Sight glassoptions uk?

[Bottles]

Hi all,
I'm slowly putting together a Flute column using 4 inch sections joined with triclamps.
Looking to see what options there are for sight glasses in the uk. Also options that don't break the bank? I hope to use 3 inch, as i have read bigger is better?
Are there any sources in the uk for boroscilicate or Pyrex disks. Looking on ebay nothing comes up in the uk. My thoughts was to use a triclamp to hold it to a tri ferrule.
Other options are weld in sight glasses, starting at £36.50 in the uk. I know about distilling uk and SD in Europe. Sd have a minimum order of £145 to uk.
Are there other options I've not thought of other then going smaller to save cost?
Andrew

[Pure Old Possum Piss]

To be honest, you only one sight glass on your top plate, since your on a shoestring budget. When it's raining in the top one you know it's working, When the bottom glass starts to fog you'll know your really close to tails.
I know all that glass has a "Cool" factor, but really it's just lipstick on the pig.

[Bottles]

From what I've read. The suggestion was one on the top plate and one on bottom plate to see what is happening.
Can you learn to run a Flute without sight glass?
Andrew

[Yummyrum]

In my experience , you are well i to tails before the bottom plate fogs and stripping basically water when the top fogs .

But I would say you can run a Flute without windows if….you use a plate design that is proven to work such as perf plates with a 1/6” hole on a 1/4” grid spacing or 1.5mm holes on a 5mm grid .

Then run between 2.5-3kw and take off at 2L per hour , yiu would be doing OK .

[Saltbush Bill]

I hope to use 3 inch, as i have read bigger is better?

A few thoughts from someone who's built several of these stills from scratch and uses one on a regular basis.
2 inch sight glasses or 3 inch on a six inch column are more than enough in size. Not only big enough to see what is happening but also looks best on that size column.

Are there any sources in the uk for boroscilicate or Pyrex disks.

I'd try Still dragon , they have a european distributor as far as I know. https://www.stilldragon.eu/en/sight-gla ... -lens.html Ive used their glasses for years without a problem. while there look at mounting systems.
Just finished reading and see that is not an option for you............................

To be honest, you only one sight glass on your top plate, since your on a shoestring budget. When it's raining in the top one you know it's working,

I'm going to have to disagree POPP, 4 glasses makes these stills easier to run. Just because the top plate looks good , doesnt always mean everything is perfect on the plates below.

When the top glass starts to fog you'll know your really close to tails.

If you rely on the top glass as an indicator of tails coming soon , then you will have missed the boat by about an hour or more.
Its the bottom plate that fogs first. The second from bottom plate can also sometimes be a useful reference point.

I know all that glass has a "Cool" factor, but really it's just lipstick on the pig.

Can you learn to run a Flute without sight glass?

I wouldn't like to try unless I had a lot of prior experience running one with windows.
Even then it would be a complete pain in the arse.......these stills are built the way they are for a reason.
Edit
Was typing and posting as you were Yummy.

But I would say you can run a Flute without windows if….you use a plate design that is proven to work such as perf plates with a 1/6” hole on a 1/4” grid spacing or 1.5mm holes on a 5mm grid .
Then run between 2.5-3kw and take off at 2L per hour , yiu would be doing OK .

One day when I'm visiting you can show me how, I'll put 2 bottles of Bundy on it that the run turns to crap.

[Bottles]

Thanks yummy rum. As I'm due to visit Oz end of this year. Sd sight glasses are lots cheaper there than Europe. Then I could fit those later.
My boiler only has a single 2.5kw element. So far ive not had the gusto make a new hole for another element.
Looking to use perf plate at 1.5mm at 5mm spacing.
Andrew

[Yummyrum]

But I would say you can run a Flute without windows if….you use a plate design that is proven to work such as perf plates with a 1/6” hole on a 1/4” grid spacing or 1.5mm holes on a 5mm grid .
Then run between 2.5-3kw and take off at 2L per hour , yiu would be doing OK .

One day when I'm visiting you can show me how, I'll put 2 bottles of Bundy on it that the run turns to crap.

Maybe my plates sealed better , but I rarely looked at the windows . I always stripped half the wash and added that to the rest of the wash . It was always very predictable .

I should have said that . Running straight wash can be a pain in the backside and plate levels do muck around .

[Bottles]

Deleted double post.