Offset column for balance?

[Mord]

Well it's me again lol. Im working on my 3" column upgrade and the one part I didn't take into account when designing it was the weight of it. It's a 36" column with 33" of packing going to a 3" dephlegmator that's 8" long followed by a pair of 3" 90 degree elbows (total approximate column height is 52") going into a reducer for a 2" condenser. My concern is that I've put all this on the flat lid of a Chinese still and I'm worried about it bending the crap out of the lid. So here's the question, is it okay to com off the lid with a 45 degree elbow followed by a short spool and then another 45 elbow to the column or should the column come straight off the lid? I was going to put the offset in to center the weight over the pot better to relieve some stress on the lid. The two 45's and spool will raise it about another 10 inches. It's a 60 liter pot being driven by a 5500w element with controller so power shouldn't be an issue. Is it ok to put an offset like this at the base of the column or should I find a better way to support it?

[Salt Must Flow]

Is the lid flimsy? It wouldn't be any issue with a 15.5 gal keg. They're tough as hell. I'd just piece it together piece by piece and see what you think. If you think about it, only you can tell whether it's rigid enough. Chinese still can be a vague term.

[Yummyrum]

From an operational point of view it will be fine .

The idea to offset weight has been used by many on Potstills too .

Here’s a pic I stole of Saltbushbills Pelican shotty .

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However, Saltys is all soldered together . I would be mindful that if you are using triclamps , there is the possibility of the joint potentially moving and the whole thing swivelling and crashing down . I would seriously consider a top rope support or the likes just in case .

[Sporacle]

It's raining to hard to get to my shed, I basically have a chain clamp that supports my column about 200mm up from my boiler it pretty much takes 90% of the column weight but allows enough movement so I can attach my tri clamp. My liebig has a attachment point about on its balance point and this attaches to a chain from a bracket off my brewing shelves. Everything is secured and supported and no real torsional force is placed on any joins

[shadylane]

.. one part I didn't take into account when designing it was the weight of it....My concern is that I've put all this on the flat lid of a Chinese still and I'm worried about it bending the crap out of the lid... Is it ok to put an offset like this at the base of the column or should I find a better way to support it?

Off set, would balance the weight of the column on the lid.
A better way would be supporting the load, so the lid doesn't have to.
I'd do like Sporacle and screw a hook into the ceiling and use a rope to support the column, still head and condenser at its balance point.

[juana_b]

I was thinking more about centering the reflux from the packed column.

[Saltbush Bill]

Yummy the picture that you posted above is another of my pot stills.... a bigger one on a keg boiler... just built it that way because I could and had the bits to do it.....it also matches my smaller one.
The first offset one was the first still I ever built.....At that time I was worried about the weight on a flimsy T500 boiler lid . Hadn't given any consideration to propping the condenser to balance the weight cause I was new to the game. I still use it to this day but only for gin and small experimental batches of other things. A prop under the end of the condenser is still used to take the weight of the condenser and hoses.
The Still that Mord is building is big enough and heavy enough that the long term solution is to put it on something solid like a keg boiler IMO.
Using it long term on a flimsy boiler is just looking for trouble I think.

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[juana_b]

that's a pot, op has a packed column above the(planned) 45's.

[Saltbush Bill]

I'm fully aware of that , I was simply explaining why I offset that particular still and to show Yummy that it was another still that I first did it with.

[juana_b]

totally understood, SBB.
jebus, you're making me think
With my limited knowledge, and my limited knowledge of what Mord want's to do... why would one put any angles in a coluomn in reflux?

[NZChris]

My reflux column is hung from three turnbuckles attached to the roof by chains. I place the boiler under it and lower the column onto it using the turnbuckles. I've seen others that used a block and tackle. It's not a good system if the weather is stormy and the roof is moving.

My main still and preheater is set up on a wooden frame with brackets that slide and let the roof move without affecting them.

[Yummyrum]

Thanks for the clarification Salty .


The way I read Mords OP is he wants to offset the whole column from the boiler . So it will work just like it would if it was in the centre of the boiler . There wouldn’t be any issues with reflux centering or the likes .

I agree that a flat boiler lid ( and I’m imagining something like a Vevor still) would be a very flimsy lid to put a packed column reflux still on without some sort of brace or support .

[Mord]

Thanks for all the quick replies!! And yes it is one of those flimsy lids. I've been looking for a keg but haven't been able to source one yet. I run the still in the kitchen so supporting it from the ceiling isn't an option.

[Bushman]

I always liked WalkinWolf’s offset pot stills. He built two of them pictured in the link below be sure to scroll down on the link. One with a regular libieg and the other with a triple walled condenser. I only know of three members that built triple walled condensers and often thought I could redesign it better but never came up with a better design.
search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&auth ... start=1050

[shadylane]

Damn, I didn't know WalkinWolf was no longer with us.

[Bushman]

Damn, I didn't know WalkinWolf was no longer with us.

He died years ago, I believe it was cancer. He posted about it. I was close to him on the forum as we both belonged to a absinthe forum and he sold me a 50” x 4” stainless steel column that was used in the dairy industry. It was commercial grade with ferrules on both ends. That is my current column on my CM still.

[Mord]

Well I think I'm going to switch from my 60 liter Chinese pot to a keg. Thanks for all your help everyone!!!

[Sporacle]

Mord, you won't regret going to a keg. While the column/riser attachment will be a lot more rigid on the keg you will still need to take into account the weight of the column/riser and condensor and how that loads your attachment points. Good luck

[Mord]

The weight shouldn't be a problem anymore. I'm planning on tig welding a 6" tri clamp flange to the keg to give me easy access for cleaning then putting a 6x3 reducer on for running. Is there anything I'm missing? I found a company not to far from me that has a deal on kegs.

[Sporacle]

No not really, just give consideration to supporting your condensor so it's not solely supported by your riser or column, particularly if it's a liebig

[Mord]

Problem solved.

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