Home Distiller

The new toy is built from the dollar store mugs. I used mostly copper that I had on hand. The glass mugs are heavy and will handle the heat well. Not just an artsy still.

Five stage progressive valved reflux still. A little different thinking here guys.
The copper discs are intended to be more a valve then a reflux centering down comer. With the 3/8” tube the weight with liquid in them should hold them down like a valve. Passive reflux that collects at the base of each mug will be boiled flute style with upcoming vapor.

My design concept is that little liquid should be allowed down through the tubes. I want to create a stepping reflux gradient verses a recycle system. Two steps up one step down. As a three inch CM design I hope to make clean neutral at a reasonable speed or full flavored whiskey or rum by running faster vapor speed or removing the disc valves.

I decided on going five mugs high as that was about all the stainless rod that I had on hand. Teflon gaskets seal the diamond flat ground surfaces. I have found that this material takes a fair amount of pressure to seal. I may change to a simpler Teflon wrapped cardboard for a softer gasket if necessary. Obviously safety is first.

The glass will expand when heated and tighten all joints. Not knowing the COE of the glass I have used spring tension on the stainless rods to avoid being to loose to seal while warming or be too tight when at full temp. The glass will handle the temperatures fine as long as I don’t spray it with cold water once hot. I can explain more about glass later to those interested.
CM design, plumbing is intentionally simple. One restrictor valve on product condenser exit line will force coolant in to the reflux condenser when desired. I don’t think there will be much need for the cooler but want the option of forcing additional reflux. The test and cleaning runs are scheduled soon.

Lastly, Inspired by LW I am going to build a flavor thumper. I will be able to disconnect the condenser at the copper union and put the thumper inline. Flavorings will be added to my vodkas this way.

“Muggles” From Harry potter, A non magical person. Thanks for the name Bull.

I think you really got a handle on it Can't wait to hear your results.

Where's the LIKE button?

That's a real work of art.

at the very least that is a work of art. Very beautiful work !!!

Dude,,,,, yer outta yer mind.........

Take some video.............Sir.





Edited for punctuation corrections..............

BTW,,,I am definitely a fan of the stepped reboiling.
I hope you get good thermal transfer. Would be a shame to have to insulate that show piece.

Nicely Done, now some photos of the run. So many of our members have amazing talents.


Bull.

Nice! Looking good sir. When you gona give her a good runnin?

LWTCS wrote:BTW,,,I am definitely a fan of the stepped reboiling.
I hope you get good thermal transfer. Would be a shame to have to insulate that show piece.

I am actually counting on the heavy glass providing a slow warm up to give more passive reflux. I want a stepping action that will require that cool surface to start the pooling and boiling action. Of course you and I already discussed my theory on this one. We will see if can make it work or it is just another knuckle head idea.

(I have more)

mash rookie wrote:I am actually counting on the heavy glass providing a slow warm up to give more passive reflux. I want a stepping action that will require that cool surface to start the pooling and boiling action. Of course you and I already discussed my theory on this one.

Yes yes I'm just keepin my fingers crossed that she don't wanna flood on ya.......

Soooo,,,where have you decided to mount the site glasses?

LWTCS wrote:
Soooo,,,where have you decided to mount the site glasses?

Did you mean? Where are you going to mount the SHOT glasses?

Prairiepiss wrote:

LWTCS wrote:
Soooo,,,where have you decided to mount the site glasses?

Did you mean? Where are you going to mount the SHOT glasses?

Nice

Dude, It might be a muggles still, but you are a god damned wizzard!

Beautiful! I can't wait to see this baby in practice. You makin'a video MR? You should!

Odin.

Don't forget to wear your beer goggles for safety measure,,,,,,,,ar arar

MR,

Could you tell some more on how this still works? In a flute you condens with the dephlag to fill your caps. How does it work here? Are there holes in the bottom of the beer glasses for gasses to bubble upwards? Are there downcommers? How do you enable rising gasses to condensate on lower plates? I have been looking at your photo's, but do not really see it yet ...

Odin.

awesome build MR!

I will expand on my design and theory. Muggles is intended as a passive reflux still.
I don’t intend to use the interior cooler to impose additional reflux. It is there if I need it.

Theory.
Consider the copper valves more like a metering check valve. Allowing mostly vapor up and some liquid down. The 3/8 down comer tube is intended to keep a balance avoiding excessive flooding that would block vapors and to keep the valve centered and in place.

At each stage we are creating a velocity and pressure differential. Vapor must pass through a 1-1/4” hole past a check valve and standing liquid. Once in the mug vapor speed slows and it mingles with the copper packing. Heavier liquids will condense and fall to the bottom flooding the mug and create a boiling action for additional refluxing.

Higher volatiles will push upward recreating the same scenario at each level. Simple packing performance with five additional boiling points. Reflux Reflux Reflux

How do I think it will work in practice? Remember, I am planning on taking off as it arrives to the top and not using the cooler to force it down. It should have refluxed enough to be pretty damn clean.

I think the lower mugs will flood first and flooding will progress upward as temperatures rise with the higher alcohols. As a run progresses, flooding should progress upward first equalizing with all mugs then with most flooding in the upper mugs only.

Of course I might find out that I am full of shit when I do my test runs. That is the problem with theories. They don’t mean crap until you prove them. Let the fun begin.

MR

Very inspiring build! Mash,

You should change your name from Mash Rookie to Building Professional!

I saw a glass "ponu" still on this site a few weeks ago. Nice thing about glass is you can actually see it work. Makes me dream of building a glass flute with copperware inside ... Not what I would call a nightmare!

Odin.

All glass would really help connect lots of dots. An absolute visual observation could be synchronized with the more easily noted metrics.

LWTCS wrote:All glass would really help connect lots of dots. An absolute visual observation could be synchronized with the more easily noted metrics.

That's the Plan Stan............

Outstanding! Would love to watch that magic.

First test was wonderfully successful yet, not so much……. I set up with a small amount of water in my boiler for a fast response.

With anticipation, I watched.... They started to fog. The first mug started to boil. With less than ¼”in the first mug the second mug started to boil. A couple of minute’s later the third mug was starting to boil at the valve. Wow It is going to work !!

Damn. I realized the mugs were starting to slide out of alignment and leak.

Grabbing a pair of leather gloves I started pushing, pounding and wrestling things back into alignment, Almost had things under control until... I finally broke the bottom mug by forcing things too hard.

Damn. Another dollar. I have another one ready to replace it. This time I will tighten the rods more and install stainless wire waistbands at each joint so the vertical rods keep everything straight. Hmmm. I love/ hate this learning curve.

It appeared that performance may be what I expected. Stay tuned…..

Thanks for the update MR. i know that everyone is at least a little bit curious. Hope to see some vids soon

Second test went off without a hitch. After replacing the mug I broke last night I set her back up on the boiler with water and let her rip for thirty minutes. All mugs stacked a little, boiled and you could see the packing dripping. The reflux cooler stacked up the second mug down almost immediately when I put water to it. Really cool.
I took a few pictures.

After it cooled a while I added vinegar and heated her up again. Soap and water spray bottle was not an option on hot glass.
I found a small mirror and checked for leaks. There was one spot leaking very slightly. I tightened the crap out of the rods until it stopped. What a great trick. I remember Dunder or Rad told someone about that in a post. One more thing I learned here. It worked better that soap and water would have!

It is cooling down as I write. After it is cool I will rinse it and the boiler. Feints cleaning run is tonight guys!

I wont taste that crap but will check ABV !!!! More pictures then. Breaking news at eleven...

Woo Hoo!

You are right LW This is really cool to watch!!!!

Feints run went pretty well. She actually ran almost as expected. I had about a half gallon of cleaning feints to work with. Things happened pretty fast.

As she came up to temp the bottom of each mug started to boil. Each held only about one quarter of an inch of liquid. That was enough to see a boiling action. You could see the packing drip and the down comer drip at each level. Working as planned.
The pictures are difficult to see liquid so I will beg my girlfriend to take video next week for us.
Because of the small boiler charge temp rose quickly. Before using the reflux condenser she was coming off at 165P with a strong stream.
I restricted exit flow from my condenser to push coolant into the reflux condenser. Immediately it stopped all flow and stacked the top two mugs. It was difficult even with the small condenser coil to control. It seemed to be either on or off. When I turned off the reflux condenser it puked out all the alcohol it had been building up. Story over. I had used all the alcohol I had in the boiler.
I think I am one small modification from having a great still. A restrictor orifice on the reflux condenser will slow the coolant flow to a controllable speed.

Awesome build Mash, so what is you do in your spare time?

What the heck is spare time?
Actually, this is what I do. I get to make, create and build art. I am lucky enough to be successful in what I do. After awhile I need something to challenge my skills and thinking. Distilling has been a new challenge and passion that I have really enjoyed. A wonderful distraction. Thank you HD

I hear work calling me every day. I will have to turn my attention back to work and a few new money making designs soon. A guy has to make a living once and awhile.

I don’t think I am done building stills for awhile yet though. There is still a few crazy ideas to go….Wait till team up with a couple of the old guys. They have done so much already.

I know, A long answer to a short question.

What you don't have a wash ready to go in that thing? Let's get this show on the road.
Sounds fun. Would like to see a vid. That would be cool.

I to need to find a way to better control the flow through my reflux condenser coils. Have the same problem. Either on or off. Are you thinking of putting the restricter on the in or the out? Are you feeding it with water from the product condenser? Or fresh water?

Prairiepiss wrote:What you don't have a wash ready to go in that thing? Let's get this show on the road.
Sounds fun. Would like to see a vid. That would be cool.

I to need to find a way to better control the flow through my reflux condenser coils. Have the same problem. Either on or off. Are you thinking of putting the restricter on the in or the out? Are you feeding it with water from the product condenser? Or fresh water?

It is fed from the product condenser exit line. By closing a gate valve on it I force coolant into the smaller diameter reflux condenser. I will restrict the exit side of the reflux cooler down to 1/8" That should slow things down and allow better control.

After yesterdays test run, I am thinking that I would run UJSSM without the reflux condenser. Go like hell. Neutral would use the condenser to raise ABV for a cleaner product.

I have some UJSSM that can be ran tomorrow. To I use this baby or my flute?