of running the tube down the center as to not have weld another fitting into the top is brilliant. I'm curious if you have any packing material around the down tube leaving the thumper? Are you running heaters in both kegs?

RR

[Usge]

It's all good. And don't want to clog up just-a-sips...build thread here. Can only go my experience and my thoughts otherwise are based on that. My first experience with this design (or a similar one) was documented in an old thread "stovetop thumper" http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16203. The original idea for this design was from member Old Dog (who also is responsible for the plated "flutes"). My thread includes run data, images, multiple modifications/redesigns, etc.. There was plenty of input from members and the consensus was that it was the input side of things causing the problems with long run times and smearing. I put the lessons learned in those experiences to use in my next iteration and I'm pleased with the results that I'm getting now. But, will continue to experiment and gain understanding so that I can improve it.

Just-a-sip is correct that there are many variables along the way. And every still is gonna be a bit different. If it works for you....

The vapor leaving the thumper is higher proof (lower temp) than the vapor that's being fed into the thumper. There's not much way around that. The heat from the copper input tube going down into the thumper residing inside the pipe that's going to provide the exit for that vapor "will" heat that vapor to some degree (variables to be considered). I dont' think there is any doubt about that. But, I do think how much notable difference/impact it has in any given particular case...would be more the question. It might not be discernable to you. Or it might be, but slight and easily a trade-off for the convenience of the attachment design. Personally, I dont' think most people go into this thinking about how thumpers work. I think they go into it thinking how can I attach it and plumb it up. (hence my previous thoughts in the thumper thread).