Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
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Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
Hi guys, looking to add an agitator to my boiler.
The challenge is to have a mechanical seal that allows the rotation of the shaft, but won't let the vapors leaks...
I saw expensive tri-clamp agitator kits (1500$ or more), but I search for the mechanical seal alone and it seems also on the expensive side...
Anyone had found a good solution for that?
The goal is to distill on grain. I'm evaluating the agitator or the steam injection in the thumper for steam distillation...
Thanks
The challenge is to have a mechanical seal that allows the rotation of the shaft, but won't let the vapors leaks...
I saw expensive tri-clamp agitator kits (1500$ or more), but I search for the mechanical seal alone and it seems also on the expensive side...
Anyone had found a good solution for that?
The goal is to distill on grain. I'm evaluating the agitator or the steam injection in the thumper for steam distillation...
Thanks
Evil_Dark
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
________________
I drank fifty pounds of feed-store corn
'till my clothes were ratty and torn
I drank fifty pounds of feed-store corn
'till my clothes were ratty and torn
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
Can get a commensurately sized oil seal from plenty of suppliers for what appears to be about 8 bux.
Not sure about the teflon bushing? I have em CNC'd when I need em because all the sizes don't seem to be available same as the oil seals.
Lube all the mating surfaces with food safe grease.
Not sure about the teflon bushing? I have em CNC'd when I need em because all the sizes don't seem to be available same as the oil seals.
Lube all the mating surfaces with food safe grease.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
Your design is pretty similar than the one I'm making! Except I've made a longer support in order to have more strenght for when the agitator try to bend (if it ever have to).LWTCS wrote: ↑Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:57 am Can get a commensurately sized oil seal from plenty of suppliers for what appears to be about 8 bux.
Not sure about the teflon bushing? I have em CNC'd when I need em because all the sizes don't seem to be available same as the oil seals.
Lube all the mating surfaces with food safe grease.
Hobby Mech Seal.png
I'm almost ready to assemble it! I choosed a 5/8" shaft for rigidity, and shaft collar to secure the depth of the agitator in the boiler. Everything is mounted on PTFE bushings, and PTFE packing for sealing instead of mechanical seal.
Evil Dark
Evil_Dark
- shadylane
- Master of Distillation
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Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
If the tube extends below the liquid level a mechanical seal isn't needed.
I did use a seal, it's inside the compression fitting.
I did use a seal, it's inside the compression fitting.
- shadylane
- Master of Distillation
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Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
That's the design.
The seal was made from a compression fitting.
I cut a short piece of PTFE tubing for the packing.
The seal was made from a compression fitting.
I cut a short piece of PTFE tubing for the packing.
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
So what part spins? the solid center rod?
I'm assuming the disc acts as a tri-clamp end cap and the compression fitting with PTFE sleeve acts as your small mechanical seal?
I'm looking for options to add an agitator to my tall still and it seems that yours is the simplest solution. I could wire it to a small variable speed motor and controller.
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
No. I used a small pipe (1in dia) to make the seal/packing/bushing part. I insert the packing material (PTFE) inside while the center rod (the agitator) is in place, then the bushings keeps it in place jnside the 1in pipe. Basically the packing material is inserted all around the Rod, and the bushings retain it in place and the bushings are helping the ability of the rod to turn without friction and wear. It’s a bit compressed so it makes a good seal, but still allows the rod (agitator) to turn.
Then two shaft collars are holding everything together, and also make a possible adjustment of the length of the agitator into the boiler.
Dark
Evil_Dark
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
so you should have said yers haha, so when you packed that did you leave it one lenght and just wrap it around or did you cut it into single rings, put one in stager the seam on the next one and so on. it does make a difference in how well they seal.Evil_Dark wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 6:15 amNo. I used a small pipe (1in dia) to make the seal/packing/bushing part. I insert the packing material (PTFE) inside while the center rod (the agitator) is in place, then the bushings keeps it in place jnside the 1in pipe. Basically the packing material is inserted all around the Rod, and the bushings retain it in place and the bushings are helping the ability of the rod to turn without friction and wear. It’s a bit compressed so it makes a good seal, but still allows the rod (agitator) to turn.
Then two shaft collars are holding everything together, and also make a possible adjustment of the length of the agitator into the boiler.
Dark
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
Yes I kept in one length and wrapped it around to ensure the good seal
Was a PITA tho, it was tight. It took me 2 hours and I wasted the inside of my hand…
Worth it
Evil_Dark
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
I have been packing valves for 30 years now, do it in individual rings and then stagger the joints, will give you a better seal as if you leave it as one continous piece there is a path for leaking. albeit at the psi we are dealing with it might not matter haha, Im used to valves that have 650 psi steam on them.
- squigglefunk
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Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
just saying I distill on grain with no agitator and no scorching. (using propane as a heat source) I just stir it as it heats and when the still is about to reach the point of production I seal it up.
so my fancy agitator is a big wooden mash paddle.
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
That's how Dunderhead woulda done it. Said as a boy he stirred till his arms felt like they were going to fall off.squigglefunk wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 10:37 amjust saying I distill on grain with no agitator and no scorching. (using propane as a heat source) I just stir it as it heats and when the still is about to reach the point of production I seal it up.
so my fancy agitator is a big wooden mash paddle.
I bet Goose has heard about some ole boys that did that too?
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
- squigglefunk
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Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
I mean I don't really have to constantly stir it? I usually will open it up and and give it a whirl every so often until it's about steaming. Maybe with denser mashes it would pay to constantly stir it. I am not be throwing 100% of all the grains from every run in, I like to leave some slop at the bottom to do a sugarhead run usually.
Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
Dnder evidently also did some contract work for an outfit so I would imagine his kettle charges were pretty large.squigglefunk wrote: ↑Wed Oct 26, 2022 4:50 amI mean I don't really have to constantly stir it? I usually will open it up and and give it a whirl every so often until it's about steaming. Maybe with denser mashes it would pay to constantly stir it. I am not be throwing 100% of all the grains from every run in, I like to leave some slop at the bottom to do a sugarhead run usually.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
- squigglefunk
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Re: Anyone made a DIY agitator with mechanical seal?
Haha, as I recall he hated it. He started as a young boy taking orders from his demanding father as I recall how the story went.squigglefunk wrote: ↑Wed Oct 26, 2022 7:19 amcool I love it man, you can taste the hand stirred goodness
Talked about the trouble he ever got into by accidentally allowing the kettle charge to scorch.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.