Old school column provided decent results

[squigglefunk]

I don't use column stills much, I typically pot still but I got a keg still with this column in a package deal so I figured I would give it a whirl.

First I had to fix the top of the column, it had nothing, just open to the air. The only thing I could assume was it used to have some kind of stopper stuffed in there with a thermometer. I stuffed a 2" triclamp ferrule down into the end of the top, it was pounded in against a soft pine board and no soldering was needed. I added a cap and clamp and that was that.

Next there was no gasket for the keg, now I know these have the smooth top so I took a PTFE gasket and sanded one side flat. I had to go down quite a bit and still struggled to get the clamp around it, these keg ferrules are a bit fatter and rounder eh? The gasket will prop need sanded down even more but I did manage to get the column on and sealed.

I put some low wines that sat around 27% into the keg for a cleaning run

There are three copper pass through tubes providing the cooling, I stuffed the column with copper scrubbies and teased a few down between the copper pipes as best I could.

OK so no it could not run at a gallon an hour at 96% but I was able to get it dialed in and hit 190+ proof from my testing

i know it's an old outdated design but it does seem to work