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My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:59 am
by rednose
This is my “Apollo” rig, I called it so as it looks some kind of a rocket.
It’s all made out of 2mm Stainless Steel, has a 100Ltr boiler, a 30Ltr worm (4 meters of 3/8 SS tube) cooled with a 12V Shurflo water pump from a 15.000 liter reservoir.
The column has 6 plates inside to produce a little reflux.
It has a 10 Ltr product can, enough for at least an hour of spirit or stripping run.
It’s heated by a 90.000 BTU propane burner with special pressure gas tank valve for fine tuning the temp.
All is mounted on a SS rack with wheels for easy storage.
The boiler has a 12” bolted flange for easy cleaning.
The columns are mounted with a 2” thread, that way I can use whatever column I want, I also have some spare flange to solder future bigger diameter columns directly.
All seals are Teflon, I bought some analog marine SS temp meters which should arrive next week.
I have to work on some outlet product tubes before running it first time.
Other photos will follow, any comment is welcome.
Joe
Apollo.jpg
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:39 am
by ScottishBoy
As soon as I saw it, the them from "I Dream of Jeannie" came into my head....
Hmmmm...that gives me an idea
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:12 am
by RefluxFan
Beautiful workmanship!! Mmmmmm....Eye candy.
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:48 am
by ScottishBoy
In case it didnt come across that way, I meant my comment up above with a lot of respect. It really is a nice looking piece. You must be insanely proud.
SB
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:35 pm
by rednose
No prob SB I understood your comment on the right way, I use to have a good humor as well.
Thanks for the congrats, I have a good friend who owns a metal mecanic and he don't charge me anything but the material, I can use any machine he has.
I'm actually performaing a cleaning run, maybe later I will run the Bok for a small UJSSM run and post photos.
Joe
ScottishBoy wrote:In case it didnt come across that way, I meant my comment up above with a lot of respect. It really is a nice looking piece. You must be insanely proud.
SB
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:21 pm
by blind drunk
Wow, that's a nice set up. I could see it hitch up to my truck and traveling to bluegrass festivals for a summer job. bd.
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:25 pm
by LWTCS
Just beautiful Rednose
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:34 pm
by Chasin' Tales
Beautiful work! If it runs even half as good as it looks you will be doing alright!
How do you like living in Ecuador?
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:18 pm
by kiwistiller
damn you're turning out the stills quickly!? how do you find time to run them?
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:25 pm
by toofless one
rednose wrote:Other photos will follow, any comment is welcome
Ill keep my comments to myself
really, that thing is out of this world (get it?). congrats. when the sun hits it, do you have to wear a welding mask?
a work of art my friend. bravo.
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 6:47 pm
by rednose
Haha, when I do something I do it very intensive.
I had the UJSSM stripping run (only 1/2 full, 50Ltr) with the bok at 1/2 reflux.

- UJSSM Run Bok
It took 2 hours to get 2 gal of great booze which will have a second run with a lot of brothers I collected this week.

- Booze

- parrot
I'm very surprised how low is the energy usage on this rig.

- Regulator
kiwistiller wrote:damn you're turning out the stills quickly!? how do you find time to run them?
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:45 pm
by rednose
Here is a little tricky part of Apollo, I designed a 8" long and 4" diameter infusion basket which, without teflon just fits in the boiler flange.
I make about 10 rounds with cheap Teflon tape and it seals perfectly.
It is used to carry small copper pieces as HookLine said once in another thread that the vapor needs to touch at least once copper and "Apollo"is a pure SS rig.
It can be used also to flavor vodka for making Pernod or Gin.
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:51 pm
by WalkingWolf
That is fine work there rednose. I can't help but ogle over your rig

. And on wheels to boot. Gives me something to work towards.
Good Stillin
WalkingWolf
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:56 pm
by rednose
Thanks WW, next project is the Olddog rig, the devil sister in 5" and made in 2mm copper.
Apollo also has a 1/2"outlet valve in the buttom of the boiler for easy filling (I do it with a juice pump) and empty.
WalkingWolf wrote:That is fine work there rednose. I can't help but ogle over your rig

. And on wheels to boot. Gives me something to work towards.
Good Stillin
WalkingWolf
Life in EC
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 8:06 pm
by rednose
You can live quite well here as long as you don't have problems with the local law, the system is very corrupt like many other South American countries.
Most stuff is cheap, like a pound of meat in 1.80 USD or sugar in 1.30 USD for 2 Kg.
The natural ambient is just great, I'm living in the fields (15 minutes from the capital of the state) where we have the hotel as well.
I almost never go out of there as we have all what we need at home, going elsewhere can mostly be worse, lol.
Chasin' Tales wrote:Beautiful work! How do you like living in Ecuador?
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:12 pm
by vicrider
That is SWEET. A mobile stillin station. That gives me some ideas as well. V
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:27 pm
by still crazy
Ya I can see VIC now tooling down the road on the Victory cruiser with a trailer in tow.
Generator powered off the tire rotation, electric coil cooking air cooled condenser and about 20 new friends on bikes following him.
I'm the guy tail-gunning cause I ain't rear-end by a glazed eyed shine chaser.
Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:52 pm
by vicrider
If I could only get away with it......

Re: My "Apollo"rig
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:08 pm
by cajunsurveyor
I just found the answer to my question...Very Very nice...so jealous!