new design up for critism

ainzy · Post by **ainzy** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:05 pm

G'day building my first collum still presently, its a cross between the Nixon-Stone and the offset head the only forseeable issue i have is that i only have one take off point under the condenser that is the take off outlet i was wondering if this would be ok because i put a needle valve on it and so i would be able to regulate the amount of reflux, but the returned reflux is left to simply dribble down the sides of the collum, will this affect the workability of the still, will i still get top results as long as everythig else goes right or should i bite the bullet and try to fix the issue, or should i give it a go suck it and see, or is the importance of returning the reflux into the center of the colum important?

Any help
Thanks

Swag · Post by **Swag** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:12 pm

Bite the bullet. Reflux won't do you any good running down the side of the column. The condensate has to run through the packing.
No big deal, it will take you 30 minutes to fix it.

ainzy · Post by **ainzy** » Mon May 22, 2006 10:05 pm

damit i thought i could get away with it my problem is that i have copper tubing and eyerything else is stainless except for my condenser rods how can i plumb the copper into the staino pipe? solder? tig weld a compression fitting onto the pipe and then compression fit the copper tube to it? any help?
thanks

Swag · Post by **Swag** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:29 am

You can solder stainless to copper or you can have it welded. Read the past threads here on tips about soldering stainless if you plan to go down that road. If you get into a jam send me a PM and I can walk you through it.

knuklehead · Post by **knuklehead** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:25 pm

Swag is absolutely right, reflux running down the column walls will do little good. Soldering stainless to copper is no problem, just get your flux right. Good luck.

ainzy · Post by **ainzy** » Thu May 25, 2006 1:21 am

yeah you lot persuaded me to not be lazy and do it properly but what about the non reflux design on moonshine-still they ( people ) who have used it reckon that they get 90+% how can that be if the reflux is needed in the center of the colum and theroetically they only reflux what there packing media can. info? explanation? any help
thanks

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Thu May 25, 2006 3:27 am

I think they heat on a low fire and have a huge column. the 90% is maybe exagerated.

Thu May 25, 2006 4:23 am

ainzy wrote:...what about the non reflux design on moonshine-still...

Both of the stills on that site are reflux stills. The off set head and a cooling management. The one without the reflux valve has cooling pipes that run through the column and cause condensation to run back down the packing. The amount of reflux is controled by the volume and temp of the cooling water going through the column.

ainzy · Post by **ainzy** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:49 pm

thanks for that cleaered alot of issues for me thanks

norcal · Post by **norcal** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:41 am

I think they heat on a low fire and have a huge column. the 90% is maybe exagerated.

My first reflux was built almost exactly like the one on that site (with cooling lines). That was before I found this site. I would do it different now.

It took 9.5 hours but I managed to get one batch to go 92% using that still.

I have not used that still since I built my pot still.[/quote]

partsbill · Post by **partsbill** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:01 am

ainzy wrote:yeah you lot persuaded me to not be lazy and do it properly but what about the non reflux design on moonshine-still they ( people ) who have used it reckon that they get 90+% how can that be if the reflux is needed in the center of the colum and theroetically they only reflux what there packing media can. info? explanation? any help
thanks

I've got a down angle lyne arm potstill(homemade) which I make moonshine nitely, and can run 70% for first liter(after fore and headshots)and avg. 55% for remainder of body before finishing with @2.5 liters. No reflux, no packing, no worries. I'm sure I could do better, but for now, I'm pleased with my results.