Heat shield material's

[McGiver]

I'm looking for Heat shield material, does anyone have any suggestions on what I could use for a heat shield for a 15 gallon keg. Id like it to be flame proof of course. I thought of fiberglass cloth, but I think that would turn into a giant wick if alc and flame should get together with it.I see in rednose avatar pic with 2 insulated pots, it looked like a neat idea.

Any suggestions? Or is it just a bad idea.

[kiwistiller]

Air works well - a metal shroud will hold it in place

[myles]

Air works well - a metal shroud will hold it in place

+1. With insulation on the shroud for protection and efficiency.

I tried a galvanised bin for the shroud. Cut the bottom right out and sealed it to the keg with fire cement. Initialy insulated with expanding foam. Looked nice enough but did not work when hot.



Replaced the foam with a layer of fire cement blended with vermiculite,
that workred just fine.

[Bayou-Ruler]

[solaryellow]

How about a 55 gal drum cut down? Seems cheap and easy.

[McGiver]

Thanks for the ideas and some of the R&D that has been done, I thought about the foam too looks like that's out for sure. I was hoping someone had a light weight fire proof jacket that they just zipped over it, lol

The fireproof cement and vermiculite looks good, is that removable, does it weigh down the boiler alot?

Ive also given the steal drum cover a thought, have you tried that one yet solar?

[Kentucky shinner]

Here is one I made in about 30 mins and it cost about 6 bucks it is made with duct work sheet metal and a few pop rivets. I have used it on my keg boiler about a dozen times now and it really cuts down the heat up time.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 27&start=0

[myles]

Thanks for the ideas and some of the R&D that has been done, I thought about the foam too looks like that's out for sure. I was hoping someone had a light weight fire proof jacket that they just zipped over it, lol

The fireproof cement and vermiculite looks good, is that removable, does it weigh down the boiler alot?

Ive also given the steal drum cover a thought, have you tried that one yet solar?

For lightweight, flameproof (and expensive) look at ceramic fibre insulation that they use in pottery kilns

My cement covered shroud was bonded to the boiler as I fitted a flue, and it is fairly heavy.

[McGiver]

Nice ideas, thanks for the help. Time to start looking for suitable materials, Nice pics By the way.

[Aces High]

The cut down drum works really well and is definitely the cheapest option. Also cut a third off my start up times

[BakerBoy]

The cut down drum works really well and is definitely the cheapest option. Also cut a third off my start up times

Sorry to bring an old thread back up... but Ace, do you find enough air gets to your gas burner with that shroud? ... or do you reckon some air/vent holes down the bottom are needed?

[rad14701]

The cut down drum works really well and is definitely the cheapest option. Also cut a third off my start up times

Sorry to bring an old thread back up... but Ace, do you find enough air gets to your gas burner with that shroud? ... or do you reckon some air/vent holes down the bottom are needed?

I'd just rest it on a couple sticks or bricks... If you put holes in it they should be on one side only so you can position the air intake away from the wind... For running indoors this may not be a problem but for running outdoors it could be...

[Dnderhead]

"My cement covered shroud was bonded to the boiler as I fitted a flue, and it is fairly heavy"
use water glass/sodium silicate? as a binder .this is what is used in the light wight bricks/blocks used in kilns,furnaces

[TexasReflux]

I cut a piece of corrugated metal to size and bolted it in a round shape, about the length of my boiler, one of the best mods so far. I use a propane burner that has a stand, so it just sits on the stand with an air gap in between the still.

[yankeeclear]

My propane burner and boiler are "walled in" stacked bricks (no mortar) for heat retention. Some gaps on two sides ensure air flow. A small square piece of fire board over the top with a hole cut out for the column riser completes the "boiler box". Pluses: safe, efficient. Minuses: Not very portable, requires lifting and dropping the boiler into the box.

[The Baker]

My propane burner and boiler are "walled in" stacked bricks (no mortar) for heat retention. Some gaps on two sides ensure air flow. A small square piece of fire board over the top with a hole cut out for the column riser completes the "boiler box". Pluses: safe, efficient. Minuses: Not very portable, requires lifting and dropping the boiler into the box.

Thanks, yank; a possibility I had not thought of.
There's lots of old bricks near my shed, and I could build into the brick surround a big gap where the drain tap is, with a 'door'
(piece of tin or something) to sit in the hole when distilling....