FLUTE TALK

[olddog]

OD What percentage open area on each plate did you go for this time, same as The Flute?

The same hole pattern was used, just smaller diameter holes.


OD

[Mr.Spooky]

For the interest of all the flute builders out there, I have just completed a Flute for a member, instead of using 1/8"holes in the plates, I went one size smaller 11/32, guess what, the bottom plate now bubbles.

The above diameter is incorrect, it's 7/64"or you could go down to 3/32". My apologies for incorrectly posting


OD

so was this on a wash or a spirit run (about what was the alcohol content going into the boiler)?
this is a good thing,, and a easy fix if necessary!
spooky

[olddog]

This was a mix of 50/50 vinegar/ water, no alcohol.


OD

[Mr.Spooky]

thats even better! i have some sweetfeed that should be finishing up by next weekend and i cant wait to give it a go.
im just hoping that the rest of my plates bubble like the lowest one did on my cleanout run.
spooky

[olddog]

have not chimed in on the debate between bubble vs perforated, but as I see it it really doesn't matter, both work how ever, who cares!

Exactly, this is what I have being saying all along


OD

[olddog]

Congrats on the build completion RC, can you post the results of your first proper run, and yes Pics please.


OD

[nwvapors]

What is more or less the consensus on the placement of the bottom plate. I believe I remember anywhere from 9" to 15". Is higher better, allowing more room for vapor to expand? My plans are to go directly from boiler with a 4" column. I realistically have one shot at building a flute (kids and a wife who isn't exactly supportive) so I apologize for what may be redundant questions. I don't have the flexibility of time and dough, know what I'm sayin'.
Thanks folks,

NWV

[myles]

Ok folks I think it is time to throw my hat in the ring. Remember what we are doing is a CRAFT. There are always going to be more than 1 way of getting simmilar results.

From my point of view I am manipulating this theme to include a permanent single bubble chamber into the design of my thumper. FOR A POT STILL.

Now I don't see any issue with this, I am combining the flavour enhancing potential of a conventional thumper, the increase in ABV of a secondary thumper (bubble chamber) AND the versatility of a dephlegramator, to tune the performance of the entire system so that I can do single runs direct to cask.

Lets not forget that this is an ART FORM. In general most of us are aiming for quality. Any idiot can produce the same as you can buy in a discount store - but who would want to?

There is a huge amount of cross over between different styles. Is there really much difference between an inclined column with lots of pools and a sequence of thumpers?

TAKE WHAT YOU WANT and adapt it to work the way you want it to - you will get no critisism from me.

Oh and when you get a brilliant rum with an off the wall design - can I please have a sample

[Mr.Spooky]

What is more or less the consensus on the placement of the bottom plate. I believe I remember anywhere from 9" to 15". Is higher better, allowing more room for vapor to expand? My plans are to go directly from boiler with a 4" column. I realistically have one shot at building a flute (kids and a wife who isn't exactly supportive) so I apologize for what may be redundant questions. I don't have the flexibility of time and dough, know what I'm sayin'.
Thanks folks,

NWV

my bottom plate is about 7 1/2" from the boiler, and my plates are spaced 4" apart. my auctual 4"pipe is 21" in lingth, with a little less than 4" of 2" pipe at the bottom.

[nwvapors]

What is more or less the consensus on the placement of the bottom plate. I believe I remember anywhere from 9" to 15". Is higher better, allowing more room for vapor to expand? My plans are to go directly from boiler with a 4" column. I realistically have one shot at building a flute (kids and a wife who isn't exactly supportive) so I apologize for what may be redundant questions. I don't have the flexibility of time and dough, know what I'm sayin'.
Thanks folks,

NWV

my bottom plate is about 7 1/2" from the boiler, and my plates are spaced 4" apart. my auctual 4"pipe is 21" in lingth, with a little less than 4" of 2" pipe at the bottom.

Thanks Spooky,

The height thing was kinda throwing me, I've got 4' of 4" stainless on its way from a dairy supplier, good to know I have plenty and the bottom plate info definitely gives me a leaping off point, Nice build by the way, I am itching to get mine underway. These flutes if nothing else are cool to look at.

[Mr.Spooky]

your right... if youl look at the first (or so) post of my flute build, the main reason that i wanted one was the "class" that it had. was this the wrong reasons???? i dont know.. but i got one now.
take my replies with a grain of salt though. i think that i built mine to specs (for the most part) as per OD's ,,but do all the research that you can because unless you got ALOT of dough, and alot of time, you dont want to get this wrong. show your ideas, concider all other ideas,,,, draw a conclusion,, and by all means SHOW PICS!!!!!!!!!
cant wait to see your progress.
spooky

[ScottishBoy]

I just want to say that all of the pics and the discussion has inspired me quite a bit. Im working on a smaller version of a flute right now which I will most likely call a "Fife". The design is about 3/4 done. My goal is to make a fife that is
* Easy to reproduce using common shop tools
* Uses copper in a judicious manner and can still allow visual inspection
* Is not insanely expensive

Wish me luck.

[olddog]

Here is an interesting observation, Spooky is using perforated plates with a half inch downcomer, his plates bubble with 1/8"perforations, KS and myself have 1/8"perforations in our plates yet the bottom plate only bubbles slightly at the start, we have 3/8"downcomers, could it be the volume allowed to return to the lower plates that cause this to happen.



OD

[nwvapors]

Here is an interesting observation, Spooky is using perforated plates with a half inch downcomer, hid plates bubble with 1/8"perforations, KS and myself have 1/8"perforations in our plates yet the bottom plate only bubbles slightly at the start, we have 3/8"downcomers, could it be the volume allowed to return to the lower plates that cause this to happen.



OD

That seems to make sense OD, either increase the return with larger tube or restrict return with smaller holes in the sieve tray. Lends a bit of flexibility with what one may have handy tool or material wise. good to know

[ScottishBoy]

Hey SB that is great man... I hope you will post us some pics soon. I cant wait to see your build man. sounds very interesting.. I wish you all the luck in the world brother...
GIT-R-DUN
I will be watching to see how your doing man..
KS

Thanks. I will most likely start a seperate thread for it. I got the main tube last night. Its so precise and beautiful!! Even though they dont make them anymore, there are plenty of them to be found on Ebay.
Now I have to find copper sheet.

[olddog]

I have a build coming up for a member that will require 10 sight glasses, and I have been thinking, is there an easier more accurate way than filing the contour for a surface mount fit. I then remembered I had a stand to use for my angle grinder to fit into, which will make into a drop down cutter. With a 4" (100m) disc in the grinder I should be able to get a perfect fit using the grinder as you would use a milling machine, and move the work from left to right or vice versa under the 4"ginding disc, to get a perfect contour.

Any thoughts or comments on this idea?



OD

[Kentucky shinner]

I see no reason it wont work... Nice Idea OD>.

[DOLIKEADRINK]

Sounds like a good idea OD "watch your fingers" i will make sure i send you some disc's

Cheers:Dolikeadrink

[olddog]

Don't worry about the fingers, I will be making a jig to hold the piece.



OD

[Austin Nichols]

getting cut by a grinder is not a good experience I can tell you from experience, I've got a couple of fingers once and seen a mate with a 9" grinder get it jammed and belt him in the whiskers.....

Very ugly!!!

[Braz]

I'd be a little concerned about putting side forces on the grinding disc. They are not designed for it.

Do you have enough thread space on your arbor to include a backing plate of some sort? Maybe an old 4" circular saw blade, if you can find such a thing.

[Mr.Spooky]

seems to me that it would work if both kegs was filled to the same amount,,, and the "burner" was controled by one controler.
BTW,,,,, iv herd "hobby size",, and might have even said it before,,,,,but just what is the cut off limit? i figure if we talk about ferminteng 30 gals at a time,,, it would only make sence to still 30 gals. at a time... if ya go talkin about 100 gals,,,that might be pushing the limits of good taste,...... just my thoughts
give it a try KY!!!! see what hapens. the only thing that you would be out of is a BIG Y..... do it in COPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!
spooky

[Mr.Spooky]

I have a build coming up for a member that will require 10 sight glasses, and I have been thinking, is there an easier more accurate way than filing the contour for a surface mount fit. I then remembered I had a stand to use for my angle grinder to fit into, which will make into a drop down cutter. With a 4" (100m) disc in the grinder I should be able to get a perfect fit using the grinder as you would use a milling machine, and move the work from left to right or vice versa under the 4"ginding disc, to get a perfect contour.

angle grinder adapter.jpg

Any thoughts or comments on this idea?



OD

i think that might work.... copper is alot softer than most metals so i dont really think that you would wear out the blade (if your only doing 10 or so.)
but i think that the hardest part would be keeping everything plumb.
spooky

[olddog]

I was thinking of doing this in two stages, yes I do appreciate the disc will wear down and give a different contour. The first disc would be used to take most of the "meat "off the fitting, I would then change to a new disc to trim up to the final contour.


OD

[Kentucky shinner]

Well here is the finished product from my latest build. I will do the cleaning runs on her, then I will box her up and send her on down the road.. I am really looking forward to running this baby.. Valved plate on the bottom and 3 perforated plates.. shotgun dephag... she should be a hot rod...
KS

[nwvapors]

Well here is the finished product from my latest build. I will do the cleaning runs on her, then I will box her up and send her on down the road.. I am really looking forward to running this baby.. Valved plate on the bottom and 3 perforated plates.. shotgun dephag... she should be a hot rod...
KS

Holy crap KS that thing kicks ass. If you get vid of the valve plate in action I think it would be a hit. Every time I see a new one of these posted I start to twitch. Congrats. I hope this isn't too personal but how long is the 4" section of your column?

NWV

[Kentucky shinner]

21 inches is the length of the 4" with the plates. The dephlag is 6" long.

[gretschem]

Well here is the finished product from my latest build. I will do the cleaning runs on her, then I will box her up and send her on down the road.. I am really looking forward to running this baby.. Valved plate on the bottom and 3 perforated plates.. shotgun dephag... she should be a hot rod...
KS

Hmmmmm, that's nice KS. I will have to give her a run for her money, when I get mine off OD.

Cheers

[Kentucky shinner]

yes I have heard about your new toy.. I guess it is traveling right now if I'm right... I look forward to checking it out when you get it. Your gonna love the results..
KS

[olddog]

That's a great looking build Mike, I love those 4"to 2"reducers you have got there, we don't get those type over here.


OD