A Simpler and Better Boiler Stand

[BigSwede]

As I rebuild my shop a bit, a realized I needed to improve and definitely stabilize my 13 gal boiler. Nothing new here but might generate some ideas.

Before, it either sat on the floor (can't gravity drain it), or on a work bench (can't reach the column top without a ladder) - and ladders and I no longer mix. Plus, sitting on a work bench can be unstable.

With some scraps of timber, decking screws, and sloppy polyurethane, I threw this together in a few hours. It raises the boiler dump spout just above a 5 gallon bucket, and importantly, it was really easy to add some cheap leveling feet. These are very necessary because my floor is uneven. Now it's rock solid, and stable with the bottom lateral brace things that enlarge the stand footprint.

Stand01.jpg

While I was at it, I drilled some pegboard tooling into the stand, so I can hang gaskets, triclamps, tools in a handy spot.

After futzing with triclamps for years with their stock thumb knobs, I grew tired of how tedious and slow it was, how to get them really tight you had to stick a screwdriver in the hole, turn and turn. All of mine are a standard Imperial 5/16" thread, so I found some stainless nuts to fit, added a hefty SS washer, and now use a nut driver to tighten, or I can use a ratchet. SO much faster and easier, tidier too. Just find nuts and washers to match your triclamp threads.

Stand04.jpg

Going to strip tomorrow for the first time in years! Back in the saddle feels good.

[Deplorable]

Great work.
Ive done similar. My 13 gallon milk can sits on a wooden stand as well. I mounted my water manifold to the side of it with 3 gate valves. One main water valve, and individual valves for the product condenser and the reflux condenser. Its a bit shorter than yours so I can still reach the top of the column on a two-step ladder. A 5 gallon bucket doesn't fit under the drain, but a square 4 gallon bucket does. Works great for draining the boiler and toting the stillage to the drain.

I had a thumb nut break on one of my chinese tri-clamps, so I moved it to my heating element, and "fixed" it the same way you did. Its a solid repair.

[PalCabral]

Looks real nice, Swede.

I’ve been thinking of using something similar to this. Then I could easily adjust to the optimal collection level.

IMG_8985.webp

[BigSwede]

Great work.
Ive done similar. My 13 gallon milk can sits on a wooden stand as well. I mounted my water manifold to the side of it with 3 gate valves. One main water valve, and individual valves for the product condenser and the reflux condenser.

Great minds must think alike. Look anything like this?

manifold.jpg

I wanted one water-in port for all stilling tasks. Unused valves just get closed. Looks fiddly but works well. I made a bracket device to hold it all firmly to the milk can handle on one side.

I’ve been thinking of using something similar to this. Then I could easily adjust to the optimal collection level.

I thought a lot about a scissor lift. I've never worked with one. I was worried about stability. Visually they look a bit wobbly. Maybe someone who has one can comment. If stable, it'd be ideal for boiler ops.

[Corn Cracker]

As I rebuild my shop a bit, a realized I needed to improve and definitely stabilize my 13 gal boiler. Nothing new here but might generate some ideas.

Before, it either sat on the floor (can't gravity drain it), or on a work bench (can't reach the column top without a ladder) - and ladders and I no longer mix. Plus, sitting on a work bench can be unstable.

With some scraps of timber, decking screws, and sloppy polyurethane, I threw this together in a few hours. It raises the boiler dump spout just above a 5 gallon bucket, and importantly, it was really easy to add some cheap leveling feet. These are very necessary because my floor is uneven. Now it's rock solid, and stable with the bottom lateral brace things that enlarge the stand footprint.
Stand01.jpg

While I was at it, I drilled some pegboard tooling into the stand, so I can hang gaskets, triclamps, tools in a handy spot.

After futzing with triclamps for years with their stock thumb knobs, I grew tired of how tedious and slow it was, how to get them really tight you had to stick a screwdriver in the hole, turn and turn. All of mine are a standard Imperial 5/16" thread, so I found some stainless nuts to fit, added a hefty SS washer, and now use a nut driver to tighten, or I can use a ratchet. SO much faster and easier, tidier too. Just find nuts and washers to match your triclamp threads.

Stand04.jpg

Going to strip tomorrow for the first time in years! Back in the saddle feels good.

Nice, glad your getting back at it. It's definitely the little things like that stand we add to make the craft easier on us and that in turn keeps us making good spirits. It's a lovely, vicious cycle

[Salt Must Flow]

Threaded stem swiveling/locking casters would be cool since you have a concrete floor. They would still be adjustable and stable, but can easily be moved around. I put casters on virtually everything that sits on the floor.

What I found to be handy is wiring my pump to a switch which is mounted to the stand. I have one cord from the stand that you can plug into a wall receptacle, wired through a switch and then to another receptacle that I plug the pump into. I actually have two switches and two receptacles wired through each switch.

[Deplorable]

Great work.
Ive done similar. My 13 gallon milk can sits on a wooden stand as well. I mounted my water manifold to the side of it with 3 gate valves. One main water valve, and individual valves for the product condenser and the reflux condenser.

Great minds must think alike. Look anything like this?

manifold.jpg

I wanted one water-in port for all stilling tasks. Unused valves just get closed. Looks fiddly but works well. I made a bracket device to hold it all firmly to the milk can handle on one side.

Mine is not that fancy. Its just a peice of 3/4" pipe, capped on one end with a 3/4" gate valve on the other to attach a garden hose. Along the length of pipe I installed 2 additional 1/2" gate valves with push connect fittings to send water to the condensers individually. While the gate valve doesn't give the fine control a needle valve would for the RC, I've found it to be adequate enough for running a CCVM. I don't have a picture on my computer of it in its current form. I'll have to take one next time I'm out in the shed.

[BigSwede]

Threaded stem swiveling/locking casters would be cool since you have a concrete floor. They would still be adjustable and stable, but can easily be moved around. I put casters on virtually everything that sits on the floor.

What I found to be handy is wiring my pump to a switch which is mounted to the stand....

Good calls on both of these suggestions, especially the casters. Once full and hot, my boiler won't be moving.

Mine is not that fancy. Its just a peice of 3/4" pipe, capped on one end with a 3/4" gate valve on the other to attach a garden hose. Along the length of pipe I installed 2 additional 1/2" gate valves with push connect fittings to send water to the condensers individually. While the gate valve doesn't give the fine control a needle valve would for the RC, I've found it to be adequate enough for running a CCVM. I don't have a picture on my computer of it in its current form. I'll have to take one next time I'm out in the shed.

I'm using ball valves with VM/LM reflux, so fine control isn't an issue, just need to beat the vapor into submission.

Of course I tried the aquarium cooler plan from the water cooling contraption thread (viewtopic.php?t=94646) and as predicted it failed spectacularly. I ended up doing the 5 gallon bucket brigade swap-out this morning, worked OK for a strip, but I need something better for spirit ops.

First still ops in a decade! I actually enjoyed the smell of the tailsy low ABV as it came off. 11 gallons of 10% ABV sugar wash yielded 2.5 gallons low wines at 33% ABV. I shut her down with 11% ABV at the spout.

[Corn Cracker]

First still ops in a decade! I actually enjoyed the smell of the tailsy low ABV as it came off. 11 gallons of 10% ABV sugar wash yielded 2.5 gallons low wines at 33% ABV. I shut her down with 11% ABV at the spout.

Hell yeah back in action, I've got my first good high proof done and waiting for botanicals to come in

[MooseMan]

Glad to hear you're back at it BigSwede!

Nice job on the boiler stand, that's a pretty solid unit and well laid out, you'll never need to build another.

[Yummyrum]

Glad to hear you're back at it BigSwede!

Nice job on the boiler stand, that's a pretty solid unit and well laid out, you'll never need to build another.

“Never need to build another . “

Come on Moose , this is Big swede we're talking about

Bigswede . I love the hooks with the gaskets and clamps …. All in easy reach
Damn , every time I go to stick something on the boiler , I’m one of those short . I like it Sir .

[PalCabral]

Back in the saddle, once a distiller, always a distiller, Swede. Happy for you.

[MooseMan]

Glad to hear you're back at it BigSwede!

Nice job on the boiler stand, that's a pretty solid unit and well laid out, you'll never need to build another.

“Never need to build another . “

Come on Moose , this is Big swede we're talking about

Hmmm, yes there is that!

"Never need to build another, until you get a new shed/boiler/still/pump etcetera!

That better?

[BigSwede]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. It feels good to be back at it, and not just drilling, soldering or nailing. Tinkering is my weakness - can't stop. But I need to improve in actually using the stuff I build to make a decent drink.

Three more strips and I'll have the low wines to finally give an answer to the whole structured packing project. I'm pretty confident that, in the future, I could strip right through that stuff, just lay on enough power. The vapor should blow right through.

It's juniper berry season here... I gathered up some for a future gin batch. Should be fun!