Copper Ferrule vs Stainless Steel

[Deerhunter]

I'm building a 2" column and have a question concerning the ferrule which connects the column to the pot. My column is copper and I would like to know does it matter if this is stainless steel or copper. They make a 2" Tri-clamp sweat fitting which I would like to use. I've read the topics on making your own but I feel this fitting will result in a cleaner joint. Not to mention I don't have the equipment to weld stainless steel.

[still_stirrin]

Go ahead, if you can afford it. I use them on a couple of joints. They're great, but expensive. Not worried about the cost...buy a few and use them. Also order TFE gaskets when you do...you'll need those too.
ss

[corene1]

I think the biggest problem you may encounter is sizing. Will the copper tubing slip onto the ferrule or is it going to be a butt connection. You may have to flare the copper tubing to make a slip fit which will be much stronger than a butt connection. You can solder stainless to copper without a problem also.

[rager]

easy flanges work well. I was able to pick up the empty 15 gallon keg sideways on my easy flange. cost about a buck or so

[Halfbaked]

What about brass flanges?

[heartcut]

I have (retail) pickled brass bottom flanges on both stills, but would have used the copper ones if they had been available. Modern brass is "low lead", but it's higher than potable grade copper. All the brass and copper flanges I'm aware of are female slip fit. Flatten the end of the pipe and clean both surfaces really well for maximum satisfaction.

[Deerhunter]

Thanks for the input guys I believe the one pictured is a slip fit.

[corene1]

That is good to know . All the stainless ferrules I purchased were butted.

[bearriver]

You can tig weld copper to copper which is gorgeous. If I could, I would.

Something about antimony just gives me the heeby geebies.

[Prawnstarr13]

Bear river I take it I just need a dc tig for that? Does it need more than 180 amps cost of the coppers conductivity, which tips you use?

[Prawnstarr13]

Deer hunter I bought one of those copper flanges cost me £23 delivered to the uk but the stainless are 4.70 for 2 delivered

[Deerhunter]

I know They are a bit pricey. Also The one pic that I posted is a inside dia. slip fit. Ferrule not an outer.

[Full_moon]

I bought one of these from Mile Hi. It fit well and worked out great. Used lead free soft solder to two inch copper pipe. Yes, inside slip fit ferrul.

[Deerhunter]

Well I am very happy with the outcome of the copper ferrules. Here's the results. I also bought and used Harris stay-brite8 and there fluxes as well. Bought the paste and the liquid. Must say this is the first time I am using the liquid and it is a snap to use. Stay-Brite8 contains 8% silver. Also excellent for stainless steel.

[WalkingWolf]

I like the way it turned out deerhunter. I've been eyeing the copper ferrules and I think I'll pull the plug and get it. Building a rig with a friend and I think we'll go that route for the keg attachment.

[W Pappy]

Very nice job that looks damned good gonna have to look into those I like that.

[Deerhunter]

Thanks guys. The ferrule's I ended buying are much better quality then the ones I first posted in this thread. These are "female" outside slip fit. They were $16 dollars a piece, but well worth the money. I have to agree they do look good.

[W Pappy]

Do tell, friend those are just what I need for my new project

[still_stirrin]

Where did you get them?

SD has 2" for $16. They also have 3" ($32) and 4" ($46).
ss

[Deerhunter]

Bought them at Still Dragon.

[W Pappy]

Yep kinda just refer to them as SD on here, not sure but I think that name is well kinda a bad rash around here.
If I am wrong I will gladly stand corrected.Those are the ticket like I said for what I need thanks for posting your build.

[Tap]

Yep kinda just refer to them as SD on here, not sure but I think that name is well kinda a bad rash around here.

Yep. Always wondered what that bad blood was all about...

[Deerhunter]

OK, I now know not to mention that name anymore.

[hawgwrench]

Nice work there, very clean fitting job! So what's the taboo with SD? Never heard of' em personally, but I don't order a lot from the brewing/distilling folk online as I'm a bit paranoid about being on the grid.....

[Deerhunter]

Received tri-clamps today. Using PTFE gasket. What a tight seal with these ferrules. But we'll see if they leak when I do my cleaning runs.

[T-Pee]

Purty!

tp

[Hound Dog]

Very nice!
I have installed a few stainless ones on my 3" column. I found the soldering easy with Harris Stay Brite And Stay Clean. The problem I encountered was I have type L heavy copper and the stainless ferrules seem to be a butt fit. It was a bear flaring out the pipe and driving the ferrules in on the ends that had existing work where I couldn't heat and anneal them. Some handy inventer type with a lathe needs to market some 2 and 3 inch swaging tools to drive in and expand the pipe a bit.

[Deerhunter]

Hound Dog you are so right about The Harris solder. When using the stay clean you get a very clean joint with hardly any flux residue left behind. The liquid flux is excellent. I've done plenty of research on here as well as the web and this is by far the way to go when looking for a low temp silver solder. I've used that crap from Oately when doing plumbing in my home and there water based paste flux and there's no comparison by far. That shit's a mess. Excuse my French!

As far as the stainless ferrules, I've never used them. This is my first build and figured I stick with all copper. Not to mention these were outside slip fit like your standard plumbing fittings which made life a lot easier. I'm also using Type "L" as well and I bet you had a bitch of a time trying to make them fit. Now researching my heat source.