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-hellbilly007
Thank you for the compliments..... HB- I am still around, enjoying the hobby. Summers are very busy here in the PNW but winter is just around the corner. I think I have already built the most versitile still that a hobbyist can make and still call it a hobby. It would be hard to make it any better. I just keep experimenting with new products and how to best run this column. I have two of the five for sale but like mash rookie said before if you have to ask the price you probably can't afford them.

Safe Still'n - Dan

Incredible as always !!!

Dan, have you ran the packed column with the plate column? I'm building the same thing! Thanks

jdeluca97 wrote:Dan, have you ran the packed column with the plate column? I'm building the same thing! Thanks

He hasn't been on the forum for over a month, might want to send him a PM.

Thank you

Bushman,Would the plates still work properly? I would assume they would....or what about using two packed columns , say a 6 footer with a 2 foot removable section? I have the skill and equipment to build either one ,but a packed column would be way cheaper, quicker and simpler . Thanks

A combination has been used successfully, I went with straight packing for cost and ease of building. If you read my thread on the construction page I go into some detail about plates vs packing. In the oil industry and some larger stills weight with packing can become a concern but at the hobby level and even with my 4" column it has not been an issue. I also have a tutorial on here about making your own copper mesh for packing.

Hey guys,

I also think just using two packed sections would work but may not give you as much feedback while running it. Don't you think this also looks a little better?

Happy New Year!

-Dan

Dan that is a thing of beauty. You def don't post enough.

Halfbaked wrote:Dan that is a thing of beauty. You def don't post enough.

He has an excuse! He's busy producing art.

BigSwede wrote:

Halfbaked wrote:Dan that is a thing of beauty. You def don't post enough.

He has an excuse! He's busy producing art.

Swede, if that ain't the kettle calling the pot black, I don't know what is.
You both do damn fine work.

Wow, how do you have time for the construction in the background? I have a question for you, that parrot is also beautiful are the two holes above the parrot for venting?

I'm gonna say yes for Dan, it's a surge breaker since the parrot is connected right to the condenser

Bushman-

There are five holes that are around the perimiter at the bottom of my final product condenser that vent the column. The 1/2" condenser tubes are just a bit longer than where the holes are so that none of the condensate comes out the vents.

Dan

work of art any more vids of new set up or is there a new design

Well Gentleman..... here it is, the fifth and final of the five second generation column builds. As far as hobby scale goes, I think after 32 months from start to finish, I personally have learned quite a bit. You can run this thing as a pot still, or as a single plate all the way up to five plates plus the packed section for neutrals. The possibilities are endless. I have been running 20 - 23 gallon batches of wash and have had a blast making bourbon with Mike's Sweet Feed Whiskey recipe by adding extra cracked corn to the grain bill. Working on our first rice based vodka using enzymes to convert the starch into fermentable sugars. There is a common theme in all of my proofing parrots but I think this is one of my favorites.

Dan

That is one really pretty poly. Great job. It really has some flair to it.

looking great. i just read this thread the last day or so. i learned alot. thank you for documenting it for all of us. im begining my build and this thread has helped clear a few things up ( after 2 days reading the flute talk thread)


cheers, im sure we would like to see a video of her in action

rager

looking great. i just read this thread the last day or so. i learned alot. thank you for documenting it for all of us. im begining my build and this thread has helped clear a few things up ( after 2 days reading the flute talk thread)


cheers, im sure we would like to see a video of her in action

rager

looking great. i just read this thread the last day or so. i learned alot. thank you for documenting it for all of us. im begining my build and this thread has helped clear a few things up ( after 2 days reading the flute talk thread)

quick question, how is your water routing these days? single valve , multiple valves/ pumps/ routing ect? i know things change over time but cooling management on a flute im still trying to understand 100% so i can apply it properly to my build

cheers, im sure we would like to see a video of her in action

rager

You did a great job there Dan..
A elegant flute, with a artistic tinge to it...(the parrot).
Why the two thermometers..?
I assume one is for the watertemperature and one for the product..?

Danespirit wrote:....Why the two thermometers..?
I assume one is for the watertemperature and one for the product..?

Looking back through the build, I see that one of them is in the vapor path at the column head. The other, obviously, is a water exit temperature. During a run, the two temperatures would align, signalling "online and stabilized".

Nice build Dan. I was looking for the brass sight glass rings (@ SD). But they're no longer available there. Any ideas of a source now?

Also, how do you configure for 1, 2, 3, or 4 plates since your standard tree has 5 plates? I like the opportunity for modularity. Ideas?
ss

Hey Guys,

The two thermometers give me vapor temp above and below the condenser to let me know what the differential is and therefore reflux power. Not necessary by any means but more information can't hurt. The plate tree can be adjusted by removing plates from the top down or just pulling the whole plate tree out of the column. I have not tried sourcing the brass sight glass rings in quite a while but you could PM member LWTCS or Larry and ask him if they will be getting any more in stock. Have fun and stay safe...

Dan

still_stirrin wrote:

Danespirit wrote:....Why the two thermometers..?
I assume one is for the watertemperature and one for the product..?

Looking back through the build, I see that one of them is in the vapor path at the column head. The other, obviously, is a water exit temperature. During a run, the two temperatures would align, signalling "online and stabilized".

Nice build Dan. I was looking for the brass sight glass rings (@ SD). But they're no longer available there. Any ideas of a source now?

Also, how do you configure for 1, 2, 3, or 4 plates since your standard tree has 5 plates? I like the opportunity for modularity. Ideas?
ss

Hey Danespirit,

My previous post was censored by somebody even though I am not the one selling anything ..... Anyway, if you go to the forbidden web purveyor of still parts just do a search for sight glass kits "SGK" and you should be able to find them. Apparently no one told me about rule #13

-Dan

The SGK's will be collectors Items soon,hang on to them! Have my share here!

bentstick wrote:The SGK's will be collectors Items soon,hang on to them! Have my share here!

BS,

I just bought five more!!

Dan

I re-read the thread, and I must tell it's pure gold, or cooper

I'm planning to build a plated 4" to replace the good old boka but looks like 4" copper pipe is pretty rare by those days, I mean at affordable prices and never saw any at junk yard.
I think I'd go stainless for the pipes and cooper for the inside.

Dan, I hope you don't mind if I copy some parts from you

Cede The last copper I bought was pretty reasonable. I think 3 ft cost me right around $100 maybe a few dollars more. I would think in Canada it would be more. I would suggest searching the internet or ebay or maybe some online stillary stores. I don't think the stainless would save you any money and if it did it might be pennies. Id agree Dan has a great thread.

dan,
Beautiful piece of art mixed with functionality. Nice job!

Halfbaked wrote:Cede The last copper I bought was pretty reasonable. I think 3 ft cost me right around $100 maybe a few dollars more. I would think in Canada it would be more.

Yes, a bit more round 120-140 USD, 40% more in CAD so 170-200 CAD.
I'm not in a hurry, so I can wait for a bargain.
Let's see what will come up