FLUTE TALK

[olddog]

Here is the latest fitting I am using for sight glasses, they can either be surface mounted, or through mounted whichever you prefer.

It consists of a thread tube and two pieces that thread into either end of the tube.

You need two of these

One of the fittings is screwed into the tube, and the hex cut off, this now provides a good surface for the glass to sit on, I surface mounted these by shaping the end to the contour of the 4"tube, I then put a generous coating of solder on the end to be fitted to the tube so it was tinned over the whole surface. I then placed it on the tube and applied heat to the tube until the tinning melted and then applied more solder through the center of the fitting to be totally secure. Once the fitting is now soldered to the tube, I drilled out the hole in the tube through the fitting and filed it flush to the fitting.

Here is the finished fitting mounted on a 4"tube, You can either leave the hex on the front fitting to tighten, or cut it off and put a saw cut across it for a more flush look

[Kentucky shinner]

I have searched high and low for these here in the states OD and cannot find any...

[Thorn_veritas]

Nice od I like that is definetley the route I will go with my sight glasses seem easy enough aslong as I can coat all the vapour contact section in solder unless I can get them in copper not brass I think thats what you meant. But yeah thanks definetley a winner

thanks

[nwvapors]

I am wondering if there is a shoulder in where the plastic ferrulle is. If so you could discard the plastic ferulle and maybe there is a shoulder in there that will support the glass. I hate to order just one becuase they kill ya on shipping. I may just wait until I need some other things from there and order 1 then to check it out.

Hey KS,

There is a bit of a tapered edge on the male side, they are just big compression fittings. The flange nut has a pretty deep thread to accommodate the ferrule. I was thinking, as you were, of discarding the plastic ferrule and substituting teflon wrapped glass or some other combo thereof. I'll have to go down to the local plumb shop and check them out. I know they don't have them in copper but the brass version should be roughly the same config. I would really like to get em in copper if I could. Damn 10 years in plumbing supply you'd think I could determine at a glance huh? I'll let you know what I discover.

[Kentucky shinner]

Ok RC here is what I have so far. I was not going to post because this is for another member here on the board.
I dont think he will mind. I have been sending him some pics as I progress. I will post more later this weekend

[cob]

I am wondering if there is a shoulder in where the plastic ferrulle is. If so you could discard the plastic ferulle and maybe there is a shoulder in there that will support the glass. I hate to order just one becuase they kill ya on shipping. I may just wait until I need some other things from there and order 1 then to check it out.

Hey KS,

There is a bit of a tapered edge on the male side, they are just big compression fittings. The flange nut has a pretty deep thread to accommodate the ferrule. I was thinking, as you were, of discarding the plastic ferrule and substituting teflon wrapped glass or some other combo thereof. I'll have to go down to the local plumb shop and check them out. I know they don't have them in copper but the brass version should be roughly the same config. I would really like to get em in copper if I could. Damn 10 years in plumbing supply you'd think I could determine at a glance huh? I'll let you know what I discover.

if you had to you could add more copper to the inside (inverse of the easy flange) to make the flat larger to accomadate gaskets. that big brass nut would look good turned round and knurled. cob

[Kentucky shinner]

The Hillbilly 002 is starting to get some shine.

[olddog]

No Windows.

[Kentucky shinner]

No Windows.

Ya there coming. I dont have it soldered up yet.. Im cutting the holes for them tomorrow. I did not like the union I got to the sight glasses so I have more coming. I will put her eye's in some time soon..

[Kentucky shinner]

Yep 4x4 coupler.. shotgun dephlag.

[Kentucky shinner]

ya the 4x2 reducers were really rough... I did lots of sanding and lots of polishing to get them to look good.
This flute will not have removable plates so I will solder the shotgun dephlag on when I finish the polishing and put the sight glasses in. I will do a leak test on the irrigation system tomorrow.

[Kentucky shinner]

I am considering installing a flush tube to wash the flute when the run is finished by just opening a valve to flush water through.. I am a little concerned about what would happen if someone accidently opened it up during a run. anyone have any opinions on this option?

[cob]

I am considering installing a flush tube to wash the flute when the run is finished by just opening a valve to flush water through.. I am a little concerned about what would happen if someone accidently opened it up during a run. anyone have any opinions on this option?

electricians use lockouts, and i have ss ball valves with a lockout feature. cob

[HookLine]

electricians use lockouts, and i have ss ball valves with a lockout feature.

My stainless drain valve (ball valve) on the boiler has a locking tab on it. Highly recommend them.

[nwvapors]

I don't know how everybody else feels about it, but I'd like to see a separate topic line with photos of all the flutes that have been built posted, with links to the threads to their individual builds. It would be, IMO, an incredibly useful research tool and leaping off point for someone thinking about tackling one of these beasts. It may also quell a lot of questions from new comers to the rapidly growing (thanks to OD) flute building trend. I'm just sayin', I have been sipping a bit of the Northwest's finest winter brews.

NWV

[olddog]

but I'd like to see a separate topic line with photos of all the flutes that have been built posted,

That was the general idea for this thread, so we could all share ideas for builds.



OD

[Kentucky shinner]

Here is a link to my build.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&start=0

Here is my originally HillBilly flute

[Kentucky shinner]

Yes RC this is not a removable plate section so I soldered the plate in to get a good seal around the edges. I did make a plate tree so I could keep the plates spaced correctly and the downcomers in the correct place.

[Kentucky shinner]

Here is the templates that I have drawn for 4" dwv. These same templates will work for other the other thickness pipe. You can just sand down the edges for the fitments you need.

maybe this will help some of you out that are thinking of building a flute.
kentucky Shinner

[Mr.Spooky]

link to my build:
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=16805

[nwvapors]

Here is a link to my build.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Here is my originally HillBilly flute

Thanks KS this will help me a lot

[olddog]

Here is the original "Magic Flute" for those who have not yet seen it.

Here are the links to the build.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 0#p6834790
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 5#p6839215
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 1#p6852461
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 3#p6835683



OD

[JethroBodine]

Here's the link to mine. Still going slowly, but still going.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 14&start=0

[olddog]

For the interest of all the flute builders out there, I have just completed a Flute for a member, instead of using 1/8"holes in the plates, I went one size smaller 11/32, guess what, the bottom plate now bubbles.

The above diameter is incorrect, it's 7/64"or you could go down to 3/32". My apologies for incorrectly posting


OD

[gretschem]

For the interest of all the flute builders out there, I have just completed a Flute for a member, instead of using 1/8"holes in the plates, I went one size smaller 11/32, guess what, the bottom plate now bubbles.


OD

I'm that proud member, I can't wait to use this Flute, Thanks OD

[Manback]

OD - sorry for being an idiot but isn't 11/32" bigger than 1/8"? Confused!

[nwvapors]

For the interest of all the flute builders out there, I have just completed a Flute for a member, instead of using 1/8"holes in the plates, I went one size smaller 11/32, guess what, the bottom plate now bubbles.


OD

That's a great find OD, nice discovery, thanks for all your work on this. Can't wait to get one f these things up and running for myself.

[rad14701]

OD - sorry for being an idiot but isn't 11/32" bigger than 1/8"? Confused!

I think that was a typo... Heck, that would be ~1/3"...

Cough... Adjustable plates would have proven the benefit of smaller holes early on... Cough...

I'm just sayin...

[olddog]

My mistake, they are 7/64", which is one size down from 1/8"in my drill case I think you could go one size more to 3/32
I don't know how the other number got into my head

OD

[JethroBodine]

OD What percentage open area on each plate did you go for this time, same as The Flute?