Air cooled electric still

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Chauncey
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Chauncey »

It's been a long time since I rolled my own tubing.


Regarding the mosquitos maybe get a citronella coil for the shed. hate those sauna rains too. That's daily down here.
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

I got something waiting for the skitters. :lol:
I left the shop lights on, by morning the place will be buzzing full of em.
That's when I'll back the tractor and spray rig inside and blast them with Permethrin. :twisted:
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Chauncey »

Hell yea!
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by NormandieStill »

shadylane wrote: Wed Jul 20, 2022 7:13 pm Another option for folks that don't have a welder would be to use a heater that only needs two small holes drilled in the boiler. Something like this but with straight elements.
If someone finds exactly what's needed, please post a link. :ewink:
I have one of these in the bottom of my keg as a way of being able to run small batches (specifically BB's rum which put's only 10 litres in the boiler) without acquiring a gas burner. Wrapping the silicone gaskets is a royal pain in the arse, but you only have to do it once.

The downside is that you do need to ensure that there's no access to the bottom of the boiler (or the side if you go through the side wall) because you now have exposed electrical connections.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

I got a little more done and it's ugly. When I say ugly, I really mean it this time. :lol:
All it took to build it was $2 worth of scrap copper and $20 worth of silver solder.
Bubba said "it looks like a hogs ass sown up with a log chain" I consider that high praise. :thumbup:
Tomorrow I'll solder on the take-off tube. Then soak everything in vinegar.

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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Yummyrum »

shadylane wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 1:40 pm All it took to build it was $2 worth of scrap copper and $20 worth of silver solder.
It’s priceless shady :thumbup: …. But I get that :ebiggrin:
It’s a thing of beauty :ewink:

I’m excited about what it does
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Saltbush Bill »

shadylane wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 1:40 pm Bubba said "it looks like a hogs ass sown up with a log chain"
Almost blew a mouth full of Rum n coke out my nose....hard typing with tears in ya eyes. :lol:
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

I'm not sure what the best valve for the job is.
But anyway, here's the take-off valve I'll be using. :lol:
I'll drill a 1/4" hole in the lowest place and solder in a short piece of 1/4" od tubing.

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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by bcook608 »

shadylane wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 1:40 pm I got a little more done and it's ugly. When I say ugly, I really mean it this time. :lol:
All it took to build it was $2 worth of scrap copper and $20 worth of silver solder.
Bubba said "it looks like a hogs ass sown up with a log chain" I consider that high praise. :thumbup:
Tomorrow I'll solder on the take-off tube. Then soak everything in vinegar.


KIMG0010.JPG

KIMG0011.JPG
God, that IS ugly... I love it! :lol:
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

bcook608 wrote: Fri Jul 29, 2022 8:10 pm
God, that IS ugly... I love it! :lol:
It's the kinda ugly that isn't even symmetrical.
What folks would call wapper-jawed. :lol:
I figure to claim It was done on purpose, so I could locate the takeoff at the lowest spot.
Any ways, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

It sure was easier to draw what I wanted to do than it was to make it out of copper.
Maybe someday, someone will make a sexy copper porn version. :lol:
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

Here's the LM take-off, manifold, cooling fins, and fan.
I'll probably need to fill the V-shaped gaps between the four tubes.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Yummyrum »

Counter flow air cooling :clap:
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

Yummyrum wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:03 pm Counter flow air cooling :clap:
Going against the flow is what I do. :lol:

I haven't decided whether the fan needs to suck or blow.
Guess I'll have to try it both ways.
First, I'll have it blow downwards.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Archee72 »

shadylane wrote: Wed Jul 20, 2022 4:40 pm I'm almost done with the lid.
All that's left to do is weld the vent hole shut and wrap the O-ring with ptfe tape.
I'll do the welding when FedEx delivers consumables for the Tig welder.

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Holy hell Shady that must be one large vent hole if you need your tractor to tow it!! :D
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

That's almost the truth.
Even with new tires the IH 300 utility tractor would have a hard time pulling the cork out of a bottle.
Resurrecting old tractors is another one of my habits.
I like to drag them out of the fence row and do what's needed for them to be useful again.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by The Baker »

Internationaal Historisch Festival Panningen 2019, Part 1

150 CASE Road Locomotive pulling 44 bottom John Deere plow

Found these on the internet, full title is the thing to paste into the subject.

Great fun, might be interesting, my son-in-law (a farmer) liked it.

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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Smog »

I really like your design. It will be my next experiment to replace my aircooled CM reflux condenser
Shit I bought but shouldn't have :
1. Amazon 30L pot distiller
2. T-500 reflux column (good product but expensive)
3. Large 60L stock pot + 2" column

Now using 15.5gal KEG + 5500w electric + fully aircooled reflux condensor and product condenser.
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

Have you got any pics?
I found it.

viewtopic.php?p=7650528#p7650528
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by bcook608 »

shadylane wrote: Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:20 am KIMG0007.JPG

Here's the manifold for connecting the finned tubes to the LM take off.
It's a lot smaller than it looks in the pics.



The concentric LM take off will be like this

concentric LM.png
So from what I'm seeing and my (VERY LIMITED) knowledge of the different still heads, this is basically an air cooled concentric Boka? Or at least a similar concept?
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

bcook608 wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 12:19 am
So from what I'm seeing and my (VERY LIMITED) knowledge of the different still heads, this is basically an air cooled concentric Boka? Or at least a similar concept?
I'm not sure what to call it.
Maybe a waterless LM reflux still?
Before giving it a name, let's wait until we find out if or how well it works. :lol:
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by bcook608 »

I'm very interested! Being able to ditch the cooling water would make things WAY easier for me. I'd be doing these experiments right along with you if funds weren't so tight.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

I'm just having fun.
Maybe I'll buy a little good karma along the way. :lol:
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Chauncey »

When you gonna run it bruh
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

I'm waiting for the heater to arrive.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by Yummyrum »

Hee hee , looks like a cell phone tower Shady
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

Thats what I was thinking.
I didn't realize how tall the LM was until I put it together.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by bcook608 »

5G Whiskey 🤣🤣🤣
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shadylane
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by shadylane »

I've got all the parts gathered up to finish the build.
But it's hot and humid outside. I'd rather sit under the AC, surf the net and drink. :lol:
All that's left is to screw in the heater and make the power cord.
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by bcook608 »

I can't wait to see how this does!
Eagerly awaiting the finished product!
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Re: Air cooled electric still

Post by city shiner »

I enjoyed the thread so far and I'm excited to see the finished still work!
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