Graham Condenser Question

[Antidotum]

I'm working on making a flute, I have figured out how to make everything so far, but I don't understand how to make the Graham Condenser "WITH" a vent. If someone could give me a drawing or plans of one with a vent, I can figure out the rest. Any help would be great!

[rad14701]

I'm working on making a flute, I have figured out how to make everything so far, but I don't understand how to make the Graham Condenser "WITH" a vent. If someone could give me a drawing or plans of one with a vent, I can figure out the rest. Any help would be great!

Greetings, Antidotum...

Please stop by the Welcome Center and provide us with a proper introduction...

I'm not getting what you mean when you say you want to build a Graham condenser with a vent... A Graham condenser is merely a coiled condenser residing within a water jacket... Kinda like a miniature flake stand (worm in a barrel)... There is no need for a vent because there shouldn't be a valve at the bottom... Whatever vapor makes its way to the Graham condenser collapses back into liquid form and is collected as spirits... Are we talking about the same thing here...???

[Prairiepiss]

Maybe he is cornfused by the fact that the condenser on these types of stills are the atmosphere vent? Which just means it is open straight through the vapor path. With no blockage or valves.

Otherwise I have no clue why a vent would be needed?

Oh wait maybe a vent for the parrot? Then that would be placed after the condenser and before the parrot.

[Antidotum]

Yes I'm referring to the atmospheric vent. For example, the hillbilly Flute has a vent on his condenser. I'm reasonably good with my hands and am not a novice to welding/brazing, but I don't understand how it works or how it would be put in there. I was hopping someone had a link or could post a simple picture that would depict how they work and or a blue print of sorts as to where/how one is built with a vent. Again, any help would be great! Now i'm off to the welcome center!

[Saltbush Bill]

Most of the Flutes, or as we call them in Australia "Bubblers" or plated columns, run a shotgun condenser rather than a Graham.
You don't need a vent hole unless you are running a parrot that is directly attached to the condenser as far as I am aware.
Couple of photos below.

A Graham above
The internals of a Shotgun below

[Antidotum]

Thanks for the info. I was not aware that a vent was not needed unless the parrot was directly connected. I'm more or less getting way ahead of myself with these questions. I just know how I am and want to know how everything works and why. It looks like i'm going to be building Bokabob Still as my first still. I have most the parts at hand and should be able to start putting things together tomorrow. I'm just waiting on a ferrule and tri clamp that got shipped yesterday to show up and i'm golden. I guess my last big issue is how to heat my pot. I'm using a keg and I'm trying to figure out if electric is going to be cheaper than propane. Anyone have any thoughts on that. I know that control boxes that some sites sell are $500+ and i'm not looking to invest that much up front! I know I can buy a turkey propane burner for aprox $65.. would it be cheaper to use electric heating elements? Do i need a "Control" box? This is one place I know little...

[rad14701]

Given the option I, personally, would go with electric because it's safer, quieter, and less expensive over time... You don't need an expensive power controller and you can DIY for under $50 if you shop around for components and follow the KISS concept... They are covered in an overview topic within the New Distillers Reading Lounge... Other topics in the forums cover member builds as well as a few rather long discussions about the various designs and concepts...

[guittarmaster]

still dragon has a dirt cheap BYO controller kit that's as simple as it gets. You can also check out Mule Kicker if you have a little more to spend to guarntee it's %100 right. He does great work; so i hear!

[Antidotum]

still dragon has a dirt cheap BYO controller kit that's as simple as it gets.

Either I'm blind or there is no still dragon on this forum. "still dragon" is referred to about 10000 times but I can't find that member or a page with what he has for sale... any help would be sweet!

[jholmz]

sent you a pm last i heard that company was banned from HD dont know if it still is or not