small potstill/small thumper theory

[swillbedone]

hi mentors,
i built a small potstill that i could convert to a thumper when i have time to finish a larger one. i also thought i could just use it as a small still for small runs... i found a ss container for the large one so it's just a matter of time but i will probably want to run the small one again at least once before i finish the large one. i chose the container for the small still/thumper because of the quality of the maker. it's a one gallon pressure cooker. i found it before i read that this was too small to do decent runs in.

it's also too small to be a thumper for the larger boiler that i acquired according to the conventional wisdom here. i have a five gallon milk jug that will be the larger potstill. most seem to suggest that the thumper should be twice the size of the still. i also read a thread where a few have small thumpers like this and seem to work just fine.

so with that information, why is a one gallon potstill too small. i know part of the answer is that it smears the cuts. if so, why? and are there more reasons?

if my thumper is only one fifth the size of my potstill, why is that too small? if smaller thumpers work for others, what's the theory behind the 2/1 thumper ratio? i thought i read something that rad wrote about it being unsafe. if so, why? or did i misunderstand?

also, since i was scrounging for parts, i just used some 3/8" soft copper for the worm that i had laying around as booty from a jobsite. i read that was too small also. i could see how this would be too small for a larger boiler but what about the one gallon one? seemed to work ok....

i will replace anything that should be replaced in time in order to get optimum results. so i'm not just trying to justify bad decisions. i feel that knowing theoretical questions like these give me a better picture of what i am trying to learn. and i thank you in advance for your answers and patience.


thanks for any responses in advance. i am not trying to justify bad decisions as much as i am trying to understand more.

[Dnderhead]

you got it wrong. the thumper should be about 1/4-1/2 the size of still.why so large? as it removes alcohol from the vapors it leaves behind the "water".this "water" is going to fill the thumper.
why not a small still? say you have 1 gallon or 4 liter still. first you can only fill it about 1/2 -3/4 full
if you try to fill it to full it can "puke" or boil over.,,next most washes/mashes are 10% or less ABV
so 1 gallon= 128 oz x .10=12 oz of alcohol. or at 50%/100pr, =24oz ,now "cuts" will take about 1/2
of this, so your back to 12oz you will keep. if not very carful you will miss the "cuts" and it will either
taste bad or you will have to redistill.

[swillbedone]

thanks dunder,
yes, i meant to say that the conventional wisdom is that the thumper should be HALF the size, not TWICE the size...silly me.