4 inches is not always 4 inches
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4 inches is not always 4 inches
This is my vent.
I now have some 4 inch copper pipe and am slowly buying parts to build a flute.
Apart from the fact that it is cheaper to buy sight glass kits than build your own sight glass (2" brass fittings are bloody expensive as are the brass connector unions) it is also easier to source!
Finally, my 4 inch copper is pretty well 100mm internal and 102 external diameter, so lets go looking for ferrules (to make my life a little more simple, don't worry, I was thinking about making one and then getting it cast but I suspect that too would now be even more expensive).
Problem is of course, all the different standards.....4 inch ferrules can be anywhere from 98mm OD to 102OD!
Anyway, enough of my vent, at least I have found some but they are not cheap at AUD25 a pop. Making this proposed build look a lot more expensive than I was hoping but still cheaper than buying a...still (pun intended)
I now have some 4 inch copper pipe and am slowly buying parts to build a flute.
Apart from the fact that it is cheaper to buy sight glass kits than build your own sight glass (2" brass fittings are bloody expensive as are the brass connector unions) it is also easier to source!
Finally, my 4 inch copper is pretty well 100mm internal and 102 external diameter, so lets go looking for ferrules (to make my life a little more simple, don't worry, I was thinking about making one and then getting it cast but I suspect that too would now be even more expensive).
Problem is of course, all the different standards.....4 inch ferrules can be anywhere from 98mm OD to 102OD!
Anyway, enough of my vent, at least I have found some but they are not cheap at AUD25 a pop. Making this proposed build look a lot more expensive than I was hoping but still cheaper than buying a...still (pun intended)
Taking a break while I get a new still completed....
- Yummyrum
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Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Coogee
Thats interesting . I’ve always found that Aussie 4” is 4” OD . The ID changes depending on if its high pressure stuff or the thinner DWV stuff .
As far as ferrules , all the stainless ones I have bought from Aussie suppliers are always 4” OD .
So an Aussie builder can’t slip a ferrule inside a 4” pipe like you see the Americans doing it on this forum .
A 4”ferrule will fit into an Aussie 4”Tee or an Aussie 4” coupler . Infact , if to want to put a ferrule onto a piece of 4” pipe , you should use a coupler . Either that , or ypu need to buy an expander . You then first need to anneal the 4” pipe to soften it then use the expander to stretch it to go over a ferrule .
Another option .
Emptyglass at Copper Custom Still components makes and sells these 4” expanded pressed ferrules . Not the cheapest option , but being copper , they are easy to solder and fit Aussie copper . He also sells 2” ones that can be turned into sight glasses .
Edit : just went for walk to shed.
This is a stainless 4” ferrule bought from an Aussie supplier . I had to use a 4” coupler to join it to the 4-2” reducer . The 4” end of that reducer is 4” OD , same as all other Aussie 4” . The 2” end however is expanded to take 2”pipe . Here is one of Emptyglasses expanded copper ferules on a piece of 4” ( It didn’t look this tarnished when it arrived , I’ve just been slack and haven’t used it yet ) . As you can see , its a bit easier than buggering around with a ferrule and a coupler .
So the only problem I see you are having , is looking at wrong spec SS ferrules . All 4” ferules have always been and should be 4” OD . It’s the “new overseas suppliers “ that are fucking about with the standard and confusing folk .
Thats interesting . I’ve always found that Aussie 4” is 4” OD . The ID changes depending on if its high pressure stuff or the thinner DWV stuff .
As far as ferrules , all the stainless ones I have bought from Aussie suppliers are always 4” OD .
So an Aussie builder can’t slip a ferrule inside a 4” pipe like you see the Americans doing it on this forum .
A 4”ferrule will fit into an Aussie 4”Tee or an Aussie 4” coupler . Infact , if to want to put a ferrule onto a piece of 4” pipe , you should use a coupler . Either that , or ypu need to buy an expander . You then first need to anneal the 4” pipe to soften it then use the expander to stretch it to go over a ferrule .
Another option .
Emptyglass at Copper Custom Still components makes and sells these 4” expanded pressed ferrules . Not the cheapest option , but being copper , they are easy to solder and fit Aussie copper . He also sells 2” ones that can be turned into sight glasses .
Edit : just went for walk to shed.
This is a stainless 4” ferrule bought from an Aussie supplier . I had to use a 4” coupler to join it to the 4-2” reducer . The 4” end of that reducer is 4” OD , same as all other Aussie 4” . The 2” end however is expanded to take 2”pipe . Here is one of Emptyglasses expanded copper ferules on a piece of 4” ( It didn’t look this tarnished when it arrived , I’ve just been slack and haven’t used it yet ) . As you can see , its a bit easier than buggering around with a ferrule and a coupler .
So the only problem I see you are having , is looking at wrong spec SS ferrules . All 4” ferules have always been and should be 4” OD . It’s the “new overseas suppliers “ that are fucking about with the standard and confusing folk .
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
- Windy City
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Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
I have used quite a few of the Still Dragon copper ferrules.
They are sized the same as copper fittings so 4" copper pipe fits nicely inside and easy to solder.
https://stilldragon.com/4-copper-ez-flange.html
They are sized the same as copper fittings so 4" copper pipe fits nicely inside and easy to solder.
https://stilldragon.com/4-copper-ez-flange.html
The liver is evil and must be punished
Cranky"s spoon feeding for new and novice distillers
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
Cranky"s spoon feeding for new and novice distillers
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Might be related to copper od and id if different types
https://www.petersenproducts.com/Copper ... s/1979.htm
Wall thickness is different.
B
https://www.petersenproducts.com/Copper ... s/1979.htm
Wall thickness is different.
B
- Windy City
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Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
But the OD remains the samebitter wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 6:32 am Might be related to copper od and id if different types
https://www.petersenproducts.com/Copper ... s/1979.htm
Wall thickness is different.
B
The liver is evil and must be punished
Cranky"s spoon feeding for new and novice distillers
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
Cranky"s spoon feeding for new and novice distillers
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
- Saltbush Bill
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- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
- Location: Northern NSW Australia
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Dunno where you are sourcing your parts Coogee but Yummy right.....everything here that I've ever bought fits everything else.
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Depends were the furrel fits my 3 inch Inside dwv fit inside not outsideWindy City wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 9:21 amBut the OD remains the samebitter wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 6:32 am Might be related to copper od and id if different types
https://www.petersenproducts.com/Copper ... s/1979.htm
Wall thickness is different.
B
- Yummyrum
- Global moderator
- Posts: 7743
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
- Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Correct in the USA where your OD is 1/8” larger than the nominal size . IE , US 4” is really 4 1/8” .Windy City wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 9:21 amBut the OD remains the samebitter wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 6:32 am Might be related to copper od and id if different types
https://www.petersenproducts.com/Copper ... s/1979.htm
Wall thickness is different.
B
Coogee is in Australia where the OD also remains the same but it is the exact size . So 4” is actually 4” OD .
Where we in Aussie get frustrated , is looking at the guys in US simply bashing a SS ferrule into a piece of pipe .
I guess we all have to learn to deal with what we have locally .
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
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Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Here in France I can't get past 54mm as plumbing pipe. After that it's possible to get 80mm copper drainpipe for guttering but you'll be lucky if it's round and it probably has a folded seam.
"I have a potstill that smears like a fresh plowed coon on the highway" - Jimbo
A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers
A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers
- Saltbush Bill
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- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
- Location: Northern NSW Australia
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Damn that would be frustrating , can you order larger sizes in from England, or some other close country without it costing a fortune ?
- Yummyrum
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- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
- Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Absolutely that would suck Normandie.NormandieStill wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 9:11 pmHere in France I can't get past 54mm as plumbing pipe. After that it's possible to get 80mm copper drainpipe for guttering but you'll be lucky if it's round and it probably has a folded seam.
I guess , if you wanted to make copper modules for a plated still , you could split , anneal and bend lengths of 54mm to make larger sections . Pain in the arse , but a work around . Good thing is you could roll to suit OD of SS ferrules .
I think it was ACfixer , but I could be wrong , that made a 6” still by using that method as he couldn’t easily get 6” and had a pile of 2” . ….or maybe it was 3” .
I guess thin 80mm drain copper , even if it had a seam , would still make a reasonable 3” packed reflux still .I often think we over engineer our stills making them out of really thick copper . Totally pointless really . I’m sure most packed columns would survive the life of a home distiller if rolled from sheet copper . …. We just love to copy whats already out there ….. which is stills made from heavy gauge pipe ….. totally not necessary …. but I digress
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Ouch sounds like a PITA why are these things not standard across the world
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Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Brexit put paid to UK purchases and I've not looked but I don't think that high volume copper is a thing here. Waste pipe is PVC (and has been for some time) and most modern builds use PER / PEX for nearly all the plumbing.Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 12:33 am Damn that would be frustrating , can you order larger sizes in from England, or some other close country without it costing a fortune ?
I'll cross that bridge when I decide that I absolutely have to have a plated still, or 3" column for making lots of neutral fast. I've only got a 30L boiler so scaling up the column seems a little pointless. I've got a length of 2" that's destined to become a shotgun condenser but I'm not sure when that's going to happen.
"I have a potstill that smears like a fresh plowed coon on the highway" - Jimbo
A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers
A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers
Re: 4 inches is not always 4 inches
Thank you all for your input.
Yes it looks like a lot of the oversized ferrules were sourced from O/S but I have found a manufacturer in the Barossa Valley that has exactly what I am looking for and at a reasonable price.
They also sell sight glasses so I have placed my orders and await my materials!
Will post a pick once I have everything lined up.
All the best everyone.
Yes it looks like a lot of the oversized ferrules were sourced from O/S but I have found a manufacturer in the Barossa Valley that has exactly what I am looking for and at a reasonable price.
They also sell sight glasses so I have placed my orders and await my materials!
Will post a pick once I have everything lined up.
All the best everyone.
Taking a break while I get a new still completed....