Ive been a long time lurker, and been working on and off for a long time on a 6" flute with 4" sight glasses. I've decided to keep to Cu as much as possible in my build as for personal preference. Here some picks of my build with SS 4" sight glasses brazed to 4" Cu CxC coupler sleeved to affix to the flute body. Additionally I have also built an all Cu 2" to 1/2" Surge Breaker as well.
For the sight glasses I turned down the body of the sight glass on a lathe to fit inside of the Cu CxC coupler. I used the Muggy Weld SSF-6 silver Solder rod to braze the SS to the Cu.
For the 2" Cu Surge Breaker, I started off with a 2" Cu Ferrule and a 2"x1/2" Cu bell reducer. I then cut a slice off a solids scrap Cu rod and turned it down on a lathe to fit inside the 2" ferrule then soldered it in. From there, I bored out out a 1" center hole and soldered in a 1" inch down pipe to fit inside of the 2"x1/2" bell reducer. To fit the 2" Cu ferrule into the 2"x1/2" bell reducer, I utilized a 2" type "M" (O.D.=2.125, I.D.= 2.009, wall thickness=.058) copper sleeve to fit this ferrule to the 2" copper bell reducer.
Last edited by hypnopooper on Fri Oct 11, 2019 1:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
For cutting the copper sight glass to fit to the 6" column, I used the coping calculator found at http://www.metalgeek.com/static/cope.pcgi to print a template to cut the sight glasses properly. The final thing I did was to take another short section of spare 6" copper tube and mounted it on the lathe. This made a sudo drum sander with the appropriate diameter needed to wrap sticky sandpaper to it and sand down the the sight glass pieces that were to connect to the body of the column and make a nice saddle joint with the body of the column to ensure a nice easy sealed solder joint.
Thanks Yummy! This was a project I had initially started back when I was a distillery owner. After parting ways with my partner, I finally got tired of seeing the 6" copper pipe sitting in the corner with the box of do-dads stashed away. I haven't yet decided what the plan is when I'm done. I may sell the column or start another distillery out in the back pasture or, I'll have a damn cool fuel alcohol still...
Brilliant surge breaker. Now I'm thinking I need a lathe......and a bigger boiler.......and more power!! Out of curiosity how much power will a 6 inch column require? I'm guessing once boiler is heated you could maintain with 5500W or less. More likely dependent on boiler size and heat up time.
Im was thinking that it would be well paired with a dual 5500watt jacketed steam boiler. Once it get to temperature, I would think a 5500w PID should be sufficient for bringing the beer temp from 170F to 200F. Of course if not there will be another 5500w available. Also planning bubble caps. My experience is that the perf plates require much more attention to load and not flood. I also bought the lathe with this project in mind a couple of years ago.
Bushman, you could be right. Initially when I bought the copper it was intended to be run on a 125 gallon boiler that was steam powered by a true "boiler" unit while I was involved with a distillery. I've since parted ways with that distillery and had the column left over as an unfinished project. I'd ideally like for this to be used with a 30 gallon boiler unit and make for a lot quicker run times. With proper power and steam Bain Marie, I think is very possible to be properly powered for and ableed to sit on a 30 gallon boiler unit.
I spent some time today working on the parrot. The downline is 1/2 ID type L. the body of the parrot is 1" type L. I used a 3"x1" bell reducer that I trimmed down on the lathe by 1" on the 3" side. The 1" body to the parrot will allow for larger proof meter's that are more precisely tuned to specific proof ranges as opposed to the hobby style that do 20-200 proof. The glass bell jar was something I found a couple of years ago and I liked it for keeping the flies and gnats out of the take off spirits. I have to shop for an appropriate diameter out pipe from the top of the parrot but here's what I got so far...
Your work is beautiful, keep us posted. My earlier comment about using a 6” column was tried by Mash Rookie on a 15,5 gallon still and he said it was under powered, a 30 gallon boiler just might work and I agree with the bubble plates. I would be afraid if you used packing it would be too heavy and compress the mesh.
Thank you hellbilly007. I'm quite proud of the work I've done so far. Getting to this point has been a long time coming. I knew beforehand to get the look and finish I always wanted with copper, I was going to need to buy or use a lathe. I don't know anyone with a lathe so I bought one for this project. I've got a collection of pieces that did not turn out as I planned since I had absolutely 0 lathe experience before starting on this project. I've learned a lot about building but most of all Ive spent countless of hours building "my still". Now that the weather is beginning to cool I've really enjoyed getting back to this build project. It's got some minor imperfections, where after 1 or 2 failed pieces I stopped trying to make it "perfect" as that usually led to me goofing up a nice piece. In the end, it's mine and I know I haven't taken any shortcuts.
Finally had time to cut out the holes for the sight glasses this weekend. I need to soak it in citric acid or vinegar then the bubble caps with get soldered in next weekend.
They’re 4” sight glasses, the 4” sight glasses on a 6” column may be a little too big aesthetically but it might just be the angle as well. We’ll see how it comes out in the end but it’ll probably turn out fine in the end.
I think they look great, and not too big. I have a desire to build my own plated column and when I do I will put on the biggest sight glasses I can. I want to be able to see things working from more than one angle and without having to stick my face right in there.
Look just dandy to me, I have 3" on a 4" column and apart from being exceedingly practical I reckon it looks just fine if not better than piddly 2" ones
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.Benjamin Franklin
Thanks Otis and thecroweater for helping to remove any doubts to my decision. I"m sure the 4" sight glasses will be just fine. I've now decided that its just the blocks of wood blocking the 6" column that is making it look odd to me. I use the wood sleeve as a method to keep the column form getting away from me when working on it. Out of the sleeve looks better imo. anyways next is cleaning and then plates. Im also considering adding plate valves to allow for bypassing plates but I'm also thinking I might be over complicating the build by doing so.
I would never dick with disablers but then my set up is modular. If it was solid with a tree or similar then maybe I would think about that option to by pass at least a few plates
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.Benjamin Franklin
I had a little time to get 3 of the 4 bubble plates installed. These haven't been cleaned yet so there is a little flux still on the parts. I'll be adding the 4th plate and 6" try clamp fittings after Christmas. I had some slight warping on one of my plates but I think it's minimal we'll see when it all come together later this week.
