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Just did it by feel. The holes are 1/4" while the posts of the rivets are 1/8". The cool thing is that the underside of the rivet heads are cone shaped, so they self center as they close andthe size of the opening probably increases the more the valve opens to a degree. I just think that the valves will do a good job of not pressuring up the column if I puke the boiler.

Looks good

Looks really good. I can't wait to see the finished product either!

Ray, thanks for the pictures and the description of how you made the dephleg, I really appreciated it! Fascinating flute... I like how the little caps look like pennies sitting on the plates. That must look awesome through the sight glasses. I'm looking forward to the results which I'm sure you are too!

This might be a stupid question but I'd like to know if you can here those plates chime when operational. They just seem like they might make a pleasant noise when jumping up and down.

RB

It's looking great Ray. Are you going to weld the coolant lines for the dephlagmater to that fancy reducer? And how much room are you going to have between the reducer and the dephlagmater?

Working on that now Prarie. Plan is to use compression fittings to join the stainless tubing to the top of the dephleg and will prolly have a friend tig weld the tubing to the stainless flatcap/adapter. There will be a 3" gap/vapor space between the CEO and cooler.

Are you planning on being able to take it apart? Is that why you are thinking about compression fittings? I don't know if I would trust them enough to put them on the dephlagmater. And inside where I couldn't see them. That's just me though. Are they 1/2 s/s tubes? I have some 1/2" comp by 1/2" NPT s/s fittings laying here that I will never use if you need them.

Appreciate the offer Prarie, but I think I'm good. I probably wouldn't trust normal compression fittings, but these are industrial stainless swagelok fittings and tubing rated for over 1500 psi. I'm confident I won't have any leaks with my water pressure. And yes, this will enable me to easily take everything apart.

I've used those before. Can't remember what for. But it rings a bell. Sounds good to me. I don't know what these I have are. All I know is they are s/s. Keep them pics coming. I'm liking it.

Now working my 25th 12-hour night shift in a row, so progress has been slow.

Parrot starting to come together.



Drop-in dephlegmator finally finished! Copper tubes hard soldered to cooler and brazed to stainless triclamp

I see why you started your own strand, great job and very nice documentation

a valved plate column, thats just fantastic.

Getting pretty excited now! Had an hour to play with the build this morning before going to bed. Here's a sneak peek at the first plumbing configuration I came up with.

that looks pretty dang rad!!!! i wish that i could make the pics bigger so i could get a better peek at the coolant lines
spooky

Trying to figure that out. I used to post bigger pics but now it's restricting me to less than 500 pixels.

iv ran across the same thing.

Ray Dean.

That Sir, is a very slick good bit of progress.. Love the cooling..
Good for you.

The stainless cooling lines look really good. I like the contrast.

RayDean wrote:Getting pretty excited now! Had an hour to play with the build this morning before going to bed. Here's a sneak peek at the first plumbing configuration I came up with.

OK. The others are too polite, but I'm calling you out. That is not still, that is a some half drunk industrial designer's version of a retro art deco espresso machine. Just look at that curved stainless tubing and those black knobs. Dead give away.

Only thing I can't figure is where the milk comes out.









Nice work.

Thats pretty funny Hook..

Break OD's heart if you don't polish her up real good . She's a beauty.

Is the water control for the dephlegm on the input or output? Can't tell from the pics... Thx

Very handsome lookin rig there Ray, when is the maiden voyage?

NChooch

Thanks guys. Almost finished with the sightglasses, so I started s batch of ujssm minus the corn to use as a throwaway alcohol cleaning run after my leak test and vinegar/water run. Hopefully some finished wash will kee pme on track. Plan on starting a 10 or 15 gallon ujssm batch in my 20 gallon fermenter. Thoughts?

Beautiful work. I'm looking forward to hearing about your results. I'm planning a 2 valve tray flute with a gin basket and am hoping for some inspiration (or cautions).

very nice im reading up on these may i ask a few questions
1. can u really pull off whiskey under reflux on one of these
2. any advice on the deflag other than stated
3 when we get to see a vid of it in use
and just a statement this is some serious copper porn
but a very good job u have done hear

chris69ca wrote:1. can u really pull off whiskey under reflux on one of these

Sure you can.
Remember,,,,this type of still was scaled down and built to run a single with a wash at potstill speed. There is anecdotal evidence littering these forums with testimonials. Can run it other ways too of course.

Only real detractors seem to be the experts that never had a drop from one of these little rigs.

chris69ca wrote:2. any advice on the deflag other than stated

Building??? Running??

chris69ca wrote:3 when we get to see a vid of it in use

Yeah,,,,,,,what the heck Ray Dean?????

building even if i can grab some diagrams and stuff 2 much to sort through hear on deflags i tell you looking at the theory and reading at the moment

Most of the dephlegmaters used here are simply jacketed condensers....like a liebig.

By definition,,,a dephlegmater is a partial condenser...So one doesn't really need much knock down power to partially condense....

But with these plated stills we are using the dephlegmater to load/stack liquid on the plates by adjusting cooling capacity to 100% reflux mode.

To me the biggest question mark is how small can one build. Most stay on the safe side and over build to ensure 100% knockdown capacity.

id probably overload but try to minimize that a bit though im looking at building a bubble plate going to get preferated plates from ks better for me seaming as i dont have a lath and they are fairly cheap just bit of distance so cant really look into getting all the parts from their i found a good place for 4 inch copper at a resoluble price but just holding off on it all for the moment want to be more confident first

Bit pf parody trying to figger how to spend. And then there is tbe part that needs to consider if this hobby is just a fad or if hou see yoir self drifting away.
Conventional wisdom says get some experience first. Then after time passes and you up grade,,,,you say to your self "hell I sboulda up graded a year ago".

Can always run an old school pot still styled run and ease into the forced reflux with these rigs too.
Would just be spendy as hell for the pot only approach. But that would be your start up money used toward a real keeper.