FLUTE TALK
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:28 pm
Its now six months since I built the original Magic Flute, it has been a spectacular build for me, giving a consistant 90ABV with a single run, potstill takeoff speeds, and retaining full flavor, and once heads and forshots are taken, will retain 90ABV until all hearts are taken. It has not been a one off fluke as other builders like Kentucky Shiner report similar results.
The Idea was to take a commercial concept and scale it down to be run as a single batch production from a keg boiler, and to be built with normal handi man tools like you can find in any home workshop. I built the flute using a hacksaw, 4 files, a Mapp torch, and a drill press, and I just used a cheap bending spring to form the pipework.
Since my build, other forum members have come up with new ideas which could make this column even better. I beleave the shotgun dephlagmater and valve plates just using copper rivets as KS has done is still within the capability of members with the normal home workshop tools, and could improve the design even further.
I have had thoughts about redesigning the head of the column, so the column is built in one piece with a drop in dephlagmater unit which requires a 4" tri-clamp to seal the whole assembly. The plate assembly could be attached to the base of the dephlagmater, so the whole plate assembly and dephlagmater could be removed for cleaning or changing the plate count. If this was done, the vapor takeoff would have to be moved from the top of the column as per the original Flute, to a side takeoff. I hope this idea is some use to the Flute builders out there, I am amazed how many there are now.
I have been asked by a few members if we can combine all of the Flute build posts into one thread, although this would be very hard to do, if any Flute builders out there can post a link here it will provide a reference point for any future Flute builders.
OD
The Idea was to take a commercial concept and scale it down to be run as a single batch production from a keg boiler, and to be built with normal handi man tools like you can find in any home workshop. I built the flute using a hacksaw, 4 files, a Mapp torch, and a drill press, and I just used a cheap bending spring to form the pipework.
Since my build, other forum members have come up with new ideas which could make this column even better. I beleave the shotgun dephlagmater and valve plates just using copper rivets as KS has done is still within the capability of members with the normal home workshop tools, and could improve the design even further.
I have had thoughts about redesigning the head of the column, so the column is built in one piece with a drop in dephlagmater unit which requires a 4" tri-clamp to seal the whole assembly. The plate assembly could be attached to the base of the dephlagmater, so the whole plate assembly and dephlagmater could be removed for cleaning or changing the plate count. If this was done, the vapor takeoff would have to be moved from the top of the column as per the original Flute, to a side takeoff. I hope this idea is some use to the Flute builders out there, I am amazed how many there are now.
I have been asked by a few members if we can combine all of the Flute build posts into one thread, although this would be very hard to do, if any Flute builders out there can post a link here it will provide a reference point for any future Flute builders.
OD