My LM Nixon Stone with some modifications

[Richard7]

Luvin it! Nice work Butterman.

[Butterman]

Thanks :>

Butterman

[Halfbaked]

I am happy I was wrong. Glad it went in. Excellant job! You act like you have done this before and know what you are doing, an you do. Obvious I don't.

[TheRevDr]

Butterman - That is just Freakin' Awesome!

[Butterman]

Thanks for the comments all :>
- Halfbaked - I welcome all comments, even pessimism. I dont really know what Im doing in terms of building a LM Nixon-Stone still as this is my first and Im really just having fun and building up some skills and knowledge for a flute build in the future, although I do have a decent amount of design and fabrication experience and well sometimes you get lucky. I think if the V was any steeper I would not have been able to get it in :> but that is what computers are for when it comes to design (draw it first).

-Rev- Thanks for the praise. I was so very pleased to see that someone (you) had done this before and I wasnt just trying to reinvent something. I really think the conversation we had about vents with Bellybuster had a big impact on the design which will ultimately shape the way this still looks.

I think the condenser will be able to knock down anything that comes its way, it kinda 'buff' but time will tell and if/when I make another V cross flow I would probably go with 2" tubing all around (like Rev's http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... &mode=view) with 1/4" tubing for the guts and 10 degree down angles for a 20 degree V.
The 'ears'/endcaps for the water in/out of the condenser will be interesting. Im thinking about putting the in/out on one side with a fin in the cap that forces the water through the condenser at the bottom and then exits out the top on the same side after its traveled through the bottom tubes and then back through the top tubes.
Something like this

I think some others have done something similar with fins on Dephlegs but any advice or guidance would be appreciated.
(just a side note; where did the name Dephlegmator originate? For example Liebig was a German chemist in the 19th century and Ive been doing some searching and cant find anything)
Also with my plans to make a secondary liebig condenser at the take off, I want to try and make it 1/2" in a 3/4" jacket and coil it, but Im also thinking that 3/8" in 1/2" might be a lot easier for coiling. I have seen that this has and can be been done but I really have no idea on how? Im thinking of spiraling copper wire around the inner pipe, I think this will accomplish a couple of things but mostly Im thinking, this will keep the inner pipe in place/away from the jacket when coiling and help keep it from binding against the jacket. Also Im thinking about filling the pipes with water and then trying the coiling to keep them from kinking. I think salt would also work but I think water would be easier for me.
So again any input, guidance, ideas, suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks for all the comments :>
And as always all Comments, Questions and Criticism Welcome,

Butterman

[HookLine]

Nice work. Though perhaps a little bigger than needed for the job. But better bigger than smaller.

Watch the weight issue, could be a bit top heavy. Secure the top of the column well.

[bellybuster]

Lookin fantastic. You've got me rethinking my condenser design.

[Butterman]

Yeah, whatcha thinking about Belly?
It usually a good thing to rethink things something, but only sometimes :>

[bellybuster]

I need to do an actual real run with mine before I go off half cocked. I am a sucker for cool points though and yours for sure has those.
I just finished my controller and electric keg today so will be running next week. I have a week to my self as wifey and kids are gone

[Uncle Jemima]

That's an awesome rig Butterman. Thinking the flute will be no problem for you. You've got sim obvious skills. Can't wait to see what you put together next.

[Butterman]

Thanks Jemima :>
I still need to finish this one and then do the decorating which will be labor intensive to say the least if I go with the flames and devilish theme, oh and then learn to run it and do the learning. And if Im being honest about the 'to do' list, I still need to make a case for my pot still. But I have started doing a bunch of research and some initial drawings for a flute and its definitely exciting.
Good thing Im getting more patient with age :>

Butterman

[Hoodlums Hooch]

Hey Butterman...after your suggestions on what to do with my UJSM I figured I d scope out your posts and stumbled upon this thread. Holy crap dude you got some skills. No wonder you told me to post pictures of my rig. After seeing yours I may be a little gun shy. Nice setup dude.

[Butterman]

Thanks Hoodlums :>
This build is a on going project that is getting there little by little (more photos to come!). Working with copper. designing and building stills can be kinda of addicting :>
My current still, just a simple pot still 'No.1'
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 0&start=12
is just about done, or at least I think so (just need to build a case, and post some updated photos) :> however its been serving me well for many months now.
Ive been fermenting, distilling and building stills for just a short time now but Im starting to feel like I have a basic understanding of the whole process;
Safety, fermentation, still operation, design and some of the science involved in the processes.
This forum is the most helpful, friendly, honest and informative resource Ive found and I would not be where I am at now if not for this forum and its generous exchange of information.
But Ive been were you are and I know the feeling of wanting to get that experience and be mesmerized by the distillate coming out of your still (drip, drip, drip...), but there is so much more to learn and enjoy, it kinda of sucks at first with all that impatiences but soon enough you will be seeing the world differently; for example you will not be able to go to the supermarket without gong down the aisles and thinking 'I could ferment that...' and then you will be looking at oak floors, cabinets, furniture and thinking I could age my likker with that wood.
Its a great hobby, and with just be a little patience soon you will be producing a likker that is perfect for you :>

Butterman

[Hoodlums Hooch]

You know exactly how I feel. Ive built my pot still and bokabob with just reading and paying attention to the foruns. Now I wish that I would have taken more pics and documented it like you did but I was just so anxious to get into it that As soon as I would complete one challenge the next was staring at me. And buying all the equipment like fermenters carboys syphons alcohometers hydrometers test cylinders ph testers etc is enough to make your head spin but Ive done my due dilligence and am not as shy now with sharing and asking questions. I am the only person out of all of my fam and friends to take onthis hobby and Ive had a lot of discouragement from doing it but I love it and Im not going to give it up. It probably sounds cliche' and lame but I have dreams about distilling and thats how I know im hooked.
I have had members of this forum that live around here invite me out to there places and show me how they do things. Im gonna be adding you to my friends list and watching out for what youre doing. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Hoodlums Hooch]

Love what you did with your potstill and the liebig condenser design with the gate valve. Is the bucket for recirculating the water with a pump? And did you build your own phase angle controller? I may have to pick your brain as I am wanting to build an electric setup now and that is my next big project. Sometimes its tough to actually practice the craft with all this cool stuff to build with your own hands right? Anyway very motivational Butterman

[Butterman]

Yes. so much fun stuff to think about, design, build and be safe.
And Yeah.. like I said I will have to update photos of my current set up.
To your questions; I do use a 5 gallon bucket for my coolant, but I used to have to change out buckets during runs; ie when the coolant would get hot I would swap in a new bucket of cold water. (although on a side note this technique would through off the proof reading of the distillate as the coolant would fluctuate in temp)
But now I understand that the heat generated though the resistance coil/element in the boiler (modest I must say, but I love that pony keg 7.5 gallon is perfect for 2x 5 gallon ferments, and I have many pairs of buckets fermenting), heats my wash and then creates vapor which after traveling through the still hits the Liebig and condenses hence transferring that initial heat to my coolant. Since I only have 5 gallons running through the cooling system (I thought about larger reservoirs) but the desire to design and solve a problem and keeping it manageable, I use a motorcycle radiator filled with my hot coolant (straight from the Liebig) cooled from a fan and then returned out of the radiator to the coolant reservoir. This maintains for me a consistent distillate tempature through most runs.

Buttermani

[bellybuster]

have you run that Nixon Yet??? Come on Man!!!!!

[Hoodlums Hooch]

Sweet. Ive seen that radiator setup with the fan on it on a youtube video. I thought it was perfect in theory but was unsure about its performance. Work good for you?
Haha Bellybusters kickin your teeth here...now Im curious, have you had a run with the Nixon Stone?
Ps what size element you running on that 7.75 keg? Ive read bellybusters thread about his controller build. Great stuff. Almost made me feel like I could build one...almost

[Butterman]

Sorry Belly, not yet. It just sitting on my bench looking pretty and calling to me "finish me... finish me..."
But life and real work has been taking up to much of my time, however I do see it being finished and running in the next month. I do have a few things to make for it so some more photos soon :>

And hoodlum you should build a controller, they are pretty easy and converting to electric is the way to go. You should check out Bellys thread with video on how to solder a coupler into a keg.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=36347

Butterman

[wv_cooker]

Better get with it waiting to here about it. Ran my first real run a few minutes ago, finished up that is. I couldn't be more ecstatic!!!!

Hoodlum I am running a 5500 watt on my 15.5 gallon, I ran 5 gallons of Birdwatchers today, only used 3600 watts to heat up in 15 minutes then dropped back to 9 1/2 amps or around 750 or 800 watts for the entire 5 hour run at 2 drips per second wanted to see how slow I could go. Hope this helps but electric is the way to go for me.

[Hoodlums Hooch]

Yeah Butterman ive read that thread so many times! Great information. I have all of my parts listed on a supply requisition for my controller. Everything from the stainless 1" half coupler to the camco element to the potentiometer yada yada. But just like we talked about its so easy to get inundated with what you dont have and lose sight of the craft. Im easily distracted too as ive shared. Im hoping that this weather will break soon enough and i will have some time outdoors to dial in my pot still and propane setup. I have a 10 foot canopy that protects me pretty good in my brothers yard...no neighbors to snoop...and so I can get thru the summer running like this. But needless to say im gonna do it , just being patient. Besides the wife has me on a budget now because I bought a rifle last month on the QT and she found out about it before I had the chance to pay it off with my side work plumbing cash
Hey WV cooker did you document your build? Bellybusters is a great thread. I know it sounds selfish but i wish he would have done a step by step tutorial along with diagrams for electrical dummies like me. I think Ive gotten enough info to get me thru it now though. I will have my electrician come over when Im finished with it and pass it off haha. Sounds like you had an awesome run with yours though. Very exciting man

[aliveandaware]

Butterman,

I'm curious if you've completed your build and if you could actually see the reflux through the site glass. I want to do the same thing on my column still, but I wasn't sure if the site glass would be covered with steam all the time and whether I'd be able to actually see the reflux drip. Has anyone else out there tried this? With the steam in the column, can you see the reflux drip? I think that would be a cool little extra.

You wrote that you bought the glass from Mc Master-Carr. I checked their website and I see they have a selection of Heat-Resistant Borosilicate Glass. Did you use just the "Discs" or the "Pressure-Rated Discs"? What thickness did you end up going with?

Really great work on the build.

[wv_cooker]

@Hooch
Sorry I didn't catch your question until now. It has been quite a while. No I didn't really document my build as I should have, I was too excited to get going at the time. There are a couple pics of it here somewhere.

@Alive
It has been a while since BMan has been on here. Don't know what happened to him but he is a master fabricator and a good guy. As for the site glass question, I have one on mine as well. The glass stay's crystal clear as long as the vapor is traveling through the column and yes you can see the reflux coming from the tube, when the glass starts to fog up you know there isn't much alcohol left and you are getting mostly water. The Standard Boro glass from McMaster is what I used and have never had a problem. There should be no pressure in your still if there is you have a problem.

Hope this helps.

[bellybuster]

ya Butterman is just not living up to his obligation to feed us with serious copper porn. We may have to fire him and find a new builder to follow. MR. BUTTERMAN...you have 24 hours to update us on your still......

[Richard7]

Belly since his last log in was back in May should we give him a little time? Doubt we will get a response so soon! LOL

[bellybuster]

Forget it man!! Life is too short...24 hours

[Richard7]

[aliveandaware]

Thanks for the input cooker. I have a 2" column, so I'm thinking either a 1 1/2" or 1 1/2" trap fitting for my site glass. What size column/site glass do you have? Did you use a trap fitting or an easy flange? On this thread, he went with an easy flange, but I've seen trap fittings and they look really nice too. For example... http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 5&start=96.

For my build, http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 32&t=40853, I'm going to have to move my copper water feed in order to get my site glass in. Or I can put it in the left side. I agree, there shouldn't be any pressure in the still, I guess I didn't think about that. Mine is wide open above the condenser, you can see in the pictures.

What did you use to cut the hole in your column for your site glass? I have a hole saw, one of those with all the different size rings with teeth, and you just take off all but the one you need. But it's for wood, so I'll have to buy one for metal. Do you have any pics of your build?

Thanks again,
Joe

[wv_cooker]

Yep, I used a 1 1/2" trap adapter from Pex supply, it takes a 1 3/4" Borosilicate glass from McMaster & Carr. I wrapped the edge of my Glass with PTFE tape, put it together and trimmed the tape with an xacto knife. As for placement, the opposite side of your water lines would be fine. It really doesn't do anything, it is just cool to watch the reflux coming out of the tube. I call mine my Homer Simpson Eye, I set and watch it and go "Aw Likker". As for pics of mine there are a couple pics somewhere in the MY First forum but I really never documented it as I should have, I was too excited to get going back then. From now through Winter I am doing a few new builds to experiment and learn even more, they will be posted in my All in One thread soon.
Hope this helps. I do like your little liebeg Condenser. Run that Rig nice and slow and steady and you should be able to get a pretty good vodka, clean and high ABV.

edit: I saw your question of what I used to cut the hole, a 1 1/2" hole saw and cordless drill. pretty simple.

[aliveandaware]

Great, thanks for the info cooker.

I just ordered my trap from Pex... http://www.pexsupply.com/Cello-WDFSJ-24 ... TG-x-Compr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
And my glass from McMaster-Carr (8477K24 1-3/4" by 1/8")

I've been reading this forum for a number of months now, and I've done one build, and only two stripping runs, so I'm very much a beginner. I've fermented three batches of Uncle Jesse's so far and have done the stripping run on two, the third batch is in the fermenter right now. Now I just have to do that about 3 or 4 more times to have enough low wines to do a spirit run. I'm learning a lot as I go along. The temperatures during a stripping run shoot right up there. I really can't tell the difference between the foreshots, heads, and hearts. I didn't detect any solvent smell in the fores, but I was able to detect the tails though. For the stripping runs, I more or less just run pretty fast, no reflux, about a pint every 10 minutes (I think that's fast). That's what I'm supposed to do right? The Uncle Jesse directions say to run about 3 drops a second for a pot still, but doesn't really say at what rate to run a column. But all the other posts I've read about stripping using a column all say to run wide open. I got about 13 pints from my second stripping run because I added the 6 pints I got from the first stripping run right back into the still for the second one, that's what the Jesse recipe said to do. For the third stripping run, I won't put anything but the wash in the still.

I'm looking forward to the first spirit run, I'll just have to stay out of the low wines and not sample any until I do the spirit run.

Thanks again for the information.