LWTCS's thump tower system

[Usge]

LW, just relax bud...you are doing fine. Don't worry about too much detail/specifics right now. Give a wide/simplified overview..then knock down a run. They'll ask specific questions after that which will allow you to focus on specific areas without having to try and keep it all rolling along together.

[Prairiepiss]

+1 on MR and Usge. Don't let it eat you up. It's suppose to be fun. Or its no longer a hobby. Keep up the good work.

If it makes you feel any better I was having puter problems trying to watch it last night. After about the 6th F bomb my wife went into the other room and told the kids not to go in there.

[blind drunk]

Quote of the day -

LW said -

... there's just an inordinate amount of likker available in this entire rectifying section ...

[rtalbigr]

Larry, I finally got the time to view, and despite your frustration (sorry, but I was laughin like hell), I was really impressed. It has helped me alot in getting past the concept and actually understanding what a lot of you guys are doing. I'm a dedicated pot stiller but it's good to know what a lot of you guys are working with. I am extremely impressed with your rig; I spent days making my pot still, you gotta have weeks/months of work in your's. Very impressive!

Big R

[LWTCS]

4th segement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG2D18OyXpY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Sorry bout the language on the previous segment

[Prairiepiss]

Another nice vid. And the language in the other vid just told me your normal. Don't worry about it. Looks like the sippin helped.

[blind drunk]

They call him the likker scrubber.

Seriously, nice job. Very educational for a simple pot head like myself.

[LWTCS]

Very nice, I still think we need details of your dephlegamator and take off ..... Next segment, can't wait!

Yes Sir, but I must warn you..It is underwelming.

[MuleKicker]

A couple of things.... If my math is correct, the humper makes 85% and the minithumper makes 87%... So when you put them together you get some kinda super likker at 172% I tried to ask a question, but you were too pissed off in that last segment larry...

Keep it comin man, good info. Should maybe add some of it to the lounge, eh?

[blind drunk]

I tried to ask a question, but you were too pissed off in that last segment larry...

You crack me up, mule

[LWTCS]

If my math is correct, the humper makes 85% and the minithumper makes 87%... So when you put them together you get some kinda super likker at 172%

No crazy ass mule. Your math is wrong.

I was trying to illustrate that the beginning of the cycling/reflux period starts out with an abv some where between 80-88% (or better?) and that by the time the alcohol cycles down to the big thumper and back up again,,,,,,,,,there is a very dynamic bit of distilling happening.

[Bushman]

Thanks Larry I had to go back and get caught up, I missed #3.

[LWTCS]

Counting down now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stXxrm7Eflg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Prairiepiss]

Yet another good vid. Thanks Larry.

[HookLine]

Love your work, Big El.

Any questions?

&%#*$(N=$#*!

You'd fit right in over here in OzLand.

[LWTCS]

Thank you Hook
That means a lot to me

[Kentucky shinner]

Very clever Larry, I really like what you have done. I think the thumper at the bottom would be pretty cool below the first plate of the flute build. It seems to me it would basically work the same as what you have done here. It is like having a turbo charger...LOL Way to go man.
Awesome bro.
KS

[LWTCS]

Yes KS. My assertion is that the oversized first plate helps keep more alcohol available for the column to more easily do it's work.

[myles]

I am really enjoying this. The potential of this is what got me started on my 2 stage bubble cap thumper. With luck I will get out to the workshop in the new year and start heating copper.

For those of you that have been building dephlegmators can you post your findings on size vs power handling capacity, both for the single large bore and shotgun types. My gut feeling is that it is easy to build these much bigger than is actually required. I suspect that it would be possible to run a much more compact version - but I currently have no data to back it up.

[NcHooch]

Just got caught up .....nice job there LW.

I gotta ask tho.... if the only goal is to maximize your ABV, I would tend to agree that you don't want reflux returning to the main boiler.
But wouldn't you agree there's lots of flavor in the boiler that can help produce a better product?, and that a certain amout of refluxing into the boiler might pick some of that goodness up? (i understand that you're charging your thumpers, so that's more of a theoretical question)

No need for appologies, need more profanity in the other segments.

thanks man

[LWTCS]

NcHooch,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOlX3aNJXE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Prairiepiss]

I am really enjoying this. The potential of this is what got me started on my 2 stage bubble cap thumper. With luck I will get out to the workshop in the new year and start heating copper.

For those of you that have been building dephlegmators can you post your findings on size vs power handling capacity, both for the single large bore and shotgun types. My gut feeling is that it is easy to build these much bigger than is actually required. I suspect that it would be possible to run a much more compact version - but I currently have no data to back it up.

Maybe you could start a thread on just the dephlagmater findings Myles. I have some input on the small end that I could contribute. Don't want to clog up Larry's good thread with it.

Larry if you were to build your primary thumper again? Is there anything you would do different? Size, shape, inlet, outlet drain size and or placement? I'm guessing with my interpretation of your thinking. You want it a size that would hold the amount of alcohol in the charge you plan to run with it? Like for a 10 gal charge with a 10% ABV you would want somewhere above a gallon. Say 1.5 gal. As to keep the alcohol from returning to the boiler. Correct? Those numbers were just easy not necessary what I would do. Probably should go by the biggest charge you plan to do.

[LWTCS]

Pretty sure you are on the right track with that thinking PP.

In hind sight, I would use at least a 1/3 (or about) rule that commonly applies to regular old thumper thankin. And that 1/3 logic (coincidentally) applies loosely to what ya collect from yer boiler charge after a regular pot run!

And yes that (to me) is a major part of this concept. Your rig has to be able to contain/isolate/liberate/suspend/support//////the entire bit of useable alcohol within the boiler charge.

Also, in order to run the highest ABV most optimally,,,you have to collect product before the "Big Plate" starts to drain back to the primary. Once this happens the process will begin to reverse it self. Not really sure how quickly this drain back will affect the performance however...... But a sight glass at the big thumper liquid line would be very helpful for this reason.

Hope I said that clearly

[Prairiepiss]

Ok I'm trying to work this into the current setup I am running. So that it can also be used with my other configs I'm working on. My problem I'm looking at is hight of the thumper. I would like to keep it at 12" from triclamp to triclamp. So I have to find a vessel that will fit in those confines.

Sory I don't want to take your thread off course with this. But something is really drawing me in with this line of thinking of yours. And would like to experiment with it to.

[LWTCS]

I would like to keep it at 12" from triclamp to triclamp. So I have to find a vessel that will fit in those confines.

Not acceptable at all sir,,,,Promptly cut a hole in your ceiling as I am planning to do............

[mash rookie]

Great vid's Larry. A deep volume bubble cap column.(oop's I mean thumpers) Chargeable or not if you want to add or subtract flavors. High volume chambers allow for increased interaction time and greater separations of the fractions. Staged forced reflux like a flute. You have a bunch of great theory going. I am working on an external drain or return line concept for my flute. I am also frustrated with not knowing how huch liquid is moving down. I think I can make a glass sight tube to go inline. If I pull it off I will send you one. How long do you hold at reflux before taking off when you are making your rum?

MR

[Prairiepiss]

Not acceptable at all sir,,,,Promptly cut a hole in your ceiling as I am planning to do............

It's more all my modular pieces are 12". And I would like to stick with it. And if I cut a hole in the ceiling I would have to put a skylight in.

[LWTCS]

How long do you hold at reflux before taking off when you are making your rum?

MR

I assume you mean makin with the entire assembly? I guess about 20 minutes then draw heads off, put her back into reflux for maybe 10 minutes then collect......

1-2 minutes here 5-10 minutes there,,,,,,I never take notes and so operational stuff like this is just off the top of my head and/ or what I feel like doing at the time.

For instance,,,,I love "This American Life",,a radio program on public radio that airs on Saturdays,,,,my stilling day......If that show is particularly interesting that day I may let the rig reflux longer just so i can listen to the program.
You see I listen to my thumpers boil to get a feel for where the run is. Little solder boil chips in the tower and the floating bubble cap in the big thumper. And when the radio is on I can't hear the thumpers as well so I'll shut off the radio when that time comes......But If I want to hear the radio,,,,,,this may mean another 5-7-10 minutes here or there......I do not really restrict myself to some kind of time constraint,,,,if you follow my meaning....... How it come out is how it comes out.....Long as I'm flush with drankin stock,,,,,,I'm happy.

[mash rookie]

How long do you hold at reflux before taking off when you are making your rum?

MR

I assume you mean makin with the entire assembly? I guess about 20 minutes then draw heads off, put her back into reflux for maybe 10 minutes then collect......

1-2 minutes here 5-10 minutes there,,,,,,I never take notes and so operational stuff like this is just off the top of my head and/ or what I feel like doing at the time.

For instance,,,,I love "This American Life",,a radio program on public radio that airs on Saturdays,,,,my stilling day......If that show is particularly interesting that day I may let the rig reflux longer just so i can listen to the program.
You see I listen to my thumpers boil to get a feel for where the run is. Little solder boil chips in the tower and the floating bubble cap in the big thumper. And when the radio is on I can't hear the thumpers as well so I'll shut off the radio when that time comes......But If I want to hear the radio,,,,,,this may mean another 5-7-10 minutes here or there......I do not really restrict myself to some kind of time constraint,,,,if you follow my meaning....... How it come out is how it comes out.....Long as I'm flush with drankin stock,,,,,,I'm happy.

Hey L Dub,

Yes, the whole unit. I assume that you are pre charging all thumpers? When you pull heads are they 90 ish?

I found a piece of Pyrex tubing (borosilicate glass) in my shop the other day. The ID was really close to the OD of ¾” copper. That stuff is really tough and the COE is pretty close between copper and glass. I cut a piece about a four inches long.

Before I came in from the shop tonight I stood it on end and heated it up (red hot) until I could stuff a piece of copper tubing in about a inch. It will cool overnight before I look at it in the morning. I think the hot glass will contract to a perfect seal around the copper. (it might be broken in the morning)

I know this is larger diameter than we need for tube site glass, but if it works I can get some that is the correct size for ½” tubing or put reducers on it. You should be able to solder a joint real close without breaking Pyrex.

I think with what you have done the next step may be managing chamber levels and return rates or return location.
Keep up the good work amigo.
MR

[rtalbigr]

[I assume you mean makin with the entire assembly? I guess about 20 minutes then draw heads off, put her back into reflux for maybe 10 minutes then collect......

1-2 minutes here 5-10 minutes there,,,,,,I never take notes and so operational stuff like this is just off the top of my head and/ or what I feel like doing at the time.

For instance,,,,I love "This American Life",,a radio program on public radio that airs on Saturdays,,,,my stilling day......If that show is particularly interesting that day I may let the rig reflux longer just so i can listen to the program.
You see I listen to my thumpers boil to get a feel for where the run is. Little solder boil chips in the tower and the floating bubble cap in the big thumper. And when the radio is on I can't hear the thumpers as well so I'll shut off the radio when that time comes......But If I want to hear the radio,,,,,,this may mean another 5-7-10 minutes here or there......I do not really restrict myself to some kind of time constraint,,,,if you follow my meaning....... How it come out is how it comes out.....Long as I'm flush with drankin stock,,,,,,I'm happy.

Is this an esoteric comment on life? ".....How it come out is how it comes out...." Does the pecularities of our distillation processes become an extention of our personalities, thus a comment on life itself? I'm funnin, ya, but serious as well. We pursue a hobby that is blantantly illegal, but that we find intrinsically fasinating. We invest not only significant monetary resources but also significant allocations of time. We even consider cutting holes in our ceiling to accomodate our latest innovations. My house has become my own personal distillery (living alone does have advantages). Sometimes our hobbies define us, not in a negative way, but often more so than the professions we choose. Hobbies are always by choice.

Btw Larry, I too find "This American Life" compelling. I've had a few oh oh's while listening.

Big R