Fittings for a Shotgun?

Anything cooling/condenser related.

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Bee
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Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Bee »

I'm trying to put together a shotgun condenser and I'm having some problem figuring out what parts to use. I'm not a plumber, so I don't know what is available or even what it would be called. The only things I know for sure are that I want a ball valve on the inlet side and that I want to hook up the male end of a garden hose on the inlet and the female end of a garden hose on the outlet.

So if you could help me out with a BOM I'd appreciate it.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

For the water in and out ports, I used (2) 1/2 inch NPT copper adapters https://www.supplyhouse.com/Elkhart-301 ... 186aed93cd
To those, use a NPT to GHT brass adapter, one MM and one MF.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Bluefin-GHM ... se-Adapter
and
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Sioux-Chief ... ead-to-MIP
I dont use a ball valve, I use (2) 1/2 inch gate valves on a manifold I built from peices of leftover 3/4 and 1/2 copper pipe.
One for the PC, and one for the RC. Neither need to be opened more than a trickle to acheive proper cooling.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Bluefin-GTV ... -Lead-Free

I put the manifold on the end of the garden hose running into the garage, and turn on the water at the hose bib. The manifold has a 3/4 inch gate valve on the end. Hook up one short hose to the shotgun inlet from the maifold, and another short hose from the outlet to a hose splitter attached to a waste hose flowing out of the garage to a water drain.
the RC is connected in the same manner, and both condensers can be operated induvidually from the manifold, draining to the same hose out to the drain.
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Bee
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Bee »

Do you have a picture of your setup?

Do they make ball valves threaded like that? I really don't like gate valves. Seems like I'm constantly replacing those leaky SOBs around the house.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by shadylane »

Here's a shotgun I built awhile back, maybe there's some info you might find useful
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=49639
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by 30xs »

I used 1/2” to 3/8” fnpt adapters cut short for both my shotguns and dephlegs. It keeps the fittings closer to flush to keep from damaging and then I can three in whatever fitting I want, not locked into any one fitting permanently.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Durhommer »

Nice copper work
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

Bee wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:05 am Do you have a picture of your setup?

Do they make ball valves threaded like that? I really don't like gate valves. Seems like I'm constantly replacing those leaky SOBs around the house.
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Yes they do, and that supply house linked has good prices and fast shipping. I have a couple of 1/2 threaded quarter turn ball valves that I used before I built my manifold.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Bee »

Why did you go from ball valves to gate valves?
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

A couple of reasons. I feel like I get a little bit better control of the water flow with a gate valve, a round knob is less prone to being bumped closed when barely open, and they fit better on my manifold.

Another nice benifit of using a cooling water manifold is when Im only running a product condenser, I have a 2nd hose handy to clean the fermenter, and whatnots while the still is running a stripping run without running a 2nd hose into the garage.

My manifold is really pretty simple, but it sure beats trying to manage water flow at the hose bib, or having a valve on the condenser adding more weight to an already 5.5 pounds of water filled shotgun hanging off the still.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Durhommer »

Deplorable wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:23 am A couple of reasons. I feel like I get a little bit better control of the water flow with a gate valve, a round knob is less prone to being bumped closed when barely open, and they fit better on my manifold.

Another nice benifit of using a cooling water manifold is when Im only running a product condenser, I have a 2nd hose handy to clean the fermenter, and whatnots while the still is running a stripping run without running a 2nd hose into the garage.

My manifold is really pretty simple, but it sure beats trying to manage water flow at the hose bib, or having a valve on the condenser adding more weight to an already 5.5 pounds of water filled shotgun hanging off the still.
So it weighs about 6 pounds full of water? Not bad does it lean on the still or stand up ok
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

Durhommer wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:59 am
Deplorable wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:23 am A couple of reasons. I feel like I get a little bit better control of the water flow with a gate valve, a round knob is less prone to being bumped closed when barely open, and they fit better on my manifold.

Another nice benifit of using a cooling water manifold is when Im only running a product condenser, I have a 2nd hose handy to clean the fermenter, and whatnots while the still is running a stripping run without running a 2nd hose into the garage.

My manifold is really pretty simple, but it sure beats trying to manage water flow at the hose bib, or having a valve on the condenser adding more weight to an already 5.5 pounds of water filled shotgun hanging off the still.
So it weighs about 6 pounds full of water? Not bad does it lean on the still or stand up ok
The shotgun? I don't think its adding any undue load. The lid and column support it fine.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Durhommer »

Great to know I'm trying to get one I'm just wondering how the water will hook up as in what he will use to fit my hoses to it I just use hose clamps right now I'd like to keep it that simple
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by tombombadil »

Did anybody else open this one thinking it was going to be about choke tubes?
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

tombombadil wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 6:42 pm Did anybody else open this one thinking it was going to be about choke tubes?
I prefer a modified choke for upland game birds, and full choke for turkeys
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by tombombadil »

Deplorable wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:45 pm
tombombadil wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 6:42 pm Did anybody else open this one thinking it was going to be about choke tubes?
I prefer a modified choke for upland game birds, and full choke for turkeys
I'm running improved cylinder and modified in my O/U for chasing desert quail at the moment. Modified in my semi auto. I haven't figured out which is better yet.

I'm totally new to hunting though so I don't know what the hell I'm doing yet.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by acfixer69 »

We sooo funny. Back on topic if ya got anything.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Twisted Brick »

Durhommer wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:07 am Great to know I'm trying to get one I'm just wondering how the water will hook up as in what he will use to fit my hoses to it I just use hose clamps right now I'd like to keep it that simple
These are what I used and will be going on yours. Makes it easy to hook up and break down using hose clamps.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Bee »

Twisted Brick wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:08 pm
Durhommer wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:07 am Great to know I'm trying to get one I'm just wondering how the water will hook up as in what he will use to fit my hoses to it I just use hose clamps right now I'd like to keep it that simple
These are what I used and will be going on yours. Makes it easy to hook up and break down using hose clamps.
They graciously muffed up that link for you. :)
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Durhommer »

Twisted Brick wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:08 pm
Durhommer wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:07 am Great to know I'm trying to get one I'm just wondering how the water will hook up as in what he will use to fit my hoses to it I just use hose clamps right now I'd like to keep it that simple
These are what I used and will be going on yours. Makes it easy to hook up and break down using hose clamps.
As bee pointed out the link is bad
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Twisted Brick »

Sorry gents, it worked yesterday! I was just finishing a bourbon strip...

The (bad) link is for a 1/2" copper female threaded adapter, the same ones I (and Deplorable) used.
IMG_8997.jpg
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Durhommer »

Twisted Brick wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:25 pm Sorry gents, it worked yesterday! I was just finishing a bourbon strip...

The (bad) link is for a 1/2" copper female threaded adapter, the same ones I (and Deplorable) used.

IMG_8997.jpg
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by The Baker »

Clicked on the IMG link.

Got a photo of a cute little black haired girl in a fairy dress.

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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Durhommer »

So I been thinking about it a shotgun condenser about 20 inches long would work great on a 15.5 gallon beer keg wouldn't it
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Sailman »

What I did for the water inlet and Outlet was to go buy a half inch brass nipple and cut it in half and sanded it to fit the Contour of the condenser.
IMG_20200308_142851.jpg
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IMG_20200308_143113.jpg
IMG_20200328_173256.jpg
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

That's how I did the copper as well.
20201028_165521.jpg
20201028_195602.jpg
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Bee »

Pardon my ignorance, but a garden hose fitting is 3/4" NPT? Right?
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

Bee wrote: Tue Nov 24, 2020 2:45 pm Pardon my ignorance, but a garden hose fitting is 3/4" NPT? Right?
A garden hose is GHT. You need a NTP to GHT adapter to go from the 1/2 copper to your garden hose.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Deplorable »

Durhommer wrote: Tue Nov 24, 2020 8:26 am So I been thinking about it a shotgun condenser about 20 inches long would work great on a 15.5 gallon beer keg wouldn't it
Yup.
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Re: Fittings for a Shotgun?

Post by Twisted Brick »

Deplorable wrote: Tue Nov 24, 2020 2:48 pm
A garden hose is GHT. You need a NTP to GHT adapter to go from the 1/2 copper to your garden hose.
Looks like this. Big box store should carry it.
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