Newbie from Alberta

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:51 pm

Got a Keg, some 2 inch copper, been reading a lot and now I need to wind a condenser coil, wish me luck

Post by **HDNB** » Fri Jul 04, 2014 6:32 am

welcome! sounds like a boka design? are you going to post some pics of the build?

oilguy · Post by **oilguy** » Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:11 am

Welcome always good to see a fellow Alberta shiner, happy stilling and be safe

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:58 am

Just got back from holidays, got to figure out whether to buy a condenser coil off fleabay or give it a go myself ??

thatguy1313 · Post by **thatguy1313** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:30 am

Try corrugated SS gas line. Its more forgiving than copper and comes with water line connections already installed!

Post by **bearriver** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:22 am

Look up dad300's special condenser. Cheap, easy, and effective. That makes it a hobby win.

Copper coils are outdated IMO, despite being pretty.

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:56 am

I think dad300's special condenser looks like a winner, thanks

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:20 pm

Where is a good source for 110 volt heating I figured I would put to on my 15 gallon keg or would I be better to go with a 220 volt and run it off my dryer plugÉ

Post by **HDNB** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 5:50 pm

Toolman wrote:Where is a good source for 110 volt heating I figured I would put to on my 15 gallon keg or would I be better to go with a 220 volt and run it off my dryer plugÉ

using a submersible 220vac element will have more heat output, but will be more difficult to install...you need to get a ferrule to weld onto your boiler so you can screw in the element (think electric water heater or hot tub). you will also need to (electrically) ground the whole assembly. you will also need a line controller of choice that will allow for continuous yet variable output so you get the heat you want without scorching. 220vac is also more cost effective to run.

a 110vac hot plate at 1500w will run a 15 gallon (however slowly) ....a 38L wash in mine... takes 3 h 20m to reach temp, and will output 3 L per hour until done...usual total run takes 8 hours. hotplates also need a good heating surface to boiler surface to readily exchange heat...if the bottom of the keg is not smooth, it will be a pain in the ass. a slower, more painful pain in the ass.

yes, i'm upgrading to 220...why do you ask?

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:32 pm

I already have 2 ferules tig welded on my 15 gallon keg, I was thinking of running two 110 elements, one with an line controller. I figure once I get up to temp I could unplug the other one. Just trying to figure out the difference in cost and I could run it where 220 isn't available. Could I run a 2 1/2 or 3 inch column with two 110 elements or should I stick with the 2 inch?

Post by **HDNB** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:10 pm

i *think* you could, but not sure where the math is... maybe hop over to research and theory or build thread and see if you can find an answer there.

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:04 pm

I have some 2.5 and 3 inch copper, I am wondering if I should just go 220 and the 3 inch??

Post by **HDNB** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 6:42 am

it would save a ton of time on runs. save upgrading later

a 15 gal pot with a 9gal charge into a 2"x 54 column with 1500w takes almost 8 hour front to back. (no forced reflux, no packing)

upgrading this fall...

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:55 pm

what is your ABV ? How much product? I have a little 5 gallon pot still I used on the stove til we got a ceramic top. It used to take about 12 hours to run 20 gallons through and get about 3.5 gallons of 160 proof

Post by **HDNB** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:50 am

really depends on wash, ambient temp and if the door is open (breeze)

on an average run of UJ, i'd say 36- 38L of wash (balance of 2x 20+L pail is grain bed) at 8% starts at 60ish and i run down to 15% ish...results in 7 L averaging maybe pushing up on 50%??

i tend to rerun as 1.5x which starts at 72% and run deep tails. that gives 12L average almost 60%... keep the middle 4-6 L and do it all over again. with a full 500mL of fores tossed every run (i full reflux for 1/2 hour to stabilize everything and then shut the reflux off and let 'er buck)

I've run spirit runs up to 85% and into the 90's with a bit of reflux and 1 wad of copper packing...but i'm after whiskey and above 85% tastes pretty neutral to me...so when i do spirit runs i dilute to 30% usually with wash, sometimes water so the distillate will not go above 85%

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:06 pm

I am looking forward to try refluxing and seeing what I get doing it in 1 run ! I see some people using lava rock as packing, think I will stick to copper mesh.

Post by **HDNB** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:50 pm

i use external CM for reflux, i can get 90+ on first run, but it's not very efficient, if you build a 3" boka you will be able hit 95 no problem.

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:09 am

Where is a good place to get a reliable electric heat source and a controller ? I can solder pipe but I am not that good with putting electronics together

Post by **HDNB** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:42 am

see jimbo's electric conversion. i would do (will do this fall) exactly that. order it from amazon of fleabay. it pretty easy to wire this stuff up. if you get stuck, just post pictures here or in electric thread.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 85&t=43456

alternately you could go to bartle and gibson (wholesale supply for electric/plumbing etc) in edmonton for sure, i believe they also have branches in ded reer and calgary.

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:25 pm

I have changed my direction, I am going to go with a 3 inch plated Hybrid. I want to run it off my dryer plug. Anyone know how big of an element I could run off of it and how tall I should make it. I have seen lots of nice builds but haven't found any plans for one. Can I find any easy flanges in Cowtown or do I have to amazon?

Tap · Post by **Tap** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:57 am

You're saying words that don't really mesh. What's a plated hybrid?

If ur running off of ur dryer plug... That would be a 220V. A 5500W low density element would be well suited for that. You would need a controller for that.

Don't know about the availability of parts in 'cowtown'... You may be confusing the term "easy flange" with some sort of ferrule designed to accept a tri-clamp.

Seems like you may want to educate urself a bit more before leaving the kiddie pool and jumping into the deep end.

Post by **HDNB** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 7:08 am

no plans? you have not been doing much reading at all since July,

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=17

or just simply all of it...in one place: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=18

and yes, amazon is your friend for these parts.

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:56 pm

I was reading a lot on other forums for a good controller ,Thanks, I like Old Dogs . I figured I would make a hybrid ( a packed column on top of the Dephlagmater) for neutrals .I have a 7' piece of 3 inch and was wondering how tall I can go and power it with my dryer plug. I have a 5000k pot and a 10000k. Would they work? The links to pots on Amazon are 450's

Post by **HDNB** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 7:08 pm

the pots just control the ssr. i'll have to check the operation with a meter before i offer an opinion...but i can say if you need a 500k i have about ten of them, i can mail you one. they cost almost a dollar each!
a 5500w element on 220vac would easily push vapour through 7 feet of pipe, so the question is backwards. if you are using plates, how do you need to fit the plates and deflag in your design.

post a quick sketch of what you are cooking up..there are lots of great minds here.

i'll try to remember to check the function of the pot vs. the result on an ssr, and post back the results soon.

Toolman · Post by **Toolman** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:08 pm

I saw a few 4 inch 4 plate that people were having good results with. It sounds like you can make whiskey and retain flavor with them. I have been running double runs on a pot still and getting around 160 proof for years. I didn't even know these forums existed till I found this one. I saw the boka's and thought they looked pretty easy. I made a 2 inch one and sold it because I was given a 7 " piece of 3 inch copper for free from a lady I did some handyman work for. I first thought of another boka till I saw a flute, I thought they would be tough to run but after a lot of reading, I think I am going for it. I didn't get a chance to start on it this summer because my place at Glennifer lake got hit by hail real bad and spent every weekend fixing it back up before the snow flew. Now I am ready to start. I was going to use stainless ferules but saw a guy using easy flanges. I didn't see any on amazon. I am leery of buying anything from places that make stills, heard the federalies are asking for their client lists. Not sure if its true but don't want to take a chance. Does anyone know anyplace to get them?

Tokoroa_Shiner · Post by **Tokoroa_Shiner** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:18 pm

You can't buy easy flanges. Easy flange is the home made version of a ferule. Ferules are cheap enough of eBay or Amazon.

HDNB- Where are you getting your 500k pots for $1 each ?? I paid $1.49 for 10 of them. With free postage.

Post by **Tater** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:30 pm

time to continue this topic in proper forums .

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