6 inch bubble cap glasser

[Yummyrum]

Awesome , thanks for the elaboration Shady.
Another niggling point .
How did you tie off the string so it wouldn’t move ?
I’m imagining you don’t , you just twist plate down into column then it just stays in the groove ????
Flour paste ???

[shadylane]

The end of the string is passed under the turn before it and pulled tight.
The size of the string makes a difference, sewing thread isn't thick or pliable enough, something like kite string works better and the string used to tie bags of grain works the best.

[SW_Shiner]

Do you think it would work the same if you twisted some PTFE tape into a string? Or though, possibly it may not have the same malleability as it does as a thin sheet.

[shadylane]

Do you think it would work the same if you twisted some PTFE tape into a string? Or though, possibly it may not have the same malleability as it does as a thin sheet.

I gave that idea a try and it looks like it will work. The downside is PTFE squirms around and it's a pain to tie knots in.
With cotton string all that's needed is to tuck the end under previous turns.

[SW_Shiner]

Yea i realised a little bit after posting that it probably isn't going to behave the same way as string does.

[shadylane]

Next experiment is to use a drill to twist ptfe tap and string together to see what happens.
Most likely this will be a failure.

[Copperhead road]

Damit man, nothing to show today other than I cut all 6 tie bolts too short.
Now I have to wait for amazon to bring some more.

Shady how did you manage to do that???
Didn’t you use the old rule of thumb, measure twice and cut once….

[shadylane]

I prefer to measure it with micrometer, mark it with chalk then cut it too short with an axe.
Truth be told, I screwed up and "subtracted" from the tie bolt length to take account for the seal thickness.

[shadylane]

What's the budget for this part of the project? Oakstills has a 6" x 12" Tri-Clamp sight glass for $228. Might find a better deal on AliExpress or elsewhere for all I know.

That would be almost cheating. I attempted to order the 6" x 18" sight glass but the order was rejected.
I'll take that as a sign and build it.

An update, I figured out why the order was rejected.
My bank didn't like the idea of sending my money to a foreign address.
Had the bank been forewarned, this build would have taken a different route and be done by now.
But all is good, if the order had gone through, we wouldn't have as much fun.

[Corn Cracker]

You wouldn't be full blown copper Smith had the order gone through, those silver linings, ya know?

[SW_Shiner]

Next experiment is to use a drill to twist ptfe tap and string together to see what happens.
Most likely this will be a failure.

Maybe for looser fitting plates. Wrapping them with a couple layers of PTFE tape, then the string and pulling it tight so the tape kind of oozes through the string. Would probably have to be a really loose fit though.

[shadylane]

Next experiment is to use a drill to twist ptfe tap and string together to see what happens.
Most likely this will be a failure.

Maybe for looser fitting plates. Wrapping them with a couple layers of PTFE tape, then the string and pulling it tight so the tape kind of oozes through the string. Would probably have to be a really loose fit though.

Twisting ptfe tape around the string was a frustrating experience and putting a layer of ptfe tape on the plate then adding string didn't make the tape ooze up at all. It just laid there and made the string slide around. It looks like winding layers of only cotton string is still the best option.

[SW_Shiner]

Ah well. Now we know

[shadylane]

Yep, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[shadylane]

You wouldn't be full blown copper Smith had the order gone through, those silver linings, ya know?

Me a "full blown copper smith" not even close, that's a specialized rabbit hole that I've only looked into and kicked some dirt.
A real copper smith could turn scrap into a complete eastern European copper still.

[Copperhead road]

You wouldn't be full blown copper Smith had the order gone through, those silver linings, ya know?

Me a "full blown copper smith" not even close, that's a specialized rabbit hole that I've only looked into and kicked some dirt.
A real copper smith could turn scrap into a complete eastern European copper still.

I don’t think you give yourself enough credit Shady, you’re always pushing the boundaries and innovating new ideas. I think you’re doing an extraordinary job.
Just saying….

[Corn Cracker]

Dude, you smelted copper and made a cast from it,,,,, and it worked out, your a damn fine craftsman, Shady!!

[shadylane]

Here's an idea for tying knots in the string used for the plate to glass seal.

[Yummyrum]

Here's an idea for tying knots in the string used for the plate to glass seal.

I like that Shady
Now just got to go find my glasses and my Mrs needle threader

Seriously though , that looks the way to go .

[jonnys_spirit]

IMG_6068.jpeg

Maybe a couple narrow notches similar to a spool of thread perhaps on opposing sides.

Cheers,
Jonny

[shadylane]

+1 Jonny, that worked fine.
I wound the seal using size 3 crochet thread.

[shadylane]

Looks like there's enough room for one more plate in the 18" glass column but I'm not going down that road yet.
I'll wait till the two plates have been tested and also see if more or fewer coils are needed on the dephleg.

[shadylane]

On a side note.
Someday I might retry caps similar to this 4" design but instead of two downcomers use only one for crossflow reflux.
It would be snazzy with a glass downcomer so the reflux action could be seen. But how the hell to do that.
2nd thought I don't even want to go near that rabbit hole. Better to use copper to make weirs.

[Yummyrum]

Oooo
They look like the Caps in the retired stripping column at the Bundaburg distillery Shady .
Well apart from the J traps and the down comers at each end

IMG_3344.jpeg

IMG_3343.jpeg

[shadylane]

That pic turned on the light
Rectangular caps and upcomers with a bolt to hold everything together.
That's simple and easy, the feller that built that had a good idea.

[shadylane]

The new bolts came in today, time to get back to work. This time I'm not going to cut them too friking short.
In fact, I plan on leaving them a little too long and use acorn nuts to hide the cut off ends of the bolts.

[shadylane]

All together, time to play with it.

[Tammuz]

I'm glad to see you were able to make your plan come to fruition.

[shadylane]

When I first tried putting the column on the boiler one of the fittings got in the way so I had to take it off.
I'll need a cork or a 3/4" plug before running it.

[decoy]

I have some here, when do you want to get them?
I want to see this running.