New copper still

[corene1]

I just started building a new all copper still, it will be 25 gallons total capacity. With a 4 inch tri-clamp fitting on the top for different types of columns. I built the copper flanges and the lid today using sheet copper and copper wire for the easy flanges. I had to do a double wrap of wire to get the flange big enough for the 4 inch clamp. I am going to put another flange in the lid with a glass view port to see what is going on during a run. Certainly not needed but cool anyways. Thought you might like some un polished copper pictures. More to come

[corene1]

Got the top mostly together now.

P2220028.JPG

P2220031.JPG

Done for the day.

[PhatFil]

wow..

i was chuffed with my own progress in copper today.. now i just feel inadequate..

[DFitz]

Nice! You Tig that with copper wire? I did see some connections soldered. How many gallon?

[ChairLawyer]

Freekin' SWEEEEET!

[S-Cackalacky]

Great start Corene! Will you be building a reflux column to go with that?

[Cardinalbags]

As usual Corene, your fabrication skills leave us all with jaws drooping agape. Nicely done.

[corene1]

Nice! You Tig that with copper wire? I did see some connections soldered. How many gallon?

[wv_cooker]

Very nice as usual young lady!

[corene1]

Nice! You Tig that with copper wire? I did see some connections soldered. How many gallon?

For filler rod I go to the H- depot and get some 18 gauge solid wire and strip the coating off and use that. I typically use TIG and solder. I will tig the main seams and solder the accessories . Just fun doing both. I am actually building it for a friend and the sheeting is 16 ounce . Pretty hard to TIG without a back up so I use solder on the 16 ounce connections. I will TIG the bottom and the side of the boiler and roll the edge of the top and make a slip fit on the lid to pot connection and solder it. I made the flange tube out of 48 ounce copper so it is pretty strong. I would have liked to use 4 inch tubing but it is outrageously expensive!. I can make 4 complete flanges this way for about 20 dollars. I did solder the ring to the tube on the flange , I could have welded it but I think the silver from the solder adds a little character to the build.
@ S-C yes, I believe there could be a plated column in my future. Just trying to decide if it should be a 4 inch or a 3 inch, still doing research on it as I am not too familiar with the reflux concept yet. Chances are it will be a 3 plate with a dephlagemator on top and a packed section using about 12 inches of copper pall rings. We use them to make foam guns for the oilfield services around here.

copper-pall-rings-250x250.jpg

[corene1]

Very nice as usual young lady!

Thanks for that Young comment, makes me feel a little better but young was a long time ago. How are you getting along ? heard you had quite a catastrophe, hope all is going well for you now.

[Halfbaked]

If we get to vote I say 4 plate 4 inch reason being you can always take one away and you can't add. I can't wait to see it. You kill me with your skills Corene.

[corene1]

If we get to vote I say 4 plate 4 inch reason being you can always take one away and you can't add. I can't wait to see it. You kill me with your skills Corene.

I have been thinking of making it completely modular. Each plate will be it's own section. so I can stack as many or as few as I want. Since I am more interested in whiskies I think I will probably be leaning towards the fewer plates to keep the flavor profile . I saw Googe runs a 3 plate with good success. I have some weird ideas running through my brain so it will be interesting to see how it comes out. Still gathering parts for it right now.

[Halfbaked]

Completely modular is more work but I take it that is not a problem. I like it. Sieve plate or bubble caps?

[corene1]

Completely modular is more work but I take it that is not a problem. I like it. Sieve plate or bubble caps?

Bubble caps are really neat but it will probably be sieve plates. You just never know with me depends on how I get up in the morning.

[googe]

Very nice work corene . You do very nice flanges!!. And your shaping is top notch!. Teach us? . Would be awesome to see you do a plated column!. I'm reconfiguring my 2, I'm going to modify the top of the short 3 plate, so my packed section Roxana clamp onto it, and another 2 single modules can clamp under if need be. So, I can have the fixed 3 plates for flavor and not have to worry about all the clamps and.gaskets. And a couple of trip.clamps later I can have 5 plates and packed section. Although I have great results with 3 plates over packed section single.runs. Good luck with the rest of your build, looking forward to pics

[corene1]

Very nice work corene . You do very nice flanges!!. And your shaping is top notch!. Teach us? . Would be awesome to see you do a plated column!. I'm reconfiguring my 2, I'm going to modify the top of the short 3 plate, so my packed section Roxana clamp onto it, and another 2 single modules can clamp under if need be. So, I can have the fixed 3 plates for flavor and not have to worry about all the clamps and.gaskets. And a couple of trip.clamps later I can have 5 plates and packed section. Although I have great results with 3 plates over packed section single.runs. Good luck with the rest of your build, looking forward to pics

On your fixed three plate , is it a tree set up if not how do you clean the center section? Is your column stainless with copper plates or all copper. I have been tossing that around quite a bit also. Making stainless bodies with copper plates and down comers. I could cut a register in the stainless flange and let the plate sandwich between the two flanges to keep it stable and sealed. I am definitely going to make the dephlegmator with a stainless body and copper tubes. Stainless is easy to get and less expensive but I want to keep the vapor in contact with copper as much as possible although the packing should give me all the contact I need. I am working on some little 2 inch sight windows for it also. As far as the flange goes I cheated. I built it as straight as I could then made a mandrel and chucked it up in a lathe and finished it.

[googe]

All your shinny copper has got me wanting to build something again! Lol, I just cut my fixed one on half!, you've sparked my brain with some ideas . But back to your question, It is 2 fixed plates, and the bottom plate clamps in with the keg connecting. If you mean cleaning it out after distilling, I rarely do it, get better flavors and runs better. if I do clean it, a soak.on cit acid and rince. It's all.copper. The registers would be good, your lucky having access to the right tools, and the knowledge . Would be very nice with the mix of stainless and copper

[goose eye]

Good work. ole boys work with loggerheads for so long
no the shakes have started taking over so they go with the mud dabber
Look.

So I'm tole

[just sayin]

WoW! Corene, love your copper work. When a creative mind, pretty pretty copper, serious skills and the right tools come together amazing things take shape. I will enjoy watching your build progress. Thanks much for allowing us to see it happen.
Just Sayin'

[Windy City]

Corene
It's looking great you really have some awesome skills.
Can't wait to see this finished.
You said you use 18 gauge wire as your filler material when you tig, is that only for copper to copper or do you use that for copper to stainless also. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks & Beautiful work
Windy City

[Jimbo]

Nice work Corene! Looking forward to following the progress. Those fab skills could get you a few orders around here 'West Valley Fabricators Inc' ? HAHA How about a 500gal still and mashtun if I ever go live

[Cardinalbags]

When you mentioned modular plated still, it reminded me of one I saw recently. It was made up of three modular sections, a one plate, a two plate and a three plate sections which would allow for any combination of one through six plate configurations with only having to make up six sets of flanges verses twelve sets if making each plate it's own module.

[S-Cackalacky]

Good work. ole boys work with loggerheads for so long
no the shakes have started taking over so they go with the mud dabber
Look.

So I'm tole

Goose, nice to see you comin' around again. Your home spun wisdom is missed when you're not around. Don't be a stranger.

I think you will agree - Ms. Corene has a steady hand.

[Stainless dude]

I think your spot on with going modular Corene, gives you a lot more flexibility. I am currently running three plates and adding a packed section for neutral like you mentioned. Thanks for sharing your work with us. Your work shows true craftsmanship.
One other thing I forgot to add was that your idea of adding a sight glass is a good one. I have been adding two to boilers I build now. Its nice to be able to see if your wash is foaming up. It is pretty cool also.

[heartcut]

No that's starting out just beautiful. Nice wakeup this morning.

[corene1]

Well here we are at day 2. I got the pot roughed out, now for the cleaning and finish work. I learned a lot from this build. For a pot of this size (* 27 gallons total capacity) 16 ounce copper will work but is on the delicate side. the 48 ounce bottom could be upgraded a bit also. TIG does have it's advantages but also not good for everything. I actually wound welding the seam on the pot but soldering the top and bottom. On a pot this size even soldering is hard as any type of heat causes the copper to crawl a bit as 16 ounce is only .021 thick. To use copper this size it needs some sort of mechanical fastener and the solder should be used for the seal. Like on a Clawhammer still, but it is together and pressure tested to 1/2 PSI . Just to reiterate this is for a friend of mine after seeing how big it is physically I don't think I would ever need one this big. The plated column is for me though and I am gathering parts as we speak. . So here are some pictures of todays work.

[corene1]

I used an old truck rim to shape the flange on the lid. I was lucky it was a perfect 20 inches

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[heartcut]

Damn you do nice work.
Any point in an aluminum base under that boiler?

[corene1]

Damn you do nice work.
Any point in an aluminum base under that boiler?

I think it is going to need something for support. Even 20 gallons of liquid is going to weigh 160 pounds.