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RyanS wrote:Why tricloverers for the sight glasses too??

...just another way of doing things...about the same price as the status quo, but fits my skill-set and tools better...plus extra cool points.

Fair enough. So are sight glasses essential for this sort of still, or mainly just because it looks impressive to watch what's going on inside?

Is this considered to be a variation of the Continuous Fractionation Still (The Compleat Distiller p. 40), but the mash feed line is eliminated and instead the mash is in the heater/"Bottoms Section? (Fig 3-23). essentially its plates and bubble caps performing the same function as stainless steel mesh/scrubbers?

RyanS wrote:. essentially its plates and bubble caps performing the same function as stainless steel mesh/scrubbers?

They are similar as they both provide reflux, but plates will provide more flavor profile than mesh or scrubbers.


OD

olddog wrote:

RyanS wrote:. essentially its plates and bubble caps performing the same function as stainless steel mesh/scrubbers?

They are similar as they both provide reflux, but plates will provide more flavor profile than mesh or scrubbers.


OD

Is this design still fine at doing nuetral spirits? Would you say its easier to keep a plated still clean than a scrubber type?

RyanS wrote:

olddog wrote:

RyanS wrote:. essentially its plates and bubble caps performing the same function as stainless steel mesh/scrubbers?

They are similar as they both provide reflux, but plates will provide more flavor profile than mesh or scrubbers.


OD

Is this design still fine at doing nuetral spirits? Would you say its easier to keep a plated still clean than a scrubber type?

see this (7th post down)
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... &start=720
spooky

RYANS, I wouldnt worry about what design is easier to clean. I have never had issues with my still getting "dirty". Whether you are looking for a flavored beverage or a neutral, the flute can make it!

I would make the claim that almost any sugar wash can be run through a flute 2-3 times and make an amaxing neutral.

I guess you would call the first run a stripping run (although it comes out at 90%+)

Dilute and rerun the hearts... Add sodium carbonate, or sodium bicarbonate if you wish...

Taste... if its good youre done...

If you want even more neutral, dilute and run again!

There is really no issue, in my mind, with running a wash 2,3,....4 times with a flute because the run is so damn fast!!!

Its truly amaxing if you ask me... Im used to running 2" reflux still (VM)... the flute is WAY FASTER...

good luck

I notice some designs with 3 plates and some with up to 10, I take it the more plates are faster? I guess you can't fit too many plates and still have it in a garage with 8 foot ceiling.

It seems to me that people are indicating flutes CONSISTANTLY hit 90% ABV whereas scrubbers might give you 95% one day and 85% on another?

Ryan, the more plates just gives you a more neutral spirit. I does not increase speed. Diameter of the column increases speed.

Kentucky shinner wrote:Ryan, the more plates just gives you a more neutral spirit. I does not increase speed. Diameter of the column increases speed.

Kentucky,

If I understand you correctly, a 3 or 4 plate would let much more flavor thru than a 6 or 8 plate? I am thinkin about scotch and bourbon.

Thanks for your thoughts, really have learned from reading your flute thread.
Cheers,
stilly

Stilly wrote:Kentucky,

If I understand you correctly, a 3 or 4 plate would let much more flavor thru than a 6 or 8 plate? I am thinkin about scotch and bourbon...

If I may interject here.. yes Stilly you are correct. more plates = less flavor and vise/versa less plates = more flavors.

So for a person wanting a high flavored higher congers spirit, you would likely want a 3-4 plate column that would likely produce a spirit in the lower to mid 80 percentile ABV range without reflux, add an additional plate to raise the ABV but strip a minute amount of flavor, Each additional plate strips more flavor while increasing the ABV of your finished spirit. Raise the ABV again slightly by refluxing your spirit at the beginning of your run.

Each plate is an actual physical plate in respect to the theories surrounding a pot stills. as opposed to a scubbie filled column that uses theoretical plates, used mostly to strip all flavor for a clean neutral with a high ABV, usual around the 95% mark.

I believe i have that right.

IzzyB

Yep I believe you nailed it pretty good Izzy... My 4 plate produces 88% abv consistently with a 45 min reflux at the beginning of the run

More plates less flavor but higher abv.. Less plates more flavor but lower abv...
KS

My 5 plater gives foreshots at 94abv, and hearts at 90abv.


OD

....that's the notion that i have of things. that's why i am really stoked on the whole modularity thing. i think this thing should keep me busy for a while, even after i finish building it. lots of stuff to tweak on. like different number of plated sections, sections with the plates removed and packing added, different types of plates, different takeoff points...i have some ideas and they just keep stacking up!

i'm really behind with work from the holidays and all, so i am in full on daydream mode for a bit. hopefully i can get back to fun stuff soon.

Kentucky shinner wrote:Yep I believe you nailed it pretty good Izzy... My 4 plate produces 88% abv consistently with a 45 min reflux at the beginning of the run

More plates less flavor but higher abv.. Less plates more flavor but lower abv...
KS

But isn't one of the advantages of ODs flute design, that you CAN easily switch it to 'pot still mode'. However let's say you have 6 plates which would strip the flavour, how can you do a full flavor batch without physically removing the actual plates, just as you would remove theoretical plates/scrubbers?

RyanS wrote: how can you do a full flavor batch without physically removing the actual plates, just as you would remove theoretical plates/scrubbers?

Just run it faster with less dephlementation.

Lets not Hi-jack this thread, this discussion should be in Flute Talk


OD

olddog wrote:

RyanS wrote: how can you do a full flavor batch without physically removing the actual plates, just as you would remove theoretical plates/scrubbers?

Just run it faster with less dephlementation.

Lets not Hi-jack this thread, this discussion should be in Flute Talk

OD

My apologies, no more hi-jacking from me

...i don't mind, mang...been guilty of some serious, level 9, thread-jackage me-self...

jack on.

...and also, back on topic...just made a deal with izzy for the rest of the pipe that i need to complete the bubblifier. (i can't call it a "flute"....just plain can't! the flute that i play once or twice a day will get jealous, and that little prick runs the show 'round here)

thinking an upgraded, modular vapor shredder™ in 2.5" that will kill any vapor to cross any of my rigs.


...just kiddin with the ™...been doing some quality control tonight...

condensificator wrote:. (i can't call it a "flute"....just plain can't! the flute that i play once or twice a day will get jealous, and that little prick runs the show 'round here)
..

look you can't call it a piccolo because that's just insulting, call it a contrabassoon

rockchucker22 wrote:

rc22 wrote:Over the top !

Nice work on a fantasy still.

I'm very bothered by your handle.

OK, I had left a note in a prior post...

I shall delete my account if possible and return under a different handle.

BTW, I also have at least a couple rockchuckers around here good tool. yet that was not the basis for my handle.

Best
...

Condensificator thought I would let you know I am starting a 4" plate still build similar to your bublifier. I got to reading about these flutes and was coming up with a plan of attack. Really just trying to figure out how I was going to acquire the 4" copper. Then my brain went into overdrive. I decided to make it out of a 20 ft piece of 2" I acquired that looks like it was run over by a MAC truck. It was free. I will cut it down and slice it open and flatten it out. Then I will form the pieces into 4" X 4" sections that can be connected with 4" triclamps like yours. They will also have 2" triclamp peepholes like yours. After I thought all this up I found this thread. Damn you beat me to it. But your skills are exceptional. I don't know if I will be able to create copper porn as good as yours. But I will give it my best. I hope you don't mind? I would like to know if you have gotten the 2" peephole glass worked out? That one I would like your help on if you would? I'm not going to start a thread of my own till I get at least half of it done. Mainly because for once I am taking my time with this project. I am collecting / making specialty tooling I will need now. Once I get that done it will be build time.

Prairiepiss wrote:Condensificator thought I would let you know I am starting a 4" plate still build similar to your bublifier. I got to reading about these flutes and was coming up with a plan of attack. Really just trying to figure out how I was going to acquire the 4" copper. Then my brain went into overdrive. I decided to make it out of a 20 ft piece of 2" I acquired that looks like it was run over by a MAC truck. It was free. I will cut it down and slice it open and flatten it out. Then I will form the pieces into 4" X 4" sections that can be connected with 4" triclamps like yours. They will also have 2" triclamp peepholes like yours. After I thought all this up I found this thread. Damn you beat me to it. But your skills are exceptional. I don't know if I will be able to create copper porn as good as yours. But I will give it my best. I hope you don't mind? I would like to know if you have gotten the 2" peephole glass worked out? That one I would like your help on if you would? I'm not going to start a thread of my own till I get at least half of it done. Mainly because for once I am taking my time with this project. I am collecting / making specialty tooling I will need now. Once I get that done it will be build time.

if this is your first build, i recommend starting with something a little less ambitious. making the sections out of pre-beaten, cut apart and re-formed, re-brazed 2" pipe sections in itself is a HUGE undertaking. unless you are already very skilled and in good practice working with copper and stainless, you are setting yourself up for a real struggle. i myself was already proficient at shaping, grinding, carving, welding, polishing, brazing, etc. before i got into this sport, and i can tell you from experience, i would not want to take on the bubblifier project without having some smaller scale warm up to get accustomed to the work it will take. the parts do add up, and you will have a lot of loot tied up in the project...if you blow it on the stainless with too much heat, you'll end up buying a bunch of stuff twice.

with the tri-clamp sight glasses, the way i am doing it requires a lathe, and they must be turned before installation. there are pics of the turned recess on the first page of this thread.

not trying to "piss" on your fire, just being realistic.
if you start with a lesser project, you will always be able to find someone in need of a still when you move on. if you do decide to go with a similar project, i highly recommend finding some 4" dwv pipe.

PP...i'm not telling you not to do it...just best to get a little warmed up first. i have never had a hard time handing down a still to a newer prospective shiner, and doing so increases our numbers!!!

condensificator wrote:best prices and service that i found on tri-clamp stuff was http://www.gvc.net. they are in FL, so shipping should be cheaper and faster for you.

I have been researching a lot of tri-clamp fittings for a new (304) SS build and I've found the best prices for the sizing I need at Austinitex (http://www.austenitex.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow). One unusual benefit is that they also sell SS tubing at basically flat per/foot prices so you don't need to buy 20 feet at a time to avoid gouging. Austinitex carries fittings and valves from several manufacturers, though most of tri-clamp stuff seems to be from Bradford.

While St Patricks (http://www.stpats.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow) also has very good prices, their size selection is more limited (focused mainly on 1.5" tubing common in the wine industry). St Pats appears to actually make all their own fittings.

I'll admit that GVC seems to have the best selection, but their prices just weren't competitive.

thanks. i actually got turned onto a better source from someone else on the forum, and it's very close to me, so i save on shipping: http://www.klgstainless.com/Ferrule.html

i did bookmark the austenitex site, though, in case i need something the klg place doesn't have.

I have been ordering from them and the prices are great.

klg or austenitex?

KlG. The last couple of days I can't get there sight to open. It acts like it is being edited.

couple o copper porn pics:











got 3 of the sections done...had to set up to takes some pics for the sight glass thread: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=19973, so i knocked 3 of em out. fun to get some torch time in!!! ok...now back to work.

Nice work, thanks for the pics, keep us posted